Nassau is easy to reach and easy to enjoy, but it rewards a little planning. The best experiences are on the water, the most popular tours sell out, and the biggest attraction of all, Atlantis, has entry rules that catch many visitors out. Here is how to shape a first trip.
When to go
Nassau is warm all year. The dry season from December to April brings the calmest seas and the most visitors, and prices rise around Christmas, New Year and spring break. Summer is hotter and quieter, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to the end of November, so travel insurance is wise in autumn. Early November is often a sweet spot, with warm water and thinner crowds once the storms ease. If you are here over the holidays, the Junkanoo parades on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fill downtown with costumes, cowbells and drums.
How many days
Three full days covers the essentials: one on Paradise Island, one for a long boat trip, and one for downtown Nassau and the beaches. Five days lets you add a second boat day, a lazy beach day at Cable Beach and an evening at the Fish Fry without rushing. Cruise passengers with one day in port should pick a single short trip and stay close to the harbour.
What to book ahead
Book the Exuma swimming pigs day trip first, because it is the trip most people come for, the boats are small, and the tour needs calm weather; leave a spare day in case of cancellation. The Bites of Nassau food tour is often marked as likely to sell out and is typically booked about a month in advance. The Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounter and the Stuart Cove’s snorkel trip are worth reserving a few days ahead in peak season. Rose Island and the three-hour pigs and turtles boat adventure are shorter, cheaper alternatives if you cannot spare a full day for Exuma. Ardastra Gardens, the Queen’s Staircase and the Fish Fry need no booking.
How Atlantis works
This is the one rule to learn before you arrive. Atlantis sells day passes to Aquaventure, its beaches and its Marine Habitat only to guests of partner hotels, cruise passengers and Bahamian residents. If you stay at Atlantis, at The Ocean Club or at Comfort Suites Paradise Island, access is part of your stay. If you are staying elsewhere, check that your hotel is a partner before buying a pass, or choose Baha Mar and its Baha Bay water park instead.
Getting around
New Providence is small. Taxis are the simplest way to get between downtown, Paradise Island and Cable Beach, and fares are usually fixed by zone, so agree the price before you set off. Water taxis cross the harbour between downtown and Paradise Island, and local jitney buses run along the main roads for a small fare, though not to Paradise Island. The Exuma, Blue Lagoon and Rose Island boats leave from the Paradise Island ferry terminal or Bayshore Marina on East Bay Street, so leave time for traffic in the morning. Driving is on the left.
Where the headline sights fit
Day one: climb the Queen’s Staircase early, take the Bites of Nassau food tour, then watch the sunset and eat conch salad at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry. Day two: the Exuma swimming pigs powerboat trip from Paradise Island, back by late afternoon. Day three: Aquaventure if you qualify, or Blue Lagoon Island and Cabbage Beach if you do not. Day four: a morning snorkel with Stuart Cove’s, then Ardastra Gardens for the flamingo show at 16:00.
Money and practical tips
The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar and US cash is accepted everywhere, so there is no need to change money if you carry dollars. Many restaurant bills add a service charge, so check before tipping again. Resort food and drink are expensive; eating at the Fish Fry and downtown saves a lot. Use reef-safe sunscreen, drink plenty of water on boat days, and keep valuables out of sight at the beach.
