Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas and is located about 180 miles from the east
coast of Florida on the island of New Providence.
In this video, we’ll provide an overview of attractions we’ve explored while visiting
Nassau on a cruise ship.
A map of these attractions is available at our website, linked in the description below.
When your ship arrives in Nassau, we recommend going to the top deck to get your bearings.
Locate the bridges that connect Nassau on your right to Paradise Island on your left.
Then, turn right to face Downtown Nassau, the cruise terminal building, and -- one block
inland -- Nassau’s main shopping area.
Further to the right, you can see a few public beaches and the Fish Fry area.
Before you leave your ship, pack your photo identification and ship cards.
You’ll need them to get back through the cruise terminal.
We also recommend bringing some cash because some vendors do not accept other forms of
payment.
At the time this video was published, one US dollar equaled one Bahamian dollar.
Most vendors accept US dollars, but give change in Bahamian dollars, so consider bringing
smaller bills.
It’s not uncommon to find five cruise ships docked at the same time in Nassau, so you
might have a fairly long walk to the cruise terminal.
A shuttle is available if you need assistance.
Because of the shuttle and other vehicles in the port area, we recommend walking on
the pedestrian walkways for your safety.
The cruise terminal building has an information desk and bathrooms inside.
Outside the building, you’ll find Festival Place filled with locals selling souvenirs,
local goods, excursions, hair braiding, transportation services, and more.
This area can be a bit frenzied, especially when ships first arrive, but it tends to be
calmer later in the day.
Horse and carriage rides are available just before exiting the gates of the cruise terminal
area.
We highly encourage you to note where the horses are hitched because later in the day
-- when the horses aren’t there -- it can easily be mistaken for a covered walkway and
you’ll quickly find yourself dodging horse droppings.
Just outside the cruise terminal area, you’ll find Downtown Nassau.
Bay Street is located in Downtown Nassau -- one block inland -- and is Nassau’s main shopping
area.
Here, you’ll find shops selling jewelry, souvenirs, rum cakes, and more.
Many stores offer free samples or trinkets to attract customers.
Check the shopping guide provided on your ship to find out where to get the freebies.
Since much of the sidewalk on Bay Street is covered and many of the air conditioned shops
leave their doors open, we often walk along Bay Street, even when we’re heading elsewhere.
Located just south of the cruise terminal -- on Bay Street -- Parliament Square is the
home of the Parliament House Buildings and a statue of Queen Victoria.
If you explore the block further inland, you’ll find the Nassau Supreme Court and the octagonal-shaped
Nassau Public Library, which once served as the Nassau jail.
Located toward the west end of Bay Street, Nassau’s large Straw Market is the home
for several vendors selling souvenirs, wood carvings, local merchandise, and straw products.
Price haggling is expected and most vendors only accept cash.
Near the western-most end of Bay Street -- at the intersection with George Street -- you’ll
find a local, jitney bus stop.
Jitney bus number 10 will take you west towards the Fish Fry, Cable Beach, and more.
During our visit, the cost was one dollar and 50 cents per person each way and exact
change is expected.
One block south of Bay Street -- on George Street -- is Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.
Founded in the 1600s, it is the first Anglican church in the Bahamas.
The present day Gothic style cathedral with vaulted ceilings and hand-crafted, stained
glass windows was constructed in the 1800s.
Across from the cathedral is the Pirates of Nassau attraction.
There is an admission fee for the interactive museum, but there is no fee for you to take
fun photos in the pillory outside.
North of the cruise pier area is Paradise Island.
The island is connected to Nassau by two bridges and a taxi or ferry ride cost $4 per person
each way during our visit.
Taxis have direct drop-offs and pick-ups at both Atlantis and Cabbage Beach, while the
ferry runs between Downtown Nassau and the shore of Paradise Island.
From the ferry drop-off area, it's roughly a 10-minute walk to Atlantis and a 15-minute
walk to Cabbage Beach.
Take note that the ferries do not run as frequently as you might expect, so you may experience
a wait.
The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island is one of the primary destinations for cruise
passengers visiting Nassau.
