A Quick Beginner’s Guide to Nassau, The Bahamas
Looking for a quick and easy to understand guide to Nassau, The Bahamas? You’ve come to the right place! In the this Guide to Nassau, will review the highlights on the island, discuss the best time to visit, and answer many popular questions about Nassau.
The Bahamas are a truly beautiful chain of islands full of gorgeous beaches, exciting history, and of course, rum. When many people think about the Bahamas, they think of the capital, Nassau, which is located on the island of New Providence. However, the chain consists of an impressive 700 islands and cays.
Believe it or not, The Bahamas aren’t actually part of the Caribbean…at least not geographically speaking. However, because of the climate, culture, cuisine and close ties with many of the Caribbean islands, The Bahamas is often grouped with Caribbean nations.
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A Quick Guide to Nassau
I like to tell people that The Bahamas are a great place for people to begin foreign travel. Visiting a foreign country can be extremely intimidating. Not only are you far away from home but many people worry about language barriers, cultural differences, and safety. Trust me, being lost in a foreign country where you can’t read any of the signs or speak with any of the locals is absolutely terrifying. With The Bahamas, you really don’t have to worry about any of that!
Parts of The Bahamas are located about 100 miles away from Florida. As a Floridan, I can tell you that The Bahamas are a lot like Florida! The Bahamas were colonized by the British in 1718 so the locals are fluent in English. Shops, vendors, and restaurants will all accept American currency as well. Speaking of restaurants, the food options here are just like you’d find here in The States! I honestly don’t even feel like I’ve left the country when I visit The Bahamas. Which is a great feeling for new travelers.
The Bahamas are the most popular islands in the region. In fact, Nassau, is the cruise industries most visited port of call. Each year, more than 5 million cruisers have Nassau on their itinerary. This is more than any other cruise port in the world!
What are some of the highlights of Nassau?
Nassau is the port most frequented by cruisers. Some of the highlights of Nassau include The Pirate Museum, Parliament Square, Fort Fincastle, and of course, the beach. The beaches here are pristine! We’re talking about sugary white sand, turquoise water, and gorgeous palm trees. Have I piqued your interest, yet?
When we’re in Nassau, we love hopping on a catamaran to explore some of the smaller surrounding islands. We also enjoy snorkeling while we’re here.
Of course, when many people think of Nassau, they think of Atlantis. Atlantis is an ocean-themed resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas- just a short water taxi ride from Nassau. Since it is not actually located on the island of Nassau, I’ll be sharing information about it in a different post.
Pro Tip: Make sure you have these items with you when you head into port.
Downtown Nassau can easily be explored on-foot and you can see a lot of the main attractions in one day. If you’d rather take a taxi, they are readily available.
Pro Tip: Taxis don’t have a flat fare like they do in the US. You can negotiate the price of the fare (in fact, it’s pretty much expected!). Be sure to ask the driver how much they want to charge you and negotiate before you get in the cab.
The Best Things to do in Nassau, Bahamas
There’s more to Nassau than just the beach! The island has plenty of super affordable things for families to do.
The Pirate Museum: This is many visitors favorite attraction on the island. The museum is self-guided and presents the history of Nassau and the pesky pirates that landed here hundreds of years ago. There’s a full-sized pirate ship and a ton of interactive things to keep kids entertained. The Pirates of Nassau Museum costs about $12 per person (less for kids).
Fort Fincastle: Fort Fincastle is an easy 10 minute walk from the Pirate Museum. It was built in the early 1790s to offer protection from pirates. The fort sits on top of the highest point of the island. Once upon a time, this offered a great vantage point for the islanders, today it offers a great vantage point for tourists.
Guided tours will run you about $5 and are well worth it.
The Queen’s Staircase: This popular attraction (and Instagram backdrop!) is literally right next to the fort and will take you about 5 minutes to see. It may not look like much, but the history behind the staircase is pretty remarkable. The limestone stairs were hand-cut by slaves.
The stairs offered defenders a quick way to get from the fort down to the beaches in the event that pirates came ashore. The stairs were named after Queen Victoria, the British monarch that put an end to slavery.
The Straw Market: Although we don’t love this place, many others do. The Nassau Straw Market is an open air market located right by the cruise port. Visitors often flock here to pick up cheap souvenirs such as beach bags, t-shirts, shot glasses, etc. Most of the stuff was imported from China however, there are a handful of hand made items crafted by local Bahamians.
