17 Fun Things to Do in Nassau, Bahamas

Both the biggest metropolis and capital of The Bahamas, the vigorous but laidback Nassau is likely one of the hottest cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. Covering a lot of the jap half of New Providence Island, it boasts an interesting historical past and tradition with a wealth of world-class seashores and watersports on supply.

Due to its strategic location alongside quite a few commerce routes, pirates flocked to the isle in the early eighteenth-century with the British later constructing forts to management Nassau Harbour. Many of its vacationer points of interest and museums relate to this era. The occurring downtown space accommodates a mixture of previous world and colonial structure.

Thanks to its glittering white sands, swaying palms and glowing sea, it’s a seashore lover’s paradise. Many guests additionally embody snorkeling and scuba diving on their listing of issues to do in Nassau and a great deal of wonderful websites may be discovered simply offshore. With beautiful climate assured and easy-going island life to take pleasure in, it’s no surprise Nassau and The Bahamas are a dream vacation spot for many individuals.

17. Straw Market

Right in the middle of town is one in every of Nassau’s high spots to store for souvenirs: the colourful Straw Market. A enjoyable and festive place to discover, distributors promote all the pieces from woven hats, baskets and mats to picket carvings and sculptures.

For many years now, vacationers have flocked to the normal open-air market to purchase lovely handmade bead jewelry, clothes and different souvenirs. The market’s origins date again to the Nineteen Forties when native girls started braiding and weaving palm leaves into baskets and fishing traps following the decline of the sponging business.

Nowadays, there are rows of stands and stalls for you to stroll previous till one thing catches your fancy and it’s time to check out your haggling abilities.

16. Fort Fincastle

One of Nassau’s most vital and spectacular historic sights, Fort Fincastle lies perched atop the island’s highest hill overlooking the waterfront and Paradise Island. Accessed by way of the enduring Queen’s Staircase, it gives commanding views over the encircling space and shimmering sea.

Built again in 1793 to defend Nassau from pirates, the small however sturdy fort is formed just like the bow of a ship and options 126-feet-high partitions. In its heyday, it bristled with a great deal of cannons although by no means noticed a lot motion. The fort was later used as a lighthouse and sign station.

On excursions, you’ll be able to see rusty previous cannons and informative plaques dotted about and study extra about its historical past out of your educated information. Although it’s effectively price exploring, the spotlight has to be the panoramic views over Nassau and the ocean.

15. Government House

Just a brief stroll away is the beautiful pastel pink Government House which is the official residence of the Governor General of The Bahamas. Set atop Mount Fitzwilliam, the magnificent mansion has terrific excursions for you to take round its exterior gardens and grounds.

The finest instance of Georgian Colonial structure in the West Indies, it was erected in 1803 with a advantageous portico and massive ionic columns fronting its facade. Midway up the flight of stairs main to the doorway is a putting statue of Christopher Columbus.

Aside from snapping some images of its distinctive design and pleasant shade of pink, guests can study all in regards to the historical past of the constructing, governors and The Bahamas on guided excursions. In addition to touring the advanced, you’ll be able to generally catch its very good altering of the guard ceremony.

14. Junkanoo Beach

While Nassau definitely has plenty of fascinating websites for you to see, it additionally has greater than its fair proportion of good seashores. One of the preferred amongst locals and vacationers alike is Junkanoo due to its intensive facilities, actions and leisure choices and its proximity to the middle.

Located on the western finish of the waterfront, its gentle sands and turquoise waters are protected by the protruding Arawak Cay. Plenty of deck chairs and parasols can be found for lease with numerous bars and eating places lining the seashore and distributors hawking snacks and drinks.

Although loud music and vigorous ambiance aren’t for everybody, Junkanoo Beach does supply up an genuine style of native life. While absorbing some solar and splashing about in the ocean, it’s also possible to take pleasure in splendid views of Nassau Harbor Lighthouse and the big cruise ships passing by.

13. Dive With Sharks at Stuart Cove

If alternatively you’re after an unforgettable underwater journey, then the stupendous Stuart Cove is definitely the place to go. At the unimaginable dive web site, you’ll be able to snorkel and scuba dive subsequent to swirling sharks with quite a few tour operators in city working excursions out to the reef.

As the waters surrounding Nassau teem with life, friends are assured to see huge shoals of tropical fish, lush coral gardens and steep drop-offs to the ocean flooring down beneath. The undoubted spotlight nonetheless has to be swimming about with dozens and dozens of Caribbean reef sharks and a few nurse sharks.

As the innocent predators swim about beneath and even brush previous you at instances, scuba diving and snorkeling right here guarantees to be a memorable affair. Add in all of the superb stingrays, parrotfish and angelfish you see and this journey actually will not be to be missed out.

