John Smith's Bay
A south shore beach in Smith's Parish, one of the few public beaches with a lifeguard in season.
Updated 2 September 2026
John Smith's Bay is a curve of pink-tinged sand on the south shore, backed by a low park with picnic tables and trees, and it is one of the few Bermudian public beaches that has a lifeguard on duty through the summer season. Reef close inshore makes for reasonable snorkelling and keeps the swell down. It is named for a seventeenth-century landowner rather than the Virginia captain, and it is used more by residents than visitors.
What to look for
- The pink sand - the shell-tinted beach characteristic of the south shore.
- The inshore reef - the rock close in that shelters the bay and holds fish.
- The lifeguard - one of the few public beaches with cover in season.
- The park behind - the picnic ground and trees above the sand.
When to go
May to October is the swimming season and when the lifeguard is on duty. Hurricane season runs June to November and brings swell. Weekends bring residents.
What to expect
The beach is small and fills at weekends. Swell on the south shore can be strong outside the reef. Facilities are limited to toilets and a bus stop.
Nearby
Spittal Pond is west, and Flatts is north.
What to pack for John Smith's Bay
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Your own mask + snorkel - A well-fitting mask is the single biggest comfort upgrade underwater. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
- Rash guard or thin wetsuit - Sun cover on the surface and warmth on longer or deeper dives. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
