Hamilton
Hamilton is the capital and vibrant heart of Bermuda. It is the home of most government offices and the majority of Bermuda’s international businesses. Named after Henry Hamilton, Bermuda’s Governor from 1788 to 1794, the plans for the town were laid out in 1790. By 1815 it had grown so much that Bermuda’s capital was relocated here from St George. Rather confusingly, Hamilton is actually in Pembroke Parish and not Hamilton Parish.
Front Street lines the dock and is Hamilton’s main drag and centre of activity. Its pastel-painted Victorian Buildings are a haven for tax-free shops selling everything from perfumes to Swiss watches. Cruise ships berth here, too, and on Wednesday evenings in summer the street is closed to traffic for Harbour Nights; a weekly evening festival featuring craft and food stalls, performers and late-night shopping.
The city also has the island’s greatest concentration of restaurants and bars; many of those on Front Street have verandas overlooking Hamilton Harbour. It also serves as the Bermuda’s main transportation hub, as both the central bus and ferry terminals are located here.
It’s by no means a large city and can easily be explored on foot in a couple of hours.