Bermuda is such a convenient family destination, especially for families visiting from the East Coast. Located just a short flight away from the East Coast of the United States, Bermuda is home to great food, beautiful beaches, and fun activities. This Atlantic Ocean island isn’t the Caribbean but is still beautiful and has a laid-back, casual vibe.
One of the most unique tourist attractions in Bermuda is Crystal Caves Bermuda, a collection of two underground caves that can be visited by guests. During our family vacation to Bermuda, we enjoyed a morning at Crystal and Fantasy Caves. It ended up being the highlight of our Bermuda trip, and I would recommend visiting.
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Tips for Visiting Crystal Cave Bermuda
About Crystal Cave Bermuda
Crystal Caves Bermuda is a collection of two caves – Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave. In 1907, Crystal Cave was discovered by two teenagers named Carl Gibbons and Edgar Hollis on the property of the Wilkinson family. This unique story is told to guests as they visit the cave.
The two caves can be toured individually or as a package. When purchasing tickets, you’ll notice that it isn’t much more money to visit both. So, if you have the time, it’s worth visiting both. They are different enough that it won’t feel repetitive.
Location of Crystal Caves Bermuda
Crystal Caves is located in Hamilton Parish in Bermuda. We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton Bermuda, and took a cab to the caves. They are also on the bus routes, but we found a cab to be easier. Note that this particular hotel is undergoing renovations and is temporarily closed, but will be reopening.
There’s a cab stand outside the entrance. So, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a cab back to your hotel.
Visiting Crystal Caves
Crystal Caves are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last guided tour taking place at 4:30 pm and the first tour taking place at 9:30 am. The last combination tour starts at 4 pm.
You can purchase a ticket to either cave or a combination ticket for admission to both caves. Mastercard and Visa are accepted for tickets, and reservations aren’t required (but are recommended). If you want to make recommendations, you can call them at 441-293 0640.
When you purchase your ticket(s), you’ll be told which cave you are visiting first (based on timing and availability). There’s a place to wait until your ticket group number is called, and then you’ll be led to your guided tour.
Crystal Cave was opened to tourists soon after it was discovered. However, tours were originally offered by boat. Now, you’ll be able to walk on a platform across the water. Swimming is not allowed in the caves.
Keep in mind that there are some stairs and a ramp to get down to the cave. You will have to walk – there’s no other way to get down there. This is very important to know if mobility is an issue.
When packing for your trip to Bermuda, make sure that you include appropriate footwear for a visit to the caves. They recommend rubber-soled shoes, and I would also recommend that. It’s not a strenuous walk, but it could be a little tricky with the wrong shoes. You won’t want to slip.
A guided tour of Crystal Cave takes about 30-35 minutes. ly enjoyed seeing the beautiful cave and were impressed with the knowledge of our guide.
After visiting Crystal Cave, we had to bring our ticket vouchers to Fantasy Caves back to the ticket desk to get a group number for that guided tour. After a short wait, we were called for the next tour.
Fantasy Cave was discovered several years after Crystal Cave, and the owners of the property sold to the Wilkinson family in later years. The walk down to Fantasy Cave is much more steep – 88 steps down.
I’d recommend skipping this cave if you have balance or other mobility issues. It’s a steep walk down!
Like Crystal Cave, there’s a platform around the cave that you’ll walk on for the tour. You won’t get wet during your tour, although you’ll want appropriate footwear.
Fantasy Cave is similar to Crystal Cave, but it also has a lot of differences. The incredible formations are surprisingly different, considering how close the two caves are. We were amazed at how unique these formations are.
So, which is best, Crystal Cave or Fantasy Cave? Half of our family preferred Fantasy, while the other half preferred Crystal. We did notice that Fantasy Cave was much hotter than Crystal Cave and more humid, so keep that in mind depending on when you visit.
If you can, I highly recommend visiting both. It took about 90 minutes to see both during our trip, but we visited in the off-season. I can imagine it gets much busier during the summer months and during the cruise ship season.
They have stated that their busy time is from 11 am to 2:30 pm during the summer. It’s best to arrive outside of these times if at all possible.
Near Crystal Caves Bermuda
Arriving early (close to opening) is probably the best way to minimize your wait. Once you are done, there are a few places near Crystal Caves to visit. Within the complex, you’ll find a gift shop and a cafe.
A very short walk away are two iconic Bermuda institutions. Cross the street from the back entrance, and you’ll find the Swizzle Inn, home of the Rum Swizzle drink.
We enjoyed lunch there and opted to sit on the top deck. I highly recommend visiting there if you can. If you choose one of the iconic Rum Swizzles, keep in mind that they are very strong.
There’s also Bailey’s Ice Cream, which is located right by the back entrance. Unfortunately, it was closed during our stay. I’d recommend checking their schedule so you can make sure it’s open when you visit because I’ve heard that it’s a great place to get ice cream in Bermuda.
Wondering where to stay? While the hotel we stayed at is now closed for renovations, there are lots of other options. Check out the map below (with affiliate links) to see some options.
Have you been to Bermuda? Did you visit Crystal Caves?
