Top 10 things to do in Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, on New Providence island in the Bahamas, is a small capital city, but it is bursting with fantastic things to do. Take full advantage of the amazing surroundings whilst there and make sure you don’t miss a thing. Here is my guide to the top 10 things to do in Nassau.

1. Dive with sharks

If you ever wanted to get up close and personal with sharks, Nassau is the reliable place to do it.  There are several dive operators on the island who offer ‘shark-feeding’ dives. Often it is marketed as a two tank dive trip. The first dive is on the reef with the sharks around, but not ‘in your face’. The second dive you descend to 12 – 16m and form a circle around a diver feeding the sharks. The sharks will swim around you and their fins will touch you as they pass. Yes, the sharks have personal space issues and it gets quite intimate! If you’re not a diver but are still curious there are shark snorkelling adventures too.

2. Daytrip to Exumas

Several companies offer daytrips to the Exumas (some neighbouring islands in the Bahamas. Think ‘desert island’ and you’re there), using speedboats to get there. The exciting speedy journey, taking in all the scenery as well as the breeze (just remember sunscreen or you will really suffer), takes about an hour. Then you have all day to explore remote islands, enjoy lunch on a deserted beach and feed greedy iguanas before heading back to Nassau.

3. Atlantis Resort and Casino

There is nothing quite like it. If you fancy your luck placing a few bets then an evening in Atlantis casino on Paradise Island is for you. It is an enormous, flamboyantly decorated casino with just about every game available and if you’re only tempted by a low commitment flutter there’s always the slots. Even if you don’t enjoy gambling, there is nowhere quite like Atlantis for a wander in the evening. There are plenty of bars to stop in at and some beautiful restaurants. The décor is completely over the top and like a sort of Disney-for-adults. You have to see it to believe it. To read more about Atlantis click here.

5. Cabbage Beach

Cabbage Beach is a spectacular stretch of fine powdery sand on the Northern side of Paradise island (connected by bridge to Nassau). It is often overlooked as many tourists stay at hotels on Cable Beach. Hotels also line the coast here, but there is public access to the beach and the further East you go the quieter the sand becomes. There are various amenities and watersports available.

6. Green Parrot bar

Fancy sipping cocktails in the sunshine pretending you own a yacht? The Green Parrot bar by Hurricane Hole marina is the place for you. It is a fantastic, friendly and reasonably priced little bar and is very popular with yachties and locals alike.

7. Arawak Cay

If you want to experience a bit of local flavour head West of Bay Street to Arawak cay which has developed over the years from a few locals preparing conch for customers to a collection of eateries serving magnificent fresh seafood.

8. Bay Street Straw Market

Bay Street is Nassau’s main street. It is lined with historic buildings, boutiques, shops and restaurants. Selling articles made from straw is one of the oldest industries in the Bahamas, so a visit to the Straw Market in Nassau is intriguing. Many other locally crafted items are sold here including wooden carvings, batik clothing and T-shirts.

9. Pirates museum

Nassau was the centre of the pirate world back in the early 1700s and the pirate museum gives you a fun-filled, interactive and fact-laden guide to Nassau during this time. Go on, indulge your inner pirate.

10. Dolphin Encounter

If you want to learn more about dolphins and meet one then the Dolphin Encounter is for you. A boat takes you from Nassau to Blue Lagoon island where you are taught a bit about dolphins before meeting them. You then have access to the beach and facilities for the rest of the day before heading back to Nassau.

Those are my top 10 things to do in Nassau. What are yours? Frequent flights and inexpensive airfares from the east coast of the USA make Nassau an easy destination to get lots out of. Have you been?