Nassau, The Bahamas

The Bahamas are a truly stunning nation of warm beaches and friendly people. The Island of New Providence is home to most of the nations population and its capital city of Nassau. Nassau is home to many resorts such as the Atlantis Resort on connected Paradise Island and quite a few interesting attractions. With a population over 250,000 on this small Island the city of Nassau definitely has the hustle and bustle of a large city but you can find the charm of the island touring the forts, walking in the shops along Bay Street and checking out the colorful buildings of the Island like the Pink Capital building. You will definitely want to try to local Conch dishes while in The Bahamas and try some of the local beers and liquors. The culture of the island is also one you will want to see, especially if you are there during the Junkanoo festival. Many different films such as multiple James Bond movies have been filed in Nassau. Donna and I spent a day in Nassau as part of a cruise in 2016, 2024 and in 2025. We have really enjoyed the culture and attractions at Nassau. There is a lot to see and do and we haven’t done it all even though we have been several times.

Getting to Nassau, The Bahamas and Transportation

Donna and I made it to Nassau, The Bahamas as part of the four day cruise to Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida. Nassau is a very popular cruise port of call and you can find many different cruise lines that can take you to the Island. We also visited Nassau on a MSC and a Norwegian Cruise in 2024. There are also many flights available through various airlines including most recently Southwest Airlines. The airfare can be expensive and hotel costs can be high on this resort Island but spending a little more time could be worth it as the Island is wonderful. I recommend the cruise route since it is more bang for your buck. While on the Island you can tour through a guided tour van, use public bus transportation or use taxi’s to travel around the relatively small Island. You can also walk through the downtown area yourself like Donna and I did after our guided tour ended. The cruise terminal is right across from the nation’s capital and the shopping of Bay Street.

New Cruise Port in Nassau and Junkanoo Museum

In the last year Nassau has opened a renovated cruise port. On our first visit the cruise port did not have many shops or things to see in general. Now the cruise port is much improved. You are greeted with a large video screen and nice visitors center. There are many shops you can visit now in nice small buildings some that have Air Conditioning. We enjoyed trying the local beers (Kalik and Sands), a stall has spicy Conch Fritters and one has Pineapple Dole Whip that I have only found in Hawaii and Disney World. Another great addition is the brand new Junkanoo Museum located in the cruise port. Junkanoo is a festival filled with colorful costumes and floats that occurs the day after Christmas (Boxing Day). Its basically The Bahamas Carnival celebration. The museum goes over where the celebration comes from and a timeline. You can see the costumes and floats and go into a video experience that makes it feel like you are at the lively Junkanoo. The museum is also a great place to cool off for a little while after spending time in the hot Bahamian sun. If you go on a cruise take a bit of time to explore the new port that to me is one of the best in the Caribbean now.

Atlantis Resort

On Paradise Island connected to New Providence Island/Nassau is the Atlantis Resort. The resort is as luxurious as you get and has an amazing water park and beaches you can enjoy while staying there. They also have Dolphin Experiences available for you as well if you want to swim with the Dolphins. If you come to Nassau on a cruise you do have the opportunity to spend the day at the Resort. You can buy excursions that just go to the beach and you have access to the hotel restaurants and casino, have full access to the water park or buy Dolphin Experiences. The excursions can be very pricey but will give you a taste of the resort. Donna and I have visited Atlantis on a variety of tours over the years. Our first was a quick drive through that allowed us to see the grounds. A second gave us time to go into the casino and see the famous Chihuly glass and the lobby. Our last tour was a day pass to the Aqua Adventure where we enjoyed Atlantis for the day and enjoyed the water slides, beach and our favorite part the lazy/rapids river. The River had periods of rapids you went through that gave a bit of excitement to it.

Fort Charlotte

The Bahamas are a relatively new nation having only gained independence from Great Britain in 1973. From its long history as a British territory you can still see some of the British forts and other remnants of the British rule of the Island. Fort Charlotte was build in the 18th century and is a good example of a British Caribbean fort. This Bahamian National historic park cost a nominal fee to tour and is pretty well preserved. There are tour guides you will give you a personal tour of the fort and you can see life of a 18th century British soldier garrisoned at the fort. We only had a brief stop of around 20 minutes so we very quickly toured the fort and then visited the gift shop outside of the fort. Near the fort there are stalls for locals to sell their crafts and souvenirs. Its a nice stop and good glimpse into British Colonial history.

The Bahamian National Stadium and Olympic exhibit

While we were touring Nassau we made a brief stop at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium and saw an exhibit on famous Bahamian Olympians. The Stadium is used for many different sports including the College Football Bahamas Bowl game. It was a nice quick stop and a chance to learn about some of The Bahamas Olympic Athletes.

