Nassau
A colonial harbour town on New Providence, Cable Beach to the west and Paradise Island across the water, and the Out Islands scattered beyond, a short hop by light aircraft.
- Arrival
- Lynden Pindling International · NAS
- To the city
- About 20 to 30 minutes to downtown by car
- Private jets
- FBO terminals at NAS, customs on site
- Best time
- November to April
The city
The capital, and the islands beyond.
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence. The old town faces its harbour, Paradise Island lies across the bridge to the north, and the resorts of Cable Beach run along the shore to the west. Beyond lie the Out Islands: the long, narrow ribbon of Eleuthera, Harbour Island off its northern tip, the cays of the Exumas and the wild south of Andros.
The island fills up between November and April, when the days hold at 25–28 °C, showers are brief and the water stays near 25 °C. The rains arrive in May, and August to October is the stretch to watch for tropical storms.
Arriving
One airport, then the islands.
Lynden Pindling International, on the west of New Providence about ten miles from downtown, is the gateway to the whole country. From there, light aircraft fly on to Eleuthera, Harbour Island, the Exumas and Andros.
- Miami 45 min
- Palm Beach 45 min
- Panama City 2 h 40
- Amsterdam 9 h 45 long-range jet
- Lagos 11 h 35 long-range jet
When to go
November to April.
It is never cold, and the year splits in two: the dry months from November to April, when most visitors come, and the wet ones. June is the wettest month, and the storm season peaks from August to October.
- 25° J 39 24°
- 25° F 42 24°
- 26° M 30 24°
- 28° A 46 25°
- 29° M 117 26°
- 31° J 217 28°
- 32° J 150 29°
- 32° A 168 29°
- 31° S 178 29°
- 30° O 182 28°
- 28° N 60 26°
- 26° D 44 25°
What to see and do
Days in and around Nassau.
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Landmark
Cable Beach
A long curve of white sand west of the old town, lined with the resorts of Baha Mar.
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Landmark
Harbour Island
A small island off Eleuthera, known for its pink-sand beach on the Atlantic side.
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Landmark
The Exumas
A chain of cays and sandbars in clear, shallow water south-east of Nassau.
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Culture
National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
Four spaces in Villa Doyle, downtown, show historical and modern Bahamian art.
Official site -
Culture
Junkanoo
Costumed groups dance and drum along Bay Street in the national parade, starting at 9pm on Boxing Day and 2am on New Year's Day.
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On the water
Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas
Founded in 1978 at Coral Harbour by a stunt diver on Bond films, the operator runs reef dives and a shark dive with Caribbean reef sharks.
Official site -
Golf
Royal Blue Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus designed this 18 hole course of 7,189 yards at Baha Mar, ranked first in The Bahamas by Golfweek in 2024.
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Food & wine
John Watling's Distillery
Tours of the Buena Vista Estate lead through two acres of gardens to the distillery, where rum is bottled by hand and tasted.
Official site -
Nature
The Retreat Garden
Set aside by the Bahamas National Trust in 1985, its 11 acres protect a historic palm collection and native coppice forest.
Official site -
Wildlife
Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre
Trained Caribbean flamingos, the national bird, march round their corral three times a day in four acres of gardens with over 135 animals.
Where to stay
Cable Beach, Eleuthera and Andros.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Rosewood Baha Mar Two hundred and thirty-one rooms facing some three kilometres of sand, and four beach villas with a butler and a pool of their own.
- Caerula Mar Club On a white beach, opened in 2020 as the first new hotel on the island in decades.
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The Cove Eleuthera Fifty-seven pared-back rooms on the sheltered inner shore of northern Eleuthera.
- The Potlatch Club Eleven suites, cottages and villas on twelve acres, with a Natura Bissé spa and meals served on the beach.
Where to dine
Where to book in Nassau.
No MICHELIN Guide covers the Bahamas. Three of these are in Fodor’s top price band; Café Boulud at Rosewood Baha Mar holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
- Graycliff Fodor’s Fine dining $$$$ West Hill Street, downtown Nassau
- Café Martinique Fodor’s Classic French $$$$ Marina Village, Paradise Island, about 5 km
- Dune by Jean-Georges Fodor’s Modern $$$$ The Ocean Club, Paradise Island, about 7 km
- Café Boulud The Bahamas Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence French Rosewood Baha Mar, Cable Beach, about 6 km west
Elsewhere in Bahamas
More reasons to come.
Flying to Nassau?
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