10 Things to Do in Nassau

When visiting Nassau , the capital of the Bahamas archipelago, you won't have any time to waste. This coastal city offers a wide range of tourist activities to enjoy, including guided or self-guided tours to explore the historic centre, food tours, water activities and much more.

You can visit the city's rum distilleries and cycle through the streets of the city centre. You can also visit Junkanoo Beach to explore marine life, go surfing, snorkelling and other sports, tour the Blue Lagoon on a Segway, experience an off-road adventure on the roads of Nassau and much more.

Exploring downtown Nassau todiscover its most iconic landmarks is one of the first activities you should do during your stay. You can take a look at the cultural heritage of this city and learn about the history behind each building and monument.

The route of this tour can varyaccording to your interests. However, the following are some of the must-see destinations:

• Christ Church Cathedral, built in 1670 and considered the first church in the Bahamas.
• Queen's Staircase, with a total of 65 steps carved out of limestone by slaves between 1793 and 1794.
• Fort Fincastle, built in the 18th century as a defensive wall against pirates.
• The Government House, built in 1831 and representative of the Georgian architectural style.

You can explore the historic centre of the Bahamian capital on your own or on a guided tour of downtown Nassau. In the latter case, you'll save time by going directly to each attraction without fear of getting lost, thanks to the company of an expert guide.

Useful information

• Price: the city tour is free, but if you take the guided tour, you can find options starting at €32 per person.
• Duration: there is no time limit for walking on your own. If you join a tour, it could last around three hours.

The Blue Lagoon is another paradise destination you can visit during your stay in Nassau. It is a place with crystal clear waters, surrounded by lush vegetation. There, you can relax in a peaceful environment, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, while enjoying the amazing native wildlife.

During this visit , you will have the opportunity to see dolphins and sea lions, as this island is home to both species. You can take amazing photographs and create unique memories of your trip.

You will also have the opportunity to join in some marine life activities in Nassau to explore the coral reefs and be amazed by the hundreds of colourful tropical fish that live there. In addition, if you want to make the most of your time, you can join a Segway tour of the Blue Lagoon in Nassau and travel comfortably around the island while admiring the natural landscape around you.

While there are several means of transport for exploring the city, none are as fun and original as a bicycle. Reach the hidden corners of the city where cars cannot go. You will also get a different perspective on the streets, buildings, monuments and other places of interest.

You can cycle around the city without any problems and discover the architectural and natural beauty that characterises the capital of the Bahamas. You can stop at places of interest to take some photographs or explore the destination in more detail.

For example, some unmissable places that you will have the opportunity to visit when you take a bicycle tour of central Nassau are:

• The Straw Market, a picturesque traditional spot in the city where you will find many handicrafts to buy.
• Rawson Square, considered the city's main square.
• Queen's Staircase, which currently has a total of 65 iconic steps made of limestone.
• The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, with an important collection of photographs, ceramics, sculptures, frescoes, etc.
• The Water Tower, with a height of about 38 metres and a privileged panoramic view.

Useful information

• Price: the tour has an average price of €53 per person.
• Duration: approximately four hours.

If you want to experience an off-road adventure during your stay in Nassau , you can choose to rent a buggy. This is an ideal option if you are travelling alone or with a group of up to six people. You will explore the capital of the Bahamas in a different way and at your own pace.

You will have the opportunity to create a route with the main tourist attractions. These include Fort Fincastle, considered the highest point in Nassau, and Fort Charlotte, located on top of a hill overlooking the city's harbour.

You can navigate the streets of Nassau and discover other destinations such as the Ardastra Gardens Conservation Centre and Zoo or the Arawak Cay area, located along the coast about 15 minutes from the centre. There, you will find a wide variety of restaurants and a lively nightlife.

In addition, with buggy rental in Nassau, you will have no time limits to carry out your itinerary, as you can choose between 4 and 24 hours, depending on your needs. Likewise, to ensure your safety and that of your companions, the person in charge will give you some recommendations for driving off-road vehicles.

Useful information

• Price: from €318 per buggy.
• Duration: up to 24 hours.

During your stay, delight your palate with the Caribbean flavours of Nassau's cuisine and discover the history behind each dish. Explore the restaurants and food stalls in the city centre and try the region's savoury and sweet local dishes.

You can visit some of Nassau's gastronomic establishments: family restaurants, artisan chocolatiers, cocktail bars, etc. For example, Bahamian Cookin' Restaurant and Bar, Curly's Restaurant and Bar, among other places. All of them offer a wide range of food and drinks.

