Hamilton Shopping and Districts

(Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda)

Bermuda has had a stalwart shopping reputation for years, and there's still no better place to find a truly British retail mindset on this side of the Atlantic.

Local boutiques deal in the finest-quality merchandise, and so the emphasis is on high-profile brands and expert artisanship. And while it may have little to please bargain hunters, the city of Hamilton has a great deal to offer shoppers with refined tastes, with the Bermudiana Arcade on Queen Street being a particular highlight. The Washington Mall on Reid Street is also worth a look.


Each Saturday on Canal Road, in the car park of the Bull's Head, the Hamilton Farmer's Market provides something different and is a good place to buy local produce from around Bermuda.

When to Shop and Where

Bermuda's currency is the Bermudian dollar, which is pinned to the US dollar at a one-to-one ratio. Locals accept both on equal footing, and the fact that no currency exchange rate needs to be factored in makes shopping on this island easy. With this in mind, shopping in Hamilton is relatively expensive, and the only way to find any bargains on practical goods is by heading a mile or two outside of city limits.

On the other hand, shoppers are reluctant to leave Hamilton because of the sheer number of stores onsite. Charming boutiques and fashionable gift shops are lined up one after another along Front Street. The densest selection of storefronts is in the Emporium, which teems with shoppers whenever a cruise ship docks at Hamilton Harbour.

Hamilton has a reputation for the finest merchandise, and much of what's on sale here is actually imported from the UK. British visitors find that prices rival those seen at home, but American shoppers will find British brands are cheaper in Bermuda than they are in the US.

Antiques are among the finest items for sale in Hamilton. Many are 100 percent authentic and genuinely date back to colonial times. There's also a great deal of maritime salvage shopping available around the city. While antiques can be expensive, Bermudian rum is surprisingly affordable. In fact, some visitors take home more than their duty free allowance permits, and savings are still significant.