How does one compile the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas, when there are so many? Welcome to the Bahamas, a truly magnificent country and one you NEED to visit at least once! If you are considering traveling here, JUST BOOK IT.
Why the Bahamas? The country caters to all ages with tons of activities to do, cultural experiences, recreation, and more! To preface this, I was not ready for that Caribbean sun and intense sunburn. After the first day getting used to the heat, I was ready to dive headfirst into paradise because there’s no better way to describe it. If you’re wondering about the activities, local experiences, and restaurants to visit in the Bahamas? I am your girl and ready to give you the inside scoop!! Ready? Let’s get into it.
Best Things To Do in Nassau Bahamas: Some Fun Facts To Know Before You Go
Did you know that there are over 700 islands in the Bahamas? To top it off, only 34 of them are inhabited, with 17 being privately owned. Given that there are several islands to visit, for first-time visitors, stay on the main island of New Providence (Nassau). On future trips, please make the effort to visit the other islands; they are breathtaking.
Before you arrive at the airport, you can book a taxi service in advance to avoid the hassle. I have to shout out my girl Atherna, who was the BEST and even has her own private tour company. Atherna Taxi & Private Tour Guide: Whats App #: +1(242)443-8890
Tip: If you arrive at the airport in the afternoon, you might run into a long immigration line so just be cognizant of that and overcommunicate with the taxi services so that they aren’t left waiting forever.
Frequently Asked Questions: When To Visit?
According to Sandals resort, “the best time to visit the Bahamas is during mid-December to mid-April”. With that said, “Bahamian summers are generally warm and sometimes rainy, with daytime temperatures reaching about 89.7°F”. The low season lasts from June to November.” I visited during July, which isn’t as popular due to hurricane season, which typically lasts from June 1- Nov 30.
Events: One of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas, is to see how the locals party. I visited during their Independence Day, and it was such a vibe. I highly recommend it. The town was so lively and partying for TWELVE straight hours to celebrate its independence from Britain. I am also going to list some other events that are totally worth it as well
- Bahamian Carnival: April 29th – Wednesday, May 4th
- Bahamian Independence Day: July 10th
- Junkanoo: “ Junkanoo is a four-day celebration that always runs between Boxing Day, 26th of December, and New Year’s Day, 1st of January.”
Frequently Asked Questions: Where To Stay?
- Junkanoo Airbnbs and Hotels: (Towne Hotel): This hotel was right in the heart of Junkanoo, the major local town in the Bahamas, with delicious food spots, local beaches, and activities. The hotel has a nice pool and lovely staff. I would also highlight that it comes with a free breakfast every morning.
- Atlantis Hotel Resort: If you’re able to take advantage of their discounts, BOOK IT. My family took full advantage of their discounts and saved a ton of money for a great balcony view of the resort. The resort has tons of hotels if you need separation from the group, along with more pools than I can count and a shuttle bus that brings you around so you can enjoy what the whole resort has to offer.
- The 5 different hotels are…. The Reef, The Cove, The Royal, The Coral, and The Harborside Resort. The Reef is the farthest out of the resort and away from the local town, whereas both The Coral and The Harborside are the closest to the local town. Therefore, if you are looking for a taste of the resort life and the local life, I would check out these two hotels.
Best Things To Do In Nassau Bahamas: Explore the Atlantis Hotel
One of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas and is also a hack is that even if you’re not a hotel guest at the Atlantis Resort, you can still enjoy the hotel! With day passes, you can access almost all of the hotel facilities on the property. For the hotel map, check it out here.
- Lazy River: This was one of the first things that I wanted to do when we got to the resort. Grab a tube and get excited, as there are intense rapids and calm waters to spice things up.
- The Coral Pool: This pool gives fun vibes. They have poolside couches, a bar in the pool, and volleyball games happening regularly.
- Grotto Pool: This pool is one of the smaller ones, but it is SO relaxing. The waterfall acts as jets to take out those knots and give you that true spa experience. This is right by the #6 entrance of the lazy river for a midway break!
- Leap of Faith Slide: This is the most iconic thing to do in the Bahamas. It did not disappoint with sharks in such close proximity; it was a very unique experience for the books.
- Lap Pool: If you are interested in lap swimming, a morning swim here was pure bliss.
Additional Experiences in Atlantis Resort
- Swim in the Oceans: I would highly recommend bringing goggles before going to the ocean here since it’s so salty!! Out of all the beaches, I appreciated Cove Beach the most. It was the most private with great sunset views.
- Ride a Jet Ski: On the Atlantis beach, there are locals selling jet ski rentals, which are SO MUCH FUN. They are technically not with the resort, as the resort does not claim liability. We negotiated $70 for 30 minutes, which was enough time to be out at sea on a jet ski!