The resort features several fee-based attractions, including a water park dolphin experiences
and an aquarium.
While there is no fee to enter the casino, you’ll obviously want to bring some money
with you.
Cabbage Beach is located adjacent to Atlantis.
The public access point for the beach is about a 5-minute walk from the resort, along Casino Drive.
You’ll find many vendors at the beach renting water sports equipment and loungers and selling
food, drinks, hair braiding services, and more.
During our visit, we did not see any restrooms.
If you’re looking for something different to do, take a walk along Paradise Island Drive
to the quiet Versailles Gardens and French Cloister.
The walk from Atlantis is about 15 minutes.
The cloister was built by monks -- in France -- in the 12th century.
It was disassembled and eventually reassembled on Paradise Island… stone by stone.
West of Downtown Nassau, there are several things to do that are within walking distance
-- or a quick jitney bus ride -- of the cruise terminal.
Junkanoo Beach is a free public beach that is a 15-minute walk from the cruise terminal.
Just follow the sidewalk to the right after you exit the cruise terminal gates and you’ll
find signs that lead the way.
Turn-by-turn walking directions are available at our website, linked in the description
below.
In addition to plenty of sand and water, Junkanoo Beach also has several small restaurants and
bars and restroom facilities.
During several of our visits, law enforcement has been visible.
The Fish Fry area is a collection of restaurants and bars west of Junkanoo Beach.
The colorful shacks serve up local cuisine and adult beverages for you to enjoy.
It’s also the home of a police station.
Take note that between Junkanoo Beach and the Fish Fry area, there’s a much quieter
beach that only had a couple of beachgoers during our most recent visit.
Overlooking the Fish Fry area is the largest of Nassau’s fortresses, which is actually
comprised of three forts: Fort Charlotte, Fort D’Arcy, and Fort Stanley.
Construction on the fortress began in the late 1700s, but it was never used in battle.
There is a nominal fee to enter the fortress -- five dollars per person during our visit
-- but the fee includes a tour guide who will speak to the history of the fortress and answer
any questions you have.
You can also see some of the original cannons, explore the fortress grounds, including the
underground passages and have access to restrooms.
The top of the fortress offers views of Downtown Nassau, Paradise Island, and the resorts of
Cable Beach, which are located five miles to the west.
South of Downtown Nassau, there are several points of interest that are within walking
distance of the cruise terminal.
Just south of the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral and Pirates of Nassau, you’ll find the Government
House.
Built in the early 1800s, it is the official residence of the Queen’s representative
to the Bahamas the Governor-General.
A 12-foot statue of Christopher Columbus is visible through the gates.
Just west of the Government House is the Graycliff Hotel area, which features a small chocolate
shop and a cigar factory.
During our visit, the chocolate shop offered free samples and cigar-making was visible
from inside the cigar shop.
Tours are available for a fee, as are chocolate-making classes and cigar-rolling classes.
John Watling’s Distillery is located a five-minute walk west of Graycliff.
Complimentary tours of the estate and rum production facility are available throughout
the day.
During our visit, we enjoyed a free rum drink sample at the start of our tour and then learned
the history of the distillery and watched the rum production in-progress.
You can purchase rum that has been hand-packaged by locals in a small shop at the end of the tour.
There’s also a bar, which features cocktails and rum tastings with John Watling’s products.
The Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle are located about a 10 to 15-minute walk almost
due south from the cruise terminal.
The nearby white water tower on Bennet’s Hill is typically visible from your cruise ship.
Turn-by-turn walking directions are available at our website, linked in the description below.
The Queen’s Staircase -- or the 66 steps -- was cut out of solid limestone by slaves
in the late 1700s to provide a direct route between Nassau City and Fort Fincastle.
The steps were named for Queen Victoria and are surrounded by abundant shade keeping the
area relatively cool even on the hottest of days.
If you climb to the top of the staircase, you’ll be rewarded with a view from the
highest point on New Providence Island.
You’ll also see Fort Fincastle, which is another of Nassau’s fortresses.
Construction on the fort started the same year as the Queen’s Staircase using the
limestone cut from the staircase.
Like Fort Charlotte, it never saw battle.