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2 cities
Parish · Eastern Parishes
Hamilton
Crystal Caves and Fantasy Cave, the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo of Flatts, Harrington Sound, Blue Hole Park and Shelly Bay, in eastern Bermuda.
In the photo: Limestone formations and underground water of Crystal Cave, in Hamilton parish.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The parish
Get to know Hamilton
Hamilton parish is in eastern Bermuda, surrounding Harrington Sound, a large saltwater lagoon connected to the ocean by a narrow channel at Flatts. Despite the name, it is not the same as the town of Hamilton, the capital, which lies in Pembroke parish. The name honors James Hamilton, Marquis of Hamilton, one of the shareholders of the company that divided the island in 1616.
The parish’s limestone bedrock is full of caves. The most visited are Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave, near Bailey’s Bay, open to the public with guided tours. Floating walkways cross underground lakes of very clear water beneath stalactites and delicate calcite formations. You descend by stairs, so some fitness is required.
In Flatts Village, next to the channel of Harrington Sound, is the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo of Bermuda, run by the government, featuring reef fish, a tank that reproduces the coral reef, birds and animals from islands elsewhere in the world, and rooms about the archipelago’s natural history.
Near the caves, Blue Hole Park, part of the Walsingham protected area, has short trails through mangroves, brackish lagoons that connect to the sea beneath the ground, and open grottoes in the scrub. On the north coast, Shelly Bay is one of the island’s shallowest and calmest beaches, popular with families. The parish lies on the route between the town of Hamilton and St. George’s.
Destinations
1 destination in Hamilton
Cities
2 cities in Hamilton in the guide
Hamilton
Capital
Flatts Village
Small village by the channel that links Harrington Sound to the ocean, halfway between the town of Hamilton and St. George's. Here are the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and nearby in Smith's are Spittal Pond, John Smith's Bay and the Verdmont house.
Hamilton
Bailey's Bay
Locality in the north of Hamilton parish, between Harrington Sound and the north shore, near the bridge to St. George's and the airport. It is where Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave are located, along with Blue Hole Park and, a few minutes away, the shallow-water beach of Shelly Bay.
When to go
The caves, the aquarium and the trails can be visited year-round, and inside the caves the temperature changes little. For Shelly Bay and swimming in Harrington Sound, the sea is warmer from June to October. On rainy or very windy days, common from December to March, the caves and the aquarium are the island’s most popular activities.
Getting there
The parish lies between the town of Hamilton and St. George’s, a few kilometers from L.F. Wade Airport. The public buses that run between Hamilton and St. George’s pass Flatts Village and Bailey’s Bay, near the caves. Taxis, electric minicars and rental scooters are other options. There is no ferry to the parish.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton
How do I visit Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave?
Both caves are on the same property, near Bailey’s Bay, and may only be visited with a guide. You can do one or both in tours that run several times a day; for both caves, allow about an hour and a half. There are many steps and swimming in the lakes is not allowed. Check opening times before you go.
Is Hamilton parish the same as the town of Hamilton?
No. The town of Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, is in Pembroke parish, in the center of the island. Hamilton parish is in the east, around Harrington Sound, with Flatts Village, Bailey’s Bay and the caves. Buses to St. George’s connect the two.
What is in the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo of Bermuda?
The aquarium displays the fish and corals of Bermuda’s reefs, including a large tank that mimics the reef. The museum tells the islands’ natural history, and the zoo houses birds and animals from other islands. It is in Flatts Village by the Harrington Sound channel and can be seen in a half day.
Which beach is good for children in eastern Bermuda?
Shelly Bay, on the north coast of Hamilton parish, has sand and a large area of shallow, calm water, which usually suits families with children. It sits beside the main road with a nearby bus stop. On north wind days the sea can get choppier.
What is Blue Hole Park?
It is a nature area within the Walsingham reserve, near the caves, with short trails through mangroves, lagoons and open grottoes. The lagoons connect to the sea through underground passages and have fish. The trails are dirt and stone: wear closed shoes.