Pro Tip: The vendors are really pushy and make it hard to simply “window shop”. If you want to shop hassle-free, slip into one of the shops across the street, instead.
This is also a popular place for hair-braiding. Be careful- this adds up really fast $$$ be sure you know exactly what you’ll be getting for the amount advertised.
Parliament Square: Want a little glimpse at the history of The Bahamas? Head to Parliament Square, home of the local government. It’s located downtown, well within walking distance of the cruise ships.
Junkanoo Beach: This free public beach is located really close to the cruise ship terminal, smack dab in the middle of downtown Nassau. It’s location (and the abundance of eateries nearby) make it a popular beach for tourists.
Pro Tip: This is a hot spot for thieves…the island is known for pirates, after all. Consider investing in a beach safe to keep your valuables safe.
What We Love About Nassau & What We Could Do Without
What we love:
- It feels familiar & it is easy to navigate
- There are plenty of beaches and outdoor activities like boating, snorkeling, paddling, and more.
- The historic and cultural attractions
- The African, Caribbean, and Colonial influences.
What we don’t love:
- It’s super touristy- but that kind of goes with the territory.
- Most of the stuff in the Straw Market was made in China…
- Vendors can be super pushy.
What is the best month to go to Nassau, Bahamas?
The best time to visit The Bahamas is any time between November and April. Personally, January is a favorite, of mine. During these months you’ll experience lovely weather and less crowds…and it’s not hurricane season.
The Bahamas have pretty decent weather year round. The temperatures usually range between 75°F to 84°F, with seasonal variations. During the above mentioned months, the evenings and mornings can be a little chilly, but the water is still warm enough to swim and the sun is perfect!
The coldest month is January (with an average of 72°F) and August is the wettest (average rainfall of 6.2 inches). July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 82 °F.
The crowds start to pick up in March and April when schools let out for Spring Break.
Summers are hot, sticky, humid, and there’s a greater chance for rain. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 and ends November 30th.
What is the cheapest month to visit Nassau?
High season is considered to be May, June, and July- these are definitely the most expensive months to visit the island.
The cheapest month to fly from the US to Nassau is in January. This is also one of the cheapest times to cruise to Nassau.
Do I need a passport to go to Nassau, Bahamas?
If you are arriving to The Bahamas via plane, you definitely need to have a valid US Passport.
If you are arriving via cruise ship, you will need to have a passport, passport card, or an official birth certificate and government issued ID. It is strongly suggested that you always carry a passport when traveling to a foreign country.
Which airlines fly direct to Bahamas?
American Airlines, Delta, United, Envoy Air, jetBlue, Qatar Airways, Azul Airlines, and Bahamasair all fly non-stop to Bahamas.
What language is spoken in Nassau, Bahamas?
When the British colonized The Bahamas a couple hundred years ago, they brought with them the English language. Today, English is the official language of The Bahamas however, it is spoken with a Bahamian dialect.
Can you use US dollars in The Bahamas?
Remember how I said The Bahamas aren’t much different than Florida? The currency is yet another reason the two are so similar! The US Dollar is just as popular here as the Bahamian Dollar and they have an equal value, which makes transactions a breeze.
Is Nassau safe?
When you visit any new location, it is important to stay aware of your surroundings. I suggest staying within a few blocks of the port or catching a cab over to Paradise Island, home of Atlantis. The cabs are regulated and the prices are posted right near the cruise terminal to help ensure you won’t get ripped off. Although the crime rates are not high in Nassau, like with any touristy place criminals will target visitors. As long as you are smart about things, it is completely safe.
Can You Walk Around Nassau, Bahamas?
You can definitely experience Nassau on foot- without a tour! There is plenty for cruisers to do within walking distance of the port including the Straw market, the Pirate of Nassau Museum, and much more! Check out our Guide to Nassau on foot!
Do I Need a car in Nassau?
If you’re visiting via cruise or staying at a hotel in the tourist zones, you definitely do not need to rent a car. A lot of the tourist district is walkable and cabs are readily available.
If you are staying outside of the tourist district, you may want to consider renting a car if you want to explore parts of the town on your own.
Be aware the Bahamians drive on the left side of the road. The roads, especially Bay Street, can be rather chaotic and full of potholes. Lots and lots of potholes.
At the time of publication, Rideshares such as Uber and Lyft are not available in The Bahamas.
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You may also be interested in 7 Things for Cruisers to Do Within Walking Distance of the Cruise Ports to help start your planning. If Half Moon Cay is also on your itinerary, check out 5 Facts About Half Moon Cay.
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