Best Things To Do In Nassau

On your visit to the capital of the Bahamian archipelago, Nassau, you won't have time to waste. In this coastal city you will find a wide range of tourist activities to enjoy: guided or self-guided tours to explore the historic centre, gastronomic tours, water activities, among others.

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

Exploring downtown Nassau todiscover the most iconic sights is one of the first things to do during your stay. You will be able to take a look at the cultural heritage of this city and learn about the history hidden in each building and monument.

The route of this tour can varyaccording to your interests. However, among the unmissable destinations are the following:

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

This experience through the historic centre of the capital of the Bahamas can be done on your own or through a guided tour of downtown Nassau. In the latter case, you will be able to 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 from €32 per person.
• Duration: the walk on your own has no time limit. If you join a tour, on the other hand, it could take around three hours.

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

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

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

While there are various means of transport to explore the city, none is as fun and original as cycling. Reach hidden corners of the city where cars can't. Plus, you'll get a different perspective on the city. Plus, you'll get a different perspective of the streets, buildings, monuments and other destinations of interest.

You'll be able to cycle all over the city without any inconvenience and discover the architectural and natural beauty that characterises the capital of the Bahamas as you go. You can stop at the places of your interest and take some pictures or explore the destination in more detail.

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

• The Straw Market, a quaint traditional spot in the city, where you'll find plenty of arts and crafts to compare.
• Rawson Square, considered the city's main square.
• The Queen's Staircase, which now has a total of 65 iconic limestone steps.
• The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, with an important collection of photographs, ceramics, sculptures, frescoes, etc.
• The Water Tower, with a height of some 38 metres and a privileged panoramic view.

Information of interest

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

If you're looking for an off-road adventure during your stay in Nassau , you can choose to rent a buggy. This is an ideal option if you're 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. Such is the case of Fort Fincastle, considered the highest area of 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 Zoo and Conservation Centre or the Arawak Cay area, located along the coastline about 15 minutes from downtown. There, you will find a variety of restaurants and a lively nightlife.

Furthermore, with a buggy rental in Nassau you will have no time limits to carry out your itinerary, as you can select between 4 and 24 hours, depending on your convenience. Also, 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, surprise your taste buds with the Caribbean flavours of Nassau's cuisine and, in turn, discover the history behind each preparation. Explore the restaurants and food stalls in the city centre and sample the local sweet and savoury dishes of this region.

You can visit some of Nassau's gastronomic establishments: family-run restaurants, artisan chocolatiers, cocktail bars and more. For example Bahamian Cookin' Restaurant and Bar, Curly's Restaurant and Bar, among others. All of them, with a wide range of food and drinks.

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

The capital of the Bahamas, Nassau is often known for the production of high quality rum. You can visit some of the city's distilleries during your stay to experience the rum-making process first-hand and sample some of this popular spirit.

Due to the rum culture in Nassau, there are several distilleries within easy reach of the city centre, including the following:

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

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

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 by its tranquil waters or, if it's your last in town, return to your hotel to connect with the Nassau airport shuttle service.

Useful Information

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

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

You'll take a 20-minute ferry ride to the beach. During this 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 radiant sky. You will definitely experience one of the best boat trips in Nassau.

Upon arrival at the beach, you will have the opportunity to kayak and explore the coastline at your own pace. You'll also be able to dive into the crystal clear waters with your snorkel to get up close and personal with a variety of marine life including rays, tropical fish, turtles and more.

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

Useful information

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

If you're visiting Nassau and you're keen on off-road sports, then quad biking around the city is a good idea. As the wind and sunshine brush your face, you'll discover many amazing destinations, seen from a different perspective.

Some of the places you can incorporate into your quad biking tour of Nassau include the following:

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

And, if you don't have experience of quad biking, but still want to experience it, you don't have to worry. You'll find tour companies in town offering an ATV tour of Nassau, so you can get around safely.

Useful information

• Price: the value of this adventure is about 181€ per person.
• Duration: about three hours.

There are many tours that allow you to see the must-see sights of the city. Ideally, however, join a tour where you can discover much more than just the history of the place. For example, you can walk along the coast to enjoy the beaches, try some water sports and sample the local cuisine.

In this regard, you'll find some Nassau day trips and excursions that start with a historic walk around iconic sites such as the Queen's Staircase, the top of Bennet Hill (the highest area of the city). You will also visit Fort Fincastle and the Straw Market. At the latter, you can buy some souvenirs.

In addition, this type of tour usually incorporates other destinations in its itinerary such as the following:

• Graycliff Chocolate Factory. There, you will learn about the chocolate making process and do some chocolate tasting.
• The caves, known as ancient pirate lairs and now home to fruit bats.
• Love Beach, a beautiful beach with crystal clear waters, gentle waves and white sand. 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.

Information of interest

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

Among the other things to see and do in Nassau are the boat tours, with the purpose of admiring the city's coastline from a totally different perspective. You'll be mesmerised by the picturesque panorama of the Caribbean Sea.

You'll be able to sit comfortably on the deck of the boat, enjoy the sea breeze and relax as you watch the different hues of the sun's rays as it slips through the clouds and reflects off the surface of the sea and across the city.

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