John Watling's Distillery

Our tour stopped at the John Watling’s Distillery at the 1789 Buena Vista estate. Its a beautiful and colorful home that was used for scenes in the James Bond film Casino Royale. There is a sign labeling where James Bond stood during the filming. We got a guided tour of the home and the small but nice distillery. For a nominal price you can taste a few of their quite strong but good rum. The tour only takes around 20 minutes or so. We have visited it a few times and tried a variety of drinks like Pina Colada and got Conch at the nice little restaurant in front of the estate. The tours are free, and you get a good history of the people behind the distillery.

The Queen's Staircase

After our tour Donna and I took the around 15 minute or so walk to the Queen’s Staircase. Its just outside of the main downtown area of Nassau. It is a staircase carved into solid rock by slaves in the 18th century so soldiers could more easily make it up to Fort Fincastle that is on top of the hill by the stairs. The stairs are flanked by lush tropical plants and a waterfall. Its a nice little walk and a walk back in time. There are local guides like “The Island Boy” who will give you great information about the staircase and the hardships that the slaves had carving this amazing staircase out of solid rock. The guides there are very friendly and are free (we usually give a tip). Don’t miss this historic spot in Nassau!

Fort Fincastle

On top of a hill overlooking Nassau and it’s harbor is the historic 18th century Fort Fincastle. Its a smaller fort than Fort Charlotte but offers great views of the Island and the beautiful blue water. Donna and I could easily see the many cruise ships visiting the Island that day. There are a few historic cannons and you can walk the fort on your own and hear stories from the staff about the fort. There is a small fee for entering the fort and the tour will probably take around 20 minutes of so. Outside the fort you can find local vendors setup that will very eagerly sell you trinkets from The Bahamas. We have visited the fort a couple times on tours but we would like to visit it again in a little more detail.

Graycliff

On our multiple trips to Nassau we usually passed by The Graycliff Hotel and the stores along the street but they were always looked interesting. We got the chance to visit the area on our 2025 visit to Nassau. The Graycliff Hotel is located in Old Town Nassau and has a history going back 300 years. While we did not get a chance to visit the hotel we did visit the multiple Graycliff businesses on West Street. There is the Graycliff Chocolatiers where you can sample Bahamian made chocolates and buy a variety of great snacks. We got an amazing Chocolate Drink while there. There is a Cigar Store that we didn’t end up visiting next door. We did get the chance to visit the Winery where we got to taste a great tasting sweet wine made there. There is a heritage museum there as well that is by appointment only and the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is a short walk away. It’s a nice place to visit while in Nassau to try unique food and drinks.

The Fish Fry

Another famous location in Nassau is the Fish Fry on Arawak Cay. It’s a street full of restaurants many around fried fish but you can find plenty of other restaurants. We have only passed by the area on tours but have never had the chance to visit but it looks like a great place to try Bahamian dishes. On the last time past the area they were getting ready for a super bowl party!

The Beaches

As expected The Bahamas are know for their beautiful beaches and Crystal Clear Water. Nassau doesn’t disappoint when it comes to this area. Many beaches are owned by resorts and there is a fee to use them but there are public beaches as well like the one we stopped at to take in the view. Donna and I did not swim in Nassau but we snorkeled on Grand Bahama Island. If you haven’t swam in a Caribbean beach (The Bahamas are actually in the Atlantic but are just like Caribbean Islands) go do it and the beaches back home will most likely never be the same to you again.

Downtown Nassau

If you have time its worth a walk down Bay street that runs in front of the cruise terminal. There are many shops you can visit like a Christmas store. There are other attractions and museums you can walk to near the cruise port as well. There are a few local booths in the Cruise terminal itself for shopping before security. You can also walk to the National Capital of The Bahamas. Its a nice pink colored building with cannons in front of it. Donna and I were not able to go in but we walked around the outside.

Bahamas Rum Cake Factory

Not too far from the cruise port on Bay Street (the main street on the island and home to Junkanoo) you can taste and purchase the unique rum cakes that you will find in the Caribbean. It’s a sponge type cake that is flavored with a variety of flavors and soaked in rum. You can find them on other islands, but we found that this is a local shop with many unique flavors. You get a chance to taste them, and we bought a couple smaller cakes. Next door is an outdoor bar where you can get plenty of great Bahamian drinks like our favorite “The Kalik Radler”.

Tips for The Bahamas

While you are in The Bahamas try the local Conch (a muscle) dishes like Conch fritters. There are many other ways Conch is cooked in the Islands. While snorkeling is one of the highlights in The Bahamas also take some time to soak up the culture and learn a little about this Island nation. They have a vibrant and interesting history and culture. I recommend cruising to The Bahamas because you get more bang for you buck but an extended stay would be nice as well. The Bahamas use the Bahamian Dollar and its value is equal to the US Dollar at all times. US currency is widely accepted in The Bahamas so you will have no problem using it. English is the language spoken in The Bahamas. Be prepared for rain being a tropical destination and the heat especially during the summertime. Be watchful if traveling during hurricane season (June 1 – November 30).