If you have time for only one underground attraction in Bermuda, Crystal Cave is the one I send people to first. It is the largest and most famous cave on the island, sitting about 36 meters (120 feet) below ground in Hamilton Parish.
Right next to it, on the same property, is Fantasy Cave, another natural wonder with even denser formations and a deeper descent. The two caves are run together as the Crystal and Fantasy Caves complex, and you can buy a ticket for one or both.
I have visited the caves several times over the years and have answered hundreds of reader questions about getting there, what to wear, what tickets to buy, and how to time a visit around a cruise ship day. This guide pulls all of that together with the current information you need to plan a smooth trip.
The first thing that hits you as you climb down into Crystal Cave is the size of the chamber. The air feels cooler and heavier, and the room opens up to reveal thousands of stalactites pointing down from the ceiling and stalagmites rising up to meet them.
These formations are made of calcium carbonate, deposited drop by drop from water seeping through the limestone for more than 30 million years.
In the middle of the cave sits Cahow Lake, an underground lake that is about 17 meters (55 feet) deep. You cross it on a floating pontoon bridge.
The bridge actually rises and falls with the tides because the lake is connected to the open ocean through underground channels. The water is a mix of seawater and rainwater, and the level changes through the day.
Standing on the bridge is the highlight for most visitors. Look up and you see thousands of white stalactites pointing at you. Look down through the perfectly clear water and you see more formations on the submerged cave floor. The marine blues and aquamarine greens of the lake glow under the lights. It is one of the most unusual sights in Bermuda.
Inside Fantasy Cave
Fantasy Cave is a two minute walk from Crystal Cave on the same property. It is deeper and narrower, and the climb down is steeper. The cave was first opened to the public in the early 1900s under the name Wonderland Cave, was closed by the owners for several decades, and was reopened in 2001 after the pathways were rebuilt and the lighting was redone.
Inside, Fantasy Cave is like a jewel box. The walls are coated with calcite mineral deposits that look like frozen waterfalls. From the ceiling hang rare chandelier-shaped clusters of soda straw formations, which are extremely thin, hollow stalactites that grow only a fraction of a millimeter each year.
You will also see bacon strip formations, popcorn texture on the walls, and a fossilized tree root that drops down through one section. The atmosphere is more enclosed and mystical than Crystal Cave, and many repeat visitors say they prefer Fantasy for the density of formations.
If your knees are strong and you want the full underground experience, do both caves. If you only have energy for one, Crystal Cave is the better single choice because of the lake and the bridge.
Photo: Craig Stanfill, flickr, cc by-sa 2.0
Crystal Cave Bermuda Tickets and Prices
Here are the current ticket prices. They have been stable for several years.
Single cave (Crystal Cave or Fantasy Cave on its own):
Adults: $24
Children 5 to 12: $10
Children under 5: free
Combination ticket (both caves):
Adults: $35
Children 5 to 12: $12
Children under 5: free
The combination ticket is the better value if you can handle the stairs in both caves. You save $13 per adult compared to buying two separate tickets, and the tour timings are organized so you flow from one cave to the other without waiting twice.
The ticket booth accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and cash. When you buy your tickets, mention clearly how many adults, how many children, and whether you want one cave or both, so you are not charged incorrectly.
Opening Hours and Tour Schedule
The caves are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The first tour leaves at 9 am and the last tour leaves at 5 pm.
Tour frequency varies by season. From April through September, tours depart every 15 minutes. From October through March, tours depart every 30 minutes, on the hour and on the half hour.
Combination tours of both caves run on a slightly different schedule because they take longer. Monday through Thursday, combo tours run from 9 am to 11:45 am and again from 2:45 pm to 4:45 pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, combo tours run from 9 am to 4 pm.
The caves are closed on January 1, Good Friday, December 24, December 25 and December 26.
A single cave tour takes about 35 minutes. The combination tour of both caves takes about 75 minutes.
Do You Need to Book in Advance
Walk-ins are welcome and you do not need to book in advance for individual tickets. On most days you will be on a tour within 30 minutes of arriving, often faster.
The exception is the cruise ship rush. When two or more ships are in port, there can be a noticeable queue between about 11 am and 2:30 pm on weekdays. If you arrive early (before 10:30 am) or after 2:30 pm, the wait drops considerably. Transition days between cruise ships are the quietest.
For groups of 15 or more, the caves ask that you book by phone at (441) 293-0640.
Rates by Viator
The Guided Tour Experience
Every visitor goes through with a guide. The tour is included in the ticket price.