12. Cabbage Beach

After all the thrill and adrenaline, there isn’t any higher place to loosen up and unwind than on the calm and quiet Cabbage Beach. Situated simply alongside from the lavish Las Vegas-style Atlantis Resort, it lies in the direction of the northeastern finish of the appropriately named Paradise Island.

Very scenic and serene, its brilliantly vivid white sands gently curve their method alongside the ocean with nearly everybody who visits rightfully commenting on its magnificence. While its crystal-clear waters generally get a bit tough, at different instances you’ll be able to swim, snorkel or jet ski about its glinting floor.

Backed by swaying palm bushes, the idyllic seashore has quite a few stands the place you’ll be able to decide up drinks and snacks or lease sunloungers and umbrellas. If at any level you get bored, the resort’s on line casino, spa and water park lie only a quick distance away.

11. National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

Packed with phenomenal work, images, prints and sculptures, the superb National Art Gallery of the Bahamas may be discovered proper in town middle. One of the nation’s high cultural institutes, its giant galleries have innumerable artworks and displays for guests to peruse.

Although the artwork museum solely opened in 2003, its complete assortment of Bahamian artwork items occupies a captivating previous colonial constructing that dates to 1860. In the historic Villa Doyle, there are a plethora of works starting from precolonial instances proper up to the present-day with masterpieces by Max Taylor, Brent Malone and John Cox amongst others all on present.

On high of seeing these famend Bahamians’ artworks from up shut, friends also can see ceramics, textiles and modern installations in the elegant Italian colonial mansion.

10. Trip to Pig Beach

One of probably the most well-known and fashionable points of interest in The Bahamas are the swimming pigs that occupy the uninhabited Big Major Cay. From Nassau, quite a few tour operators run journeys to the seashore the place you’ll be able to lounge about, feed and even swim alongside the lovable critters.

Made up of greater than 365 islands, the Exuma district of the nation lies a couple of two-hour velocity boat journey east of Nassau throughout the open sea. Once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by blindingly vivid white sands and twinkling turquoise shallows with comfortable hogs wallowing about in the nice and cozy waters.

Seeing them swim and sunbathe in such a pristine and picture-perfect setting actually is an superior expertise like no different. To this present day, nobody is aware of precisely how the pigs arrived on the remoted isle. Some say they’re survivors of a shipwreck and others that they’re solely there to appeal to vacationers.

9. Aquaventure

Guaranteed enjoyable for all of the household, the big Aquaventure water park is house to plenty of wild and moist rides, stress-free swimming pools and a personal seashore. An vital a part of the high-end Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, its one-of-a-kind waterscape is surrounded by tons of tropical bushes and Atlantean-themed towers and temples.

One of the largest and finest water parks in the Caribbean, its slides, swimming swimming pools and sunbathing areas sprawl throughout a humongous space. With names like ‘Leap of Faith’, ‘The Abyss’ and ‘Challenger Slide’, you’ll definitely need to check out its waterslides with calmer splash pads and playgrounds being obtainable for youthful youngsters.

Whether it’s floating down the park’s lazy river, basking on its seashore or seeing superb marine life at Dolphin Cay; you actually can’t go improper spending a day or two at Aquaventure.

8. Pirates of Nassau Museum

As The Bahamas have been as soon as synonymous with buccaneers and Blackbeard, no journey is full with out stopping by the Pirates of Nassau Museum. Fun but fascinating, its life-sized dioramas and shows shine a light-weight on the time when the Caribbean was the middle of the pirating world.

Located not removed from the Straw Market and waterfront, the very good little museum chronicles town’s historical past as a outstanding pirate base in the eighteenth-century. Dotted about are wax fashions of pirates, previous cannons and a duplicate of the well-known pirate ship ‘Revenge’.

As you wander its enthralling displays, you’ll find out about life out on the excessive seas and discover a beachside shantytown. Other areas cowl famend pirates comparable to Anne Bonny, Mary Read and, after all, the fearsome Blackbeard himself.

7. Ardastra Gardens

Full of colourful vegetation, flowers, bushes and shrubs, the beautiful Ardastra Gardens are a deal with to amble round. What’s extra, its sprawling web site encompasses the one wildlife conservation middle in The Bahamas with over 135 animals and birds now inhabiting its expansive enclosures.

Founded again in 1937 by Jamaican horticulturalist Hedley Edwards, the plush tropical gardens have been designed to be a ‘utopia of peace, beauty and tranquility’. They definitely dwell up to the unique splendid as vivid, blooming flowers and unique vegetation come out at you from all sides.

Just as pleasant are the handfuls of various species you’ll be able to see as you stroll about. While peacocks and parakeets, iguanas and capybaras all function, probably the most spectacular factor is seeing its long-legged flamingos dubbed the ‘Ballerinas in Pink’ slowly strut their method across the park.

6. John Watlings Distillery

As its rum is named the ‘Spirit of The Bahamas’, it’s effectively price touring the John Watlings Distillery when in city. At its historic Buena Vista Estate downtown, you’ll be able to see how the sturdy spirits are produced and pattern some stiff drinks and engaging cocktails in its atmospheric tavern.

