JP Polewczak
Google
Get there early!
Whether you're in Bermuda staying at a resort or if you're in by way of a cruise, you need to plan to get to Horseshoe Bay early.
We (two adults and a baby) traveled by bus from the dockyard, which was easy, but be warned the bus stops are a 10-15 minute walk up a stepped platform from the beach entrance. If you go by way of taxi or a private shuttle, there is a parking lot right next to the entrance.
Access to the beach is free, but they have a private company that provides rentals for chairs and umbrellas. We arrived around 9:00 AM and we're probably 4th in line for rentals. Most of the people already on the beach were locals. The staff here were friendly (everyone in Bermuda is friendly, I don't know how) but were also very accommodating. We were just going to get one chair and an umbrella, but the staff member suggested that we get chairs in the cove area, at this time of day they were largely in shade so for the same price of a chair and umbrella, we just got two chairs and it was perfect.
By 10 AM, chairs were filling up and people were coming in droves.
The beach is beautiful and absolutely worth the visit and there is a bar located near the entrance. There is also a public bathroom where you can change or rinse off. A must-do experience.