The Bahamas are known for its vibrant culture, easygoing lifestyle, turquoise waters, and white sands.
Whether snorkeling over coral reefs, eating fresh seafood and fish, or visiting shipwrecks and heritage sites, the Bahamas is where you’ll discover powdery beaches, teeming marine life, and a fascinating history.
You’ll also experience the famous Bahamian hospitality as you shop in colorful markets, explore with local guides, and experience the celebrations and festivals that are part of this rich culture.
History and Culture
Parliament Square, Nassau
One of the best things to do in the Bahamas is to immerse yourself in the culture and history of Nassau, the capital.
Start by wandering around Parliament Square, where pastel-hued colonial buildings house government offices, giving you a real sense of the island’s British colonial past. You’ll see the Senate Building, the Supreme Court, and the House of Assembly—along with a dignified-looking white statue of Queen Victoria perched on her throne.
Straw Market, Nassau
The Straw Market, a bustling bazaar where local craftspeople offer straw crafts, jewelry, and other straw-based goods, should make your list if you’re looking for souvenirs. This is the perfect place to see local sellers hawking their wares. Christ Church Cathedral, meanwhile, is an Anglican masterpiece from the 17th century
The Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation will teach you more about Bahamian history related to its colonial past. The museum, located in the pink-colored Vendue House, a former slave auction site, will provide you with an intimate and thought-provoking account of the lives of enslaved people.
Visit Nassau over the holiday season and you’ll be immersed in the dazzling spectacle of Junkanoo, which takes place on December 26 and January 1. It’s a riot of parades, elaborate costumes, live music, dancing, and feasting, celebrating the identity of the Bahamian people.
Snorkeling Adventures
Snorkeling in the Bahamas
What are the Bahamas famous for? They’re a celebrated holiday destination thanks to crystal clear waters full of tropical marine life and pristine snorkeling and dive sites.
On Bimini, you can book a dive to swim with sharks. Either snorkel with docile black-tip reef sharks or join a more adventurous dive with hammerheads, bull sharks, and lemon sharks.
Sapona Shipwreck
You can also explore the Sapona Shipwreck, a half-sunken concrete ship built shortly after the First World War. A hurricane ran it aground close to Bimini in the mid-1920s. It is now an artificial reef where you can witness an astonishing variety of tropical fish, brilliant coral, and, if you’re lucky, sea turtles and stingrays gliding through the sea.
Along the western edge of New Providence Island, you can hop into the water at the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden, a unique underwater sculpture garden at Clifton Heritage National Park, where you can swim beside coral and submerged statues.
The reefs surrounding Rose Island, close to Paradise Island, teem with tropical fish and are ideal for a snorkeling adventure, too. If you want even more space to yourself, consider booking a snorkeling excursion to the uninhabited Athol Island, with colorful marine life and well-preserved coral.
Colorful Cuisine
Bahamian food
Bahamian cuisine blends Caribbean, African, and European cuisines, reflecting the region’s diverse history.
One thing central to Bahamian culinary life is the conch, a sea snail transformed into zesty island delicacies like conch salad, with fresh tomatoes, onions, and lime dressing, or cracked conch, with crispy bites deep-fried to golden perfection. From Bimini, you can join a catamaran cruise for the day to see how conch, which is strictly protected, is harvested by hand by a free diver.
Don’t miss out on Johnny Cake when visiting the Bahamas. This traditional Bahamian bread usually consists of flour, sugar, and milk and is often lightly sweetened, then served with stews, curries, or plain with butter and jam.
Lobster
Fish and seafood lovers will be in paradise with fresh lobster cooked over a grill or fire, prepared with lemon and butter. Boiled stone crab is also a favorite, as is flaky, seasoned grouper and snapper, baked or grilled.
Wash your meals down with Bahamian classics like the tropical-flavored Bahama Mama, typically made with grenadine, crushed ice, spiced or coconut rum, and orange and pineapple juice. Another cocktail you should try is the Goombay Smash: apricot brandy, different kinds of rum, and orange and pineapple juice.