You start at an assembly point inside the property, where the guide gathers the group and gives a short safety briefing. From there you walk a short path through a small park lined with royal palms and Bermuda plantings, then begin the descent into your chosen cave. Children love this walk because they can chase the local chickens that wander the grounds.
The guides are local and most have been working at the caves for years. They are knowledgeable about the geology and history, and many have a sharp sense of humor.
At a few points they turn off the lights to give you a sense of what the cave looked like to the two boys who first dropped a lamp into it in 1907. Kids tend to be wide-eyed for the entire visit, and the guides take time with their questions.
How Crystal Cave Was Discovered
The discovery story is one of the best parts of the tour, and it is worth knowing before you go.
In 1907 two boys, Carl Gibbon and Edgar Hollis, were playing cricket on the Wilkinson family property in Bailey's Bay. One of them hit the ball hard and it vanished into a small hole in the ground. As the boys tried to retrieve it, they realized the hole was deeper than they thought.
The Wilkinson family, who had owned the property since 1884, decided to investigate. Mr. Julian Wilkinson tied a strong rope to a tree and lowered his 14 year old son Bernard down into the hole with a bicycle lamp for light. Bernard descended about 140 feet and became the first person to set eyes on the vast chamber, the clear lake and the walls of white crystal formations below.
The cave opened to visitors the following year. The original hole the boys discovered is still on the property, although you now enter through a separate, much easier entrance.
Mark Twain at Crystal Cave
The first famous visitor to descend into Crystal Cave was Mark Twain, in 1908. He came down with an acetylene lamp and wrote about it afterwards. In his own words, he stood in "a splendid place 250 feet long and 30 or 40 wide" with a brilliant lake under his feet and a roof of stalactites "as white as sugar." That phrase about the stalactites being as white as sugar is the one most often quoted, and your guide will almost certainly tell you about it.
The cave also has a small piece of cinematic history. In 1913 it was used as a filming location for Neptune's Daughter, a Universal Pictures silent film starring the Australian swimmer and actress Annette Kellerman. The film went on to gross a million dollars at the box office, which was a fortune at the time.
What Lies Beyond the Tourist Section
There is one side of Crystal Cave that visitors never get to see. Below the waters of Cahow Lake, beyond where the bridge ends, lies an underwater chamber that was mapped by technical cave divers during a NOAA-supported expedition in 2011.
The team, which included Jill Heinerth and Brian Kakuk, found massive submerged pillars and identified a deep cut on the reef face nearly 370 feet below the surface, marking where the sea level stood thousands of years ago. They also had a memorable encounter with a large manta ray during their decompression stop.
None of this is open to the public, but knowing the cave continues so much further below your feet adds something to the experience above water.
How to Reach the Crystal Caves
The caves are at 8 Crystal Caves Road, off Wilkinson Avenue, in Bailey's Bay, Hamilton Parish. The bus stop is on Wilkinson Avenue, and the road leads from there through shaded parkland to the caves complex. It is a three to four minute walk from the bus stop to the ticket booth.
From Hamilton City by public bus, take bus 1 or bus 3. Both run between Hamilton and St. George and stop at the caves. The ride takes 25 to 30 minutes.
From St. George by public bus, take bus 1 or 3 in the Hamilton direction. The ride is about 10 minutes.
From the Bermuda Aquarium area, take bus 10 or 11 and get off at Blue Hole Hill circle, next to Bailey's Bay Ice Cream Parlor and across from Swizzle Inn. Walk two minutes to the Wilkinson Avenue bus stop.
From Dockyard (Kings Wharf), the easiest route is ferry plus bus. Take the Blue Route ferry from Dockyard to Hamilton (about 20 minutes), then bus 1 or 3 to the caves (25 to 30 minutes). In the summer months when ships are in port, there is also a direct ferry from Dockyard to St. George, from which you can take bus 1 or 3 toward Hamilton and stop at the caves.
A taxi from Dockyard takes about 45 minutes one way and currently costs around $75 for up to four people. Getting a taxi back from the caves can be unreliable, so I usually suggest arranging a return pickup with the same driver, or simply using the bus on the way back.
If you are on a scooter or rental electric minicar, there is parking inside the complex. From Dockyard, plan on about an hour and ten minutes via Middle Road, South Road, Knapton Hill, Harrington Sound Road and Wilkinson Avenue.
Public Transport Fares
Bermuda has updated its fare system in recent years, and you now have several payment options. Buses still take cash, but ferries no longer accept cash. You can pay by token, ticket booklet, multi day transport pass, or through the Shorelink mobile app.
