Bermuda

An island paradise in the North Atlantic, Bermuda is famed for its pink-sand beaches, pretty pastel cottages, vibrant coral reefs and warm island hospitality.

Bermuda’s natural beauty hits you even before you land. From the air, sparkling turquoise water meets the islands’ dramatic coastlines, where rugged limestone cliffs topped by pastel-coloured houses give way to hidden coves and dazzling pink-sand beaches.

For a nation of just 21 square miles, pint-size Bermuda offers an incredible amount to see and do. With more than 300 shipwrecks plus healthy coral reefs and abundant marine life, the islands are among the world’s great diving and snorkelling capitals. Other adventures await on the water too, from sailing, kitesurfing and big-game fishing to watching humpback whales in March and April as they pass through Bermuda on their migratory journey north.

On land, hikers and bikers can follow paths through sandy beaches and nature reserves or explore the epic Railway Trail that follows an abandoned railbed from one end of the island to the other. Nature lovers can explore geological wonders like the Crystal Caves, while golfers can tee off on more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

There’s history too. When the British sailing ship Sea Venture wrecked here in 1609 (very likely inspiring Shakespeare’s play The Tempest), a few stalwarts stayed on to claim the island, making Bermuda Britain’s oldest overseas territory. Since then, Bermuda’s history has been as colourful as its reefs and beaches, covering everything from slavery and emancipation to the mystique of the Bermuda Triangle. To connect with the island’s past, explore the museums of the Royal Naval Dockyard; visit the Gibbs’ Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world; or wander through the Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage site since the turn of the millennium.