King's Wharf: Bermuda from the Dockyard End

Ships dock at King's Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard complex at Ireland Island North — Bermuda's westernmost landmass. The Dockyard was built between 1809 and 1869; its fortified stone buildings now house the National Museum of Bermuda, the Bermuda Craft Market, restaurants, and shops. The ferry terminal is a 3-minute walk from most berths: ferries to Hamilton ($5 each way, 30 min) depart from here. Zone 2 buses to Horseshoe Bay ($5 each way, 35 min) leave from the Dockyard bus stop at the south end of the complex.

Ferry to Hamilton: 30 minutes, $5 each way, every 1–2 hours. Zone 2 bus to Horseshoe Bay: 35 minutes, $5 each way (exact change in Bermuda dollars or US quarters — dollar bills not accepted). Taxi to Horseshoe Bay: $25–30 one way. Scooter rental at the Dockyard ($55–75/day, driver's license required) — Bermuda drives on the left. Electric bikes ($40/day) are a good alternative for those who prefer not to manage a scooter on narrow roads. Bermuda is small enough that no destination is more than 45 minutes from the Dockyard.

The Bermuda dollar is fixed 1:1 with USD; USD is accepted everywhere. Most restaurants add a 17% service charge to the bill — check before adding more. Where no service charge appears: 15% is appropriate. Taxi drivers: 15%.

Horseshoe Bay Beach on the south shore is the reason most Bermuda passengers are here: a crescent of pink sand (the color comes from crushed coral and red foraminifera shells mixed into the limestone base) with clear turquoise water. The beach is 35 minutes from the Dockyard by bus. No lounge chair rental services exist at Horseshoe Bay — bring your own towel or rent one at the adjacent beach house ($10–15). The beach is publicly accessible and free; the coves on either side of the main bay are quieter and worth exploring on foot. Jobson's Cove — a short walk west along the coastal trail — is a calm, enclosed lagoon suitable for children.

The National Museum of Bermuda in the Dockyard's Keep is the most comprehensive museum on the island. It covers Bermuda's role in Atlantic trade, the Royal Navy's strategic use of the island, slavery and the enslaved laborers who built the Dockyard, the island's social history, and the maritime archaeology of Bermuda's reef shipwrecks. Admission $20. Allow 90 minutes. The Bermuda clock tower at the Dockyard's entrance is a Victorian landmark visible from the pier; the exhibition space inside covers the Dockyard's construction history.