A cash bus fare from Hamilton or Dockyard area to the caves is $5.00 (14 zone). Short distance hops within three zones are $3.50. Drivers do not give change, so carry the exact amount.
Tokens are cheaper and work on both buses and ferries. A 14 zone token costs $4.50 and a 3 zone token is $2.75. Tokens are sold at the Visitor Information Centres at Dockyard, Hamilton and St. George, at the Hamilton Ferry Terminal, at the Central Bus Terminal, and at many hotels.
For visitors planning to use public transport for more than a couple of rides, the multi day transportation pass is usually the best value. The current 2026 prices are $19 for one day, $31.50 for two days, $44 for three days, $48.50 for four days, and $62 for one week. The passes give you unlimited rides on both buses and ferries. Cruise passengers in port for two or three days usually find the two or three day pass pays for itself within a few rides.
Children 5 to 16 pay $2.75 per ride regardless of zone. Children under 5 ride free. If you transfer from one bus to another, the second leg is free, just ask the first driver for a transfer slip.
What to Wear and Carry
The air inside the caves stays around 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year, but the humidity is high so it can feel warm rather than chilly. Wear rubber soled shoes or sneakers because there are 88 steps down into Fantasy Cave and a similar number into Crystal Cave, some of them wet and slippery.
Flip flops and open sandals are a bad idea. There are sturdy handrails the whole way and a couple of bench rest points where you can pause on the way down or up.
Bring a small water bottle, a camera or phone for photos, and a light layer only if you feel the cold easily. Most visitors do not need a jacket.
Hold your phone, sunglasses and any loose items firmly on the pontoon bridge. Over the years I have heard from many readers who lost things in the lake, and there is no way to retrieve them.
Who Should Skip the Tour
If you have serious knee or hip problems, heart issues, or strong claustrophobia, I would not recommend the caves. There is no elevator and no alternate access. The chambers are wide once you are inside, so most people with mild claustrophobia manage fine, but the descent itself is enclosed.
Babies and small children are allowed, with no fee for children under 5. If you are carrying a baby, hold them firmly because of the steep stairs and the gaps on the bridge.
Elderly visitors who are mobile but slow can usually manage Crystal Cave, where the steps are more gradual than at Fantasy Cave. If only part of your group is doing the tour, the rest can wait at Cafe Ole on the property at no charge. They do not need to buy a ticket to sit there.
Facilities at the Complex
Cafe Ole is a small open air cafe near the ticket booth, with shaded patio tables. It is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The fish sandwich is genuinely one of the best in Bermuda, often served on raisin bread. The Wahoo burger, Bermuda fish chowder and daily lunch specials are also good. They open early enough for breakfast, including a traditional Bermuda codfish breakfast.
Fiddlestix Gift Shop is at the entrance area, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. It carries crystal and stone collections, mugs, postcards, locally made cedar items, T-shirts, glassware and books by Bermuda authors.
There are clean restrooms inside the complex.
Photography Tips
The caves are well lit, but the light is warm and low. Phone cameras handle the wide chamber shots reasonably well, but a few small adjustments help.
Turn off your flash. It flattens the formations and kills the reflection on the lake. Brace your phone or camera against the handrail to avoid camera shake.
The most rewarding shots are straight down through the water on the pontoon bridge, where the underwater formations show up beautifully through the perfectly clear lake.
Watch your footing while you frame the shot because the bridge moves slightly and the floor is uneven in places.
Best Time to Visit
The caves are a great rainy day option since they are entirely underground. If your beach day looks washed out, switch and use it for the caves instead.
For smaller crowds, plan your visit for either early morning (right at 9 am) or late afternoon (after 3 pm). On cruise ship days, the middle of the day (11 am to 2:30 pm) is the busiest window. Wednesday afternoons are often the quietest in the summer because most ships are mid itinerary on that day.
Nearby Attractions and Places to Eat
The area around the caves is one of the more attraction-rich corners of Bermuda. Within walking or a short ride you have several places worth combining into one trip.
Bailey's Bay Ice Cream Parlor sits directly across from Swizzle Inn. They make all their ice creams on site, with unique flavors like rum and ginger and Bermuda banana.
Blue Hole Park is a 10 to 12 minute walk and offers a forested nature reserve with mangroves, walking trails and small caves of its own.
