Nassau
Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas, a low-rise, pastel city on New Providence Island. Downtown is best explored on foot, among pink government buildings, forts and the Straw Market. Beaches and boat trips lie a short taxi or ferry ride away.
The most reviewed first. Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Nassau City Highlights with Cave and Rum Tastings
Winemaker for a Day with Nuts and Dried Fruit Plate
Downtown Nassau
Downtown Nassau is the historic core of the capital, a compact grid of colonial buildings, monuments, murals and museums. Most of it is best seen on foot, one street at a time.
Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island is a private island off Nassau where a day trip centers on snorkeling, stingray and sea lion encounters, and dolphin swims. It is a boat day rather than a walk.
Pirates of Nassau Museum
A wax museum in downtown Nassau that tells the story of pirates in The Bahamas and the people who fought them. You walk through battle scenes, pirate life displays and a few real artifacts.
Fort Fincastle
Fort Fincastle is a small fort on a hill south of downtown Nassau, with cannons on display and views over the city.
Queen's Staircase
The Queen's Staircase, known as the 66 Steps, is a flight of 66 steps cut into solid limestone in Nassau.
Fort Charlotte
Fort Charlotte is a historic fort on a hill over the western end of Nassau Harbor. It is the largest of the Nassau forts, covering 100 acres.
Rose Island
Rose Island is a private island off Nassau used for beach days, with snorkeling and a resort on its shore. Most visitors go out by boat for the day from Nassau.
Cable Beach
Cable Beach is Nassau's best-known beach, a long stretch of white sand on the island's northern coast. Upscale resorts line the shore, and beach clubs sit along the strip.
Junkanoo Beach
Junkanoo Beach is the Nassau beach nearest the cruise port, with harbor views and often something going on. It is a beach stop in Nassau, not a day trip.
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest church in Downtown Nassau and the first church built in The Bahamas. Its history goes back to 1670, and the Gothic building standing today dates to 1841.
Paradise Island
Paradise Island is a resort island linked to Nassau by a bridge across the harbor. Its powder-white beaches, large hotels and the Atlantis resort draw most visitors from the port.
Dolphin Cay, Atlantis
Dolphin Cay is a 14-acre marine environment inside the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, where visitors meet dolphins, stingrays and other sea life.
Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre
A mini zoo off West Bay Street with more than 200 birds, reptiles and mammals, best known for its marching flamingos. Visitors can also feed parakeets that land on them.
Potter's Cay
Potter's Cay is a fish market and row of stalls under the Paradise Island bridge, known for fresh conch salad, conch fritters and Bahamian seafood. It is a working market, not a set-piece tour stop.
Good to know
Snorkeling
Half-day outings usually last about 2.5 to 5 hours, and the reef trips often take in shipwrecks and famous reef sites. Booking a boat trip is the usual way to reach these spots.
Old town and historic sights
Downtown Nassau is small enough to explore on foot. The Queen's Staircase, a 66-step stair named for Queen Victoria, sits a short walk up the hill. A guided walking tour runs about 1.5 hours.
Highlights and island tours
Highlights tours run about 2.5 to 4.5 hours. Bus loops take in Fort Charlotte, the Queen's Staircase and Atlantis on Paradise Island, while some tours pair a catamaran ride with a guided bus drive.
When to go
The dry season runs December to April, with the fewest rainy days and the best weather for boat trips and beaches. Junkanoo parades depend on the holidays, so they are not a reliable part of an autumn visit.
Good to know
- Ride only in licensed yellow-plated taxis, and agree on the fare before you get in.
- US dollars are widely accepted at a 1:1 rate, so you do not need to exchange money.
- Jitneys stop around 6 PM, and after that a taxi is the only ride.
- The Pompey Museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Coming by ship
Ships usually stay about 9 hours in Nassau, and most arrive between 7 and 9 am.
Getting ashore and around
Downtown is short distances, so walking is the easy way to see the old town, the pink government buildings and Queen's Staircase. For the beaches on the far side of the island, Paradise Island and the boat trips, use a licensed yellow-plated taxi or the Paradise Island ferry, which runs only during a limited morning window. Jitneys run until about 6 PM.
Questions people ask
How do I get to Blue Lagoon Island or Rose Island from Nassau?
Blue Lagoon is a day trip of about 6 to 8 hours, and snorkel outings to the reefs usually last 2.5 to 5 hours.
Is the Paradise Island ferry available all day?
No. The ferry to Paradise Island leaves every 30 minutes, but only during a limited morning window. Crossing is possible only in the morning.
These places share what it's known for.