This is a tour you can do at your own pace or by joining a gastronomic tour of Nassau. Either way, you can sample the famous Bahamian macaroni and cheese and traditional conch fritters, accompanied by artisanal rum. You'll also find local desserts such as pineapple cake, handmade truffles, coconut tart, etc.

The capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, is often known for its production of high-quality rum. During your stay, you can visit some of the city's distilleries to experience the manufacturing process first-hand and taste some samples of this popular alcoholic beverage.

Due to Nassau's rum culture, you will find several distilleries within easy reach of the city centre, including the following:

• The Luna rum distillery, a traditional factory that began its history by making rum cakes.
• John Watling's Distillery, with a history dating back to 1789. Its products are handmade.

Whichever distillery you visit, you will discover the step-by-step process of rum production: sugar cane harvesting, fermentation, distillation, flavouring and bottling. You will also have the opportunity to purchase some mini bottles of rum as souvenirs.

After this experience, you can continue with other activities on your itinerary. For example, join a jeep tour of Nassau, visit Cable Beach and relax in front of its calm waters, or, if it is your last day in the city, return to your hotel to connect with the transfer service to Nassau Airport.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of the tour is €22 per person.
• Duration: approximately two to three hours.

Pearl Island Beach is a very popular destination in Nassau. You can enjoy beautiful scenery, swim in crystal clear waters, practise water sports, discover reefs and unique marine species, and more.

You will need to take a 20-minute ferry ride to the beach. During the trip, you will see a different perspective of the city with its picturesque buildings, the coast with its white sand and lush vegetation, the Caribbean Sea and the bright sky. Without a doubt, you will experience one of the best boat trips in Nassau.

Once you arrive at the beach, you will have the opportunity to go kayaking and explore the coast at your own pace. You can also dive into the crystal-clear waters with your snorkel to see an important sample of marine life up close : rays, tropical fish, turtles and more.

On this excursion to Pearl Island Beach from Nassau, you will have free time to lie on the sand, breathe in the fresh air, swim and take photographs. You can also sample the local cuisine at the restaurants: fried fish, ceviche, tropical fruit salad, etc.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of the activity is approximately €84 per person.
• Duration: approximately five hours.

If you are visiting Nassau and enjoy off-road sports, then you might like to drive a quad bike around the city. With the wind and sunshine on your face, you will discover many amazing destinations from a different perspective.

Some of the places you can include on your quad bike route around Nassau are:

• The New Providence Caves, located about 11 kilometres from the city.
• Arawak Cay, which is a fairly large commercial area with dozens of restaurants, shops and views of the coast.
• Fort Charlotte, with 42 cannons, dungeons and a series of underground passages.
• Queen's Staircase, a historic 66-step shortcut to Fort Fincastle.

And if you have no experience driving a quad bike but still want to enjoy this experience, there's no need to worry. In the city , you'll find tourist companies offering quad bike tours of Nassau, so you can get around safely.

Useful information

• Price: this adventure costs around €181 per person.
• Duration: around three hours.

There are many tours that allow you to see the city's must-see sights. However, the ideal option is to join an excursion where you can discover much more than just the history of the place. For example, tour the coast to enjoy the beaches, try some water sports and sample the local cuisine.

In this regard, you will find some excursions and day trips around Nassau that begin with a historical tour of iconic places, such as Queen's Staircase, the top of Bennet Hill (the highest point in the city). You will also visit Fort Fincastle and the Straw Market. At the latter, you can buy some souvenirs.

In addition, these types of excursions usually include other destinations in their itinerary, such as the following:

• The Graycliff chocolate factory. There, you will learn about the chocolate-making process and enjoy some tastings.
• The caves, known as the former hideouts of pirates and now home to fruit bats.
• Love Beach, a beautiful beach with crystal clear waters, gentle waves and white sand. You can snorkel, swim or sample the local cuisine in the surrounding restaurants.
• The Pirate Museum, which houses the history of the Caribbean, a series of replica pirate ships and much more.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the tour starts at around €195 per person.
• Duration: approximately five hours.

Among other things to see and do in Nassau , boat trips stand out , allowing you to admire the city's coastline from a completely different perspective. You will be mesmerised by the picturesque panorama of the Caribbean Sea.

You can sit comfortably on the deck of the boat, enjoy the sea breeze and relax while observing the different shades created by the sun's rays, which slip through the clouds and reflect off the surface of the sea and the entire city.

This is a very popular activity, usually included among the best tours in Nassau, which you can do at any time of day. However, at sunset you will have the opportunity to enjoy a true natural spectacle: the sea and sky becoming one on the horizon.