Contact Information
Crystal and Fantasy Caves
8 Crystal Caves Road, Hamilton Parish CR 04, Bermuda
Phone: (441) 293-0640
Road Map
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
Related Articles
1) If you want to know about the island's other underground sights, Bermuda actually has many more caves, most of which are not show caves. See
Other Bermuda Caves.
2) Check out
Hamilton Parish to know about other great attractions in the parish.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Adriann (July 2018)
Hi Raj, I am looking to travel from Tobacco Bay Beach to the Crystal Caves. What bus number should I be looking to take and is there a bus stop near the Beach? Thank you for your help! I love your website.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) July 2018
Hi, there is only a private minibus shuttle service at Tobacco bay which can get you up to Kings Square in St. George. You can then take bus #1 or 3 for Crystal cave. The minibus shuttle services align with the peak cruise tourism season, running frequently from May through October.
Margie (June 2018)
Hi Raj, I was hoping you could let me know which beach is closest to crystal cave as we would like to fit in as much as possible into one day. Also can you suggest a mode of transportation from shipyard. Thank you.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) June 2018
Hi, John Smith's Bay in Smith's Parish (2.8 miles, bus #1 and 3 from Crystal Cave) and Shelly Bay Beach at Hamilton Parish (2.7 miles, bus #10, 11 from Crystal cave) would be the nearest ones to the caves.
From the dockyard you can get to the caves by first taking a ferry to Hamilton City and then bus #1 or 3 (note that John Smiths bay beach will be along the way, so you may like to visit the beach first an then get to the caves).
Dawn (May 2018)
I am hoping you can help provide me some information regarding visiting your crystal caves. In August I will be visiting the island via a cruise to Kings Wharf. Can you please help provide me the quickest way to the caves from the port.
What would the cost for the transportation there be? I am extremely nervous in timing and missing the cruise departure time, we are supposed to arrive at the pier at 8am and depart at 4pm. Will there enough travel time to and from the pier and time at the caves? Thank you for any help you can provide me.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) May 2018
Take a ferry from the dockyard to Hamilton and then a bus (#1 or 3) to the caves and same way back. Yes there will be enough time to visit. If you pay the transport fares in cash, then for each journey by ferry or bus, it will cost $5 per person ($4.50 if you pay by token).
Ari (September 2017)
I am so looking forward to seeing the caves in just 2 weeks! One more question for you all- how often do buses come by for the return trip from the caves? We hope to take the bus back as well, but I am concerned if we will be waiting a long while on a Monday afternoon for a bus to come by. Read lots of info on how to get there, but not much on how to get back! How frequently do these public buses go by?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, September 2017)
Both bus #1 and 3 operate every 30 minutes on weekdays. With about 10-minute gap between their schedules, you can expect a bus every 20 minutes to get back to Hamilton from Crystal caves. However to get to St. George from Caves, the gap would be more (30 minute+) because some of these bus services terminate at Grotto Bay and do not go all the way up to St. George. It's better to take a short walk to Blue Hole Hill bus stop and take bus #10 or 11 ... you can expect to get a bus every 15 minutes to St. George or Hamilton.
Jenn (July 2017)
Hi, If I rent a scooter at the dockyard how long will it take to get to the caves? Also which road would be the quickest way to get there south road or middle road? Thank you!
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, July 2017)
Hi, dockyard to Crystal Caves is about 20 miles and will take around 1 hour 10 minutes to reach by scooter in normal traffic. Take the Middle road which will eventually meet with South Road, then Knapton Hill, then to Harrington Sound Road and finally to Wilkinson Avenue.
Kris (July 2017)
My family will be visiting Bermuda in a few weeks and taking a mini van guided tour of the island. We want to take the kids to visit Crystal Caves but I am concerned my elderly parents will not be able to make it down and up the stairs for the caves. You mentioned a cafe and gift shop. Can they wait inside for us and do we have to pay a $22 entrance fee for them as well? Thank you.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, July 2017)
Hi, your parents can wait at Cafe Ole. The cafe is right at the car park before the entrance to the cave complex and there are plenty of seating area there... both outdoor and under shades. They don't need to but the entrance tickets to the caves.
Kathy (June 2016)
How long does it take by bus/ferry from Royal Dockyard to Crystal Caves thank you. We are so excited to visit this beautiful island, I have not been there since 1980!
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, June 2016)
Take ferry from dockyard to Hamilton (20 minutes), then bus (#1, 3) to Crystal Caves (about 30 minutes), add transfer time in between.
