Updated in September 2026, this Fort St Catherine guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Fort St Catherine is a 17th-century coastal fort at the northeastern tip of St. George’s Island, Bermuda, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Daily opening is generally limited to the summer months; the rest of the year, the fort opens on weekdays only.
Quick facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm, year-round; daily in summer (roughly June to late August) |
| Ticket prices | $7.00 adults, $5.00 seniors (65+), $3.00 children (5–15), free under 5 |
| Address | 15 Coot Pond Road, St. George’s Parish, Bermuda |
| Nearest transport | Bus routes 1, 3, 6, 10 or 11 to St. George’s, then a 15–25 minute uphill walk |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
Fort St Catherine opening hours
Year-round, the fort opens Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In summer, opening typically extends to every day of the week, including weekends, for a period of roughly early June to late August.
The exact summer dates are set annually by the Department of Parks and are not always published far in advance, so confirming current hours before visiting on a weekend or outside summer is worthwhile, particularly for anyone planning around a cruise call.
5 experiences worth booking in Bermuda
- 🤿 On a glass-bottom boat cruise, go for a walk along the ocean floor in a diving helmet.
- 🍽️ In Hamilton, taste authentic Bermudan dishes and drinks on a food walking tour.
- ⛵ Take a catamaran cruise to a private cove without the crowds – with snorkelling equipment included.
- 🤿 Explore the Constellation and Montana Shipwrecks on a snorkelling adventure.
- 🪨 Combine the Crystal Caves with top scenic photo stops on a half day island tour.
Fort St Catherine ticket prices
Admission costs $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors aged 65 and over, and $3.00 for children aged 5 to 15; children under 5 enter free.
Guided 20-minute tours run at set times, typically around 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm; call ahead to book, since these are not guaranteed to run outside busier periods. Self-guided visits need no reservation.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked against the official Government of Bermuda listing and last updated in September 2026. There is no combined ticket covering Fort St Catherine and Bermuda’s other forts.
Tickets can generally be bought with either cash or a credit card at the entrance, so visitors arriving without Bermuda dollars should not need to worry about payment.
How to get to Fort St Catherine
Fort St Catherine is not on a direct bus route. The nearest stop is in the Town of St. George, served by bus routes 1, 3, 6, 10 and 11, from where it is a 15 to 25 minute walk, uphill on the way out and downhill on the return, passing the Unfinished Church.
Taxis are readily available from King’s Square in St. George’s, and in summer a seasonal minibus shuttle sometimes runs from the square directly to the fort; ask at the visitor information centre for current details.
Parking at Fort St Catherine
On-site parking is available for cars and scooters at the fort.
How long to spend at Fort St Catherine
Most visitors need 1 to 2 hours to explore the museum galleries, tunnels and ramparts at a relaxed pace.
Accessibility at Fort St Catherine
The fort’s tunnels, stairways and ramparts make full wheelchair access difficult, though the main courtyard and lower galleries are easier to reach. Visitors with mobility concerns should call ahead to discuss the current layout.
Inside Fort St Catherine: what to see
Visitors cross a dry moat on a wooden bridge to reach the fort’s interior, where a gallery of dioramas traces the site’s development from its earliest wooden fortification to its final 19th-century form.
Among the displays are replicas of the British Crown Jewels, alongside period weapons including muzzle-loading cannons that once weighed 18 tons and fired shells of around 400 pounds, plus Victorian-era rifled guns, muskets, swords and pistols.
Underground tunnels and magazines show how gunpowder was stored and moved to the gun floor by shell lift, while the Keep displays a mock-up of soldiers’ sleeping quarters and a kitchen and mess hall.
From the ramparts, views stretch out over the reefs where the Sea Venture was wrecked in 1609, an event that led directly to Bermuda’s settlement, as well as over Achilles Bay and St. Catherine’s Beach on either side of the fort. An audio-visual presentation covers the wider network of forts around St. George’s.
The first fort on this site was built from wood in 1612 by Richard Moore, Bermuda’s first governor, replaced by a stone structure in 1614, and expanded at least five times over the following centuries. It has been part of the Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
The fort’s position was chosen to guard “The Narrows,” the channel through which ships approaching St. George’s Harbour from the north had to pass, making it one of the most strategically important defensive points on the island.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Outside summer, visit on a weekday, since weekend opening is not guaranteed. |
| Crowds | Cruise ship days bring coach tours, typically arriving mid-morning. |
| Layout | Combine your visit with a walk to Tobacco Bay and the Town of St. George. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the entrance; call ahead to arrange a short guided tour. |
| On-site logistics | Wear sturdy shoes for uneven stone floors and dimly lit tunnels. |
Frequently asked questions about Fort St Catherine
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Fort St Catherine suitable for children? | Yes, though supervise children around the ramparts and dim underground tunnels. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Fort St Catherine? | No for general entry; guided tours should be booked ahead by phone. |
| Is Fort St Catherine open every day? | Only in summer; the rest of the year it is open Monday to Friday only. |
| Is Fort St Catherine wheelchair accessible? | Only partially, due to stairs, tunnels and uneven rampart surfaces. |
| Is Fort St Catherine part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site? | Yes, as part of the Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications. |
Things to do near Fort St Catherine
- Tobacco Bay Beach: a popular snorkelling beach, a short walk from the fort.
- Achilles Bay and St. Catherine’s Beach: quieter beaches flanking the fort on either side.
- The Unfinished Church: a 19th-century church ruin on the walk back to town.
- Town of St. George: the UNESCO-listed historic town, about a 15–20 minute walk away.
- Gates Fort: a smaller 17th-century fort near Town Cut, close to St. George’s.
Alternative attractions
- Fort Hamilton: a hilltop fort and moat garden in the City of Hamilton, about 30–40 minutes away.
- Fort Scaur: a hilltop fort and park at the island’s western end, about 50 minutes to an hour away.
- National Museum of Bermuda: a fortress-museum complex at the Royal Naval Dockyard, about 1 hour away.
- Gibbs Hill Lighthouse: Bermuda’s tallest lighthouse, at the opposite end of the island, about 1 hour away.
- St. David’s Battery: coastal gun emplacements on St. David’s Island, about 15–20 minutes away.