Since 2003, the distillery has hand-crafted small batches of high-quality spirits on the quaint colonial property which dates to 1789. At its central web site overlooking the harbour, you’ll see sugarcane molasses fermenting, coconut charcoal filtration and massive ageing barrels, in addition to different steps in the method.

After exploring the beautiful property and experiencing the entire manufacturing course of, you’ll be able to sit and sip a few of its outstanding rums and store for souvenirs in its retailer.

5. Junkanoo Festival

One of probably the most thrilling and unmissable occasions to expertise in The Bahamas is the colourful and chaotic Junkanoo Festival. Each Boxing Day, costume-clad revelers of all ages flock to Bay Street alongside Nassau’s waterfront to parade about, carry out and placed on an unforgettable present.

In the run up to the fun-filled competition, contributors labor away for months at their joyous cardboard costumes, rehearsing dance routines and working towards the songs they’ll sing and play. All the exhausting work bursts into life earlier than you in the form of beautiful artworks, songs and spectacles.

While the origins of the occasion are unknown, most individuals imagine it started with enslaved Africans on plantations who have been granted time round Christmas to dance, sing and have fun. As it is usually held on New Year’s Day, Independence Day and on some Saturdays all through the summer season, guests have extra of an opportunity to take part in the thrilling avenue parade.

4. Clifton Heritage National Park

Offering the right mixture of historical past, tradition and nature, the unimaginable Clifton Heritage National Park occupies the very western tip of New Providence Island. With fashionable underwater artwork mendacity subsequent to historic archaeological websites and actions aplenty to take pleasure in; it’s the spotlight of many individuals’s go to to Nassau.

Only established in 2004, it preserves the ruins of a late eighteenth-century Loyalist plantation and the stays of villages left behind by the indigenous Lucayan individuals over a thousand years in the past. As you discover, you’ll be able to take in all of the putting surroundings and views over the ocean with informative plaques on early Bahamian life and tradition dotted right here and there.

Besides basking on its seashores and wandering about its wetlands, woods and rocky shoreline, friends also can swim, snorkel and scuba dive in its crystal-clear waters. Below the waves, you’ll spot shiny shoals of fish and fascinating underwater sculptures comparable to Ocean Atlas and Lucayan Faces.

3. Blue Lagoon Island

Another terrific journey you’ll be able to take when in Nassau is out to the gorgeous Blue Lagoon Island which lies simply 5 miles offshore. Once a brief stopover for pirates and privateers, the small, scenic cay now as an alternative attracts vacationers come to take pleasure in its seashores, coral reefs and watersports.

Officially generally known as Salt Cay, the picturesque non-public isle has a complete host of epic outside actions and points of interest for guests to take a look at. Aside from snorkeling and scuba diving about its beautiful corals, you’ll be able to fish, sail and water-ski throughout the ocean’s shimmering floor with enjoyable dolphin and sea lion encounters additionally being on supply.

Add in phenomenal white sand seashores, beautiful lagoons and luxurious tropical foliage and the tranquil isle actually does have one thing that can attraction to everybody.

2. Queen’s Staircase

One of probably the most well-known and photographed landmarks in The Bahamas is the Queen’s Staircase which leads up to Fort Fincastle overlooking the middle. Commonly referred to because the ’66 Steps’, they make for fairly the sight with the sheer partitions, verdant vegetation and funky cascades alongside them.

Hewn out of stable limestone by a whole lot of slaves, it was constructed between 1793 and 1794 to function an escape route from the fort above. Over a century later, the lengthy staircase was renamed in honor of Queen Victoria who abolished slavery in the British Empire. Just by likelihood, the variety of steps is definitely equal to the quantity years she dominated as monarch.

As it lies proper in the guts of downtown subsequent to a lot of the metropolis’s different predominant websites, nearly everybody who visits Nassau passes by the distinctive staircase in some unspecified time in the future.

1. Cable Beach

When individuals image The Bahamas, it’s invariably fantastic white sands and tantalizing turquoise waters that spring to thoughts. One of probably the most breathtaking of the lot is beautiful Cable Beach that lies on the north aspect of the island, going through the open ocean.

Stretching over two and a half miles in size, its sun-kissed shores wrap their method round Delaport Bay with palm bushes, eating places and resorts all backing the seashore. After having topped up your tan, you’ll be able to splash about in the shallows, swim or jet-ski alongside the glittering Caribbean coast.

Despite its proximity to the middle, the calm and quiet Cable Beach feels 1,000,000 miles away from the hustle and bustle of each Bay Street and the Straw Market. If you’re after a calming time in paradise, it truly is a must-visit for its spellbinding surroundings and heat, inviting waters.

Map of Things to Do in Nassau, Bahamas