Beautiful Beaches
Pearl Island
In the Bahamas, you’ll find endless beaches to discover, ranging from tiny coves to long stretches of bone-white sand.
To kick things off, consider dropping in on Grand Bahama Island, with some of the best beaches in the Bahamas. Start with Lucayan National Park, a wilderness sanctuary with a massive cave network and some of the longest undersea limestone caverns in the world. You can join a tour to snorkel into some of these caves.
Gold Rock Beach, Grand Bahama
Gold Rock Beach is part of the park, with a quiet stretch of fluffy white sand where you can lounge and enjoy the beauty of mangroves and pristine water lapping against the shoreline.
You can also visit Lucaya Beach, close to Freeport’s lively resort zone, where you can relax at a beach bar for a tropical drink, swim in the clear blue water, or try your hand at water sports like paddle boarding or windsurfing.
Sticking to the Grand Bahama, if you head southwest from Lucaya, you’ll come across Xanadu Beach, a calmer, less touristy setting featuring soft white sand and dazzling turquoise water.
Junkanoo Beach, Nassau
Discover Junkanoo Beach, one of Nassau’s best beaches. This upbeat hotspot has beach chairs and umbrellas to rent, bars beckoning with tropical cocktails and DJs spinning tunes.
A short distance from Junkanoo, Paradise Beach, on Paradise Island next to the Atlantis Resort features powdery white sand and clear blue water, perfect for swimming or enjoying the sunshine.
Honeymoon Harbor Beach, Bimini
Honeymoon Harbor Beach on Bimini is a superb place to swim with the stingrays as they glide through the sun-dappled shallows. You can only get there by boat, which makes it a great spot to snorkel, get some sun, and chill on the sand.
In CocoCay, check out Hideaway Beach, an adults-only destination with food, drinks, sandy shore, all-day music, loungers, and umbrellas—plus a shimmering pool with a swim-up bar.
Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island is a paradise on the water, only 30 to 40 minutes by boat from Nassau. Once known as Salt Cay, this spot is one of the best places to visit in the Bahamas for a perfect day out.
This private island, known for its picturesque turquoise lagoon, is ideal for swimming, relaxing, and activities on the water, including snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding.
For something more immersive, you can admire dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays through the island’s marine encounter programs or explore nature trails on an eco-adventure tour.
Whether you work on your tan on a hammock, sip a few tropical beverages at a beach bar, sample delicious barbeque dishes, or swim in the sea, Blue Lagoon Island has plenty of seaside fun to keep you occupied.
CocoCay
CocoCay
CocoCay is an award-winning private haven for vacationers looking for leisure and distraction, perfect for families, singles, couples, and thrill-seekers of all ages.
If you’re an adventure lover, check out Thrill Water Park, with Daredevil’s Peak, North America’s tallest waterslide. You can splash around the wave pool and then fly down other waterslides while trying to maximize your intake of high-intensity fun.
Daredevil’s Peak, CocoCay
Coco Beach Club has luxurious overwater cabanas for a relaxing day out on the water, plus a divine infinity pool with daybeds and outstanding sea views.
The island has restaurants offering everything from fresh seafood to sizzling BBQ dishes, light Mediterranean fare, and made-to-order pizza.
Snorkeling around CocoCay is pure heaven, with the clear waters showing off coral reefs and marine life. Zip-lining across the island is an option, too, if you want to check everything out for an aerial perspective. You could even take a “ride” in a tethered hot air balloon for a bird’s eye view of the setting below.
Nassau Caves
Nassau Caves
If you fancy spelunking in the Bahamas and need an hour or two away from the busy beach life, consider visiting “The Caves.”
These limestone caves, next to Cave Beach, are easy to find and explore. Before the arrival of Europeans in the islands, the early Lucayans used the caves for food storage. The cool temperature was good for preserving food—and the location kept vital supplies safe from hurricanes.
Local lore suggests pirates like the much-feared Blackbeard used to