Public Bus Route 1

Route 1 is the cheapest way from BDA into Hamilton

Public Bus Route 1 runs from L.F. Wade International Airport’s main road stop on Coney Island Road into Hamilton, using the same pink-and-blue government buses you see across Bermuda. You pay standard public fares in Bermuda dollars, and you ride alongside locals commuting between St. George’s Parish and the capital. This is not a direct airport coach; it’s the regular Route 1 that happens to pass near BDA.

The airport is not a major bus hub, so you walk about 3–5 minutes from the terminal exit to the roadside stop by the roundabout on Kindley Field Road/Coney Island Road. Buses on Route 1 typically run every 30–60 minutes in the daytime, with less frequency on evenings, Sundays, and public holidays. Service usually winds down by around 11:00 pm, so landing after late-night arrivals can leave you without a bus option.

Fares on Bermuda buses are distance-based and paid in Bermuda dollars (pegged 1:1 to USD, with US cash widely accepted, though change is given in BMD). A single cash ride on Route 1 from the airport stop into Hamilton normally falls in the 3–4 zone range on the fare chart, which is cheaper than a taxi that can easily run over USD 40 into town. Look for posted zone maps and fare tables at the stop or inside the bus.

Journey time from the airport area into central Hamilton on Route 1 can run roughly 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic and how many intermediate stops the driver makes through Devonshire and Pembroke. This is longer than a 25–30 minute taxi ride from BDA into Hamilton, but the bus cost saves a noticeable chunk of cash. Route 1 usually drops you at the central Hamilton bus terminal on Washington Street, a short walk to Front Street and the ferry terminal.

Board at the front door, tell the driver your destination (for example “Hamilton bus terminal”), and pay in exact fare or show your pass; drivers do not make change. Keep your ticket stub until you step off the bus. Seats can fill up during local rush hour between 7:30–9:00 am and 4:30–6:00 pm, so a standing ride from the airport stop is possible if you arrive at a busy time.

Step-by-step from arrivals to Hamilton on Route 1

• 1. Exit the BDA terminal and walk 3–5 minutes toward the roundabout on Kindley Field Road/Coney Island Road, following “Buses” signs where posted.
• 2. Find the marked Public Bus stop serving Route 1; confirm the route number on the post or schedule board and check the next departure time.
• 3. Have small Bermuda or US bills/coins ready, based on the posted zone fare from the airport stop to Hamilton bus terminal.
• 4. When the pink-and-blue bus arrives, confirm “Route 1 to Hamilton” with the driver before boarding through the front door.
• 5. Pay the driver in exact fare or show a valid bus pass, then move down the aisle quickly so others can board.
• 6. Ride for roughly 45–60 minutes as the bus passes through St. George’s Parish and into Hamilton; watch for the central bus terminal stop near Washington Street.
• 7. Step off at Hamilton bus terminal and use your phone map to walk 5–10 minutes to most hotels or offices around Front Street.

Aim for a scheduled bus that departs at least 30 minutes after your scheduled landing time at BDA to give yourself a buffer for immigration, bags, and the short walk to the roadside stop.