- Explore the Marina Harbor: This reminded me of Disney Boardwalks, where it’s supposed to give a local feel for the resort goers. They have live music and a combination of local and touristy restaurants. If you are looking for a good view of the yachts at the dock, sunsets, and souvenir shops, this is the place for you! If you decide to venture off to the local town, all you have to do is cross the bridge in town (either via walking or a lime scooter), and you will get a taste of what it is like to be a true Bahamian
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
Best Things To Do In Nassau Bahamas: Where To Eat
- Oh Andros: This is a local spot that was recommended by a local, so you know it’s good. This is in the area called Fish Fry, which has lots of amazing food options. I have to admit, he had warned us that the line was going to be long, but in our eyes, that means it is because the food is just that good, so we went with it! As expected, the food took FOREVER. Like, no joke over 2 hours, so don’t go here when you’re starving, as my family did. Overall, the food was delicious.
- McKenzie’s Fresh Fish & Conch: This was another local spot where the food was delicious. My mom is absolutely obsessed with ceviche, and as anticipated, it hit the spot! I’d recommend arriving a bit earlier (6/7) before the food options run out.
- Simply Da Best: This was probably one of the coolest spots that we have been to. It’s more of a pub, but they do have food. Bahamian music and friendly locals just prove more how welcoming the locals are. Since we visited around their Independence Day, we asked them multiple questions about the best places to go, and what time to go, and they were so patient and kind with us!
No matter where you go, I would recommend ordering this so that you truly get a taste of the fresh food that is local to the Bahamians!
- Food: Fish tacos, Conch, ceviche, and anything fish-related are all go-tos!
- Beer: The local beer in the Bahamas is SANDS, and the runner-up is Kalik- the national beer
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
Best Things To Do In Nassau Bahamas: Excursions 100% Worth It
- Pearl Island Excursion: This was by far the highlight of the trip, and it was worth every penny. For $100, you get a boat ride to the island, a lunch voucher, access to kayaks, paddle boards, and water mats, a 30-minute snorkeling session, and access to the beach and lounge chairs. The duration of the excursion was about 4-5 hours, which is just enough time in that Bahamas heat.
- Junkanoo Beach: If you decide not to stay at the resort, I recommend going to the local town of Junkanoo. We stayed at the Towne hotel, which is affordable and in the heart of the city. One of the main modes of transportation is the Lime scooters. We were on our way to the beach. Since we didn’t have time to spend a day at the beach, we just scooted around there.
- Queens Staircase: Queen Victoria was a pivotal person in Bahamian history. She was responsible for freeing the slaves, and in return, they gifted her with this beautiful staircase. The staircase had 54 steps in honor of her freeing the slaves in 1954.
- Fort Fincastle: Fort Fincastle is another monument in the Bahamas with a rich history. Since the Bahamian land was once ruled by Britain, British generals wanted to build a fort to protect them from a war in France. They had shipped over 500 slaves from Africa to build what is now Fort Fincastle, all for the war to never happen.
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
Best Things To Do In Nassau Bahamas: Celebrate Independence Day In Junkanoo
Junkanoo Independence Day Festival: Saving the best for last because this experience is too good to be true. I love it when you happen to stumble upon local traditions and ways to immerse yourself in the culture. It is truly an experience of a lifetime. That meant we were still able to get the local experience despite staying at a resort.
- When is it? The official Independence Day is July 10th; however, there are celebrations all week long. In particular, on July 11th at 12 am, so July 10th around 11:59 pm is when the main celebrations start. It starts at 12 am and lasts 12 hours until 12 pm
- Where to watch? Junkanoo, along the streets, you will find crowds gathered along Bay Street & Franklin Street
- What will you see? Partying and celebrations like no other. You will see proud Bahamians with loved ones and family. You’ll also witness talented locals singing, dancing, and playing their instruments with unconditional love. Each group has its own float, which is intricately designed. Group A has more detailed designs with groups of up to 3,000 members, and B has 200-300 members. For each Independence Day parade, the groups coordinate according to the theme. Each of the islands is known for something in particular that they celebrate, as it all contributes to the great Bahamas. There are drink stands all over, so make sure you get a Sky Juice: gin, coconut, and cinnamon (it’s scrumptious).
Images By: TheBrooklyniteAbroad.com
Best Things To Do In Nassau Bahamas: Use a Local Guide
When unlocking the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas, you get to discover even more with a private guide. My girl Atherna is the perfect person to show you around. She’s a local taxi driver and owns a private tour guide company. You can choose from the lsit below or customize your own.
- How to Book? Message her on WhatsApp +1(242)443-8890 and send your flight information so she can track it in case of any changes.
- Why Atherna? In the Bahamas, it’s very hard to get a hold of taxi drivers, and most of the time, they try to scam you to pay more. Having someone reliable and consistent throughout your trip, trust me, will save you time and a future headache.
Atherna’s Private Tours
- Eco & Heritage: The Island Caves, Clifton Heritage Park, Primeval Forest
- Forts & Nature: Fort Montague, Fort Fincastle & Queens Staircase, Adastra Gardens & Zoo
- Culture & History: Graycliff Man, Pirate’s Museum, Pompey Museum
There You Have It
Traveling to the Bahamas just got a whole lot easier! With this guide of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas, you are set. I hope this has inspired you to embark on your Caribbean adventure real soon. I fell in love with this country, and I will be making my way back. Some of the nicest people reside here, and I had nothing but a great experience. Be responsible when traveling and support locals when you can! If not, you’re supporting big businesses trying to exploit the unique wonders of a country like the Bahamas!
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