Amy (May 2016)
I will be in Bermuda with my family for three days next week. Since our time is limited, I had not included a visit to the caves in our plans, but am now thinking it would be really great to try and fit in a tour on our way to the airport on our final morning. I am wondering what you recommend for the minimum amount of time to spend at the caves and whether we would be able to "store" our luggage/suitcases while on the tour. Thank you!
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, May 2016)
Hi, you need to plan a minimum of about 45 minutes to 1 hour in the caves complex (to see both Crystal and Fantasy). You can keep your luggage at the airport, take a bus (#1 or 3) for the caves... it's a short ride, about 10 minutes. But don't try to carry any bags in the bus... it won't be allowed.
There is a caveat in my suggested plan though. I assumed that you may be able to check in your baggage early and get help from the airline to store your carry-on bags. There is no short term left-luggage facility or storeroom at Bermuda airport. Here are some alternative plans...
1) there is a luggage storage facility at the Visitors Information Center at St. George. That would mean taking your taxi further beyond airport for about 8-10 minutes, and then taking a bus or the same taxi to the caves.
2) better hire the taxi for 3 hours and keep the luggage in the boot. It would cost about $150 for 3 hours (@$50 an hour). However considering the airport transfer cost (which you would incur anyway) and the tour of the caves, it can be a nice package, and you can also be more efficient with timings. You can even add some more places to visit if time permits.
Anne Niblock (May 2016)
Hi, will be in Bermuda in a week. I would like to take the bus from Hamilton to the aquarium and zoo . then from there to crystal caves, then on to st George. Can I do this on the one bus route. What buses would I take. I want too make sure I can get from the zoo to the caves. Thanks
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, May 2016)
Hi, Take bus #10 or 11 from Hamilton to Aquarium/zoo. Continue on the same route (#10 or 11) and get off at Blue Hole Hill circle (next to Bailey's Bay Ice Cream and near Swizzle Inn Pub). From there walk for 2 minutes to the entry of Crystal Caves road (where the caves bus stop is on Wilkinson Avenue. Note that it requires 3-4 minute walk from the Caves bus stop to reach the entry to caves). Come back to the Caves bus stop and take bus #1 or 3 to St. George. Alternatively walk back to Blue Hole Circle and take earlier bus route (#10 or 11) to St. George.
Grace (July 2015)
HI : we will be arriving to Bermuda via Celebrity cruise on July 19, 2015 do you think is doable to go to crystal cave with a baby of two years old ? We probably need to hold him in arms so is that too dangerous to go through the stairs ? Nowhere in the website say baby is allowed or not. Thanks
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, July 2015)
Hi, kids and babies are allowed in Crystal caves (no entry fee for kids under 5). You should hold your kid and not let him lose. It should be okay.
Pat Fleming (April 2015)
Can we get a tour to see the crystal caves after we get off of the ship. Everything on the ships tour doesn't say anything about the caves. Only about beaches, snorkeling, and things like that
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, April 2015)
Hi, You don't need to book a tour of Crystal caves through your cruise line or through any local operator. Just take the ferry to Hamilton and then take bus #1 or 3 to Crystal Caves. Once you buy the entry tickets, there is a guided tour available at the caves itself or you can be on your own.
Virginia Albanese (April 2014)
We will be taking bus #1 from Hamilton main terminal to visit Crystal Caves. Do I take the same number to return and do the busses run frequently? I must be back to the Ferry Terminal to get a ferry to the Dockside no later than 6:00 p.m,
Thank you for your reply. Your site has been very helpful.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, April 2014)
You can take bus #1 or #3 from Hamilton City for the caves and return by the same buses. Both run every 30 minutes.
Andre Choiniere (September 2013)
Can we dive in the Crystal cave. If yes do I need a special course and what is the price.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, September 2013)
Diving is not allowed in Crystal caves. It requires special permission from the authorities for scientific exploration etc.
Dan O'Brien (May 2013)
I am visiting shortly and plan on going to the CRYSTAL CAVES with my elderly father. How many steps from top to the bottom of the caves. Thank you
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com, May 2013)
The complex has two caves - Crystal and Fantasy. Both caves have 80+ steps plus a ramp. Fantasy is deeper and has 88 steps. However the steps in Crystal cave is more gradual while fantasy steps are steeper. Both caves have handrails and places to sit on the way down or up. So one can take it easy and negotiate the stairs at slow pace. You will need to climb back up the same way. However if one has serious knee problems, or other difficulties like claustrophobia or heart problems, then I would suggest not to take the caves tour. It does get a bit humid inside as you climb down. But otherwise, it's a great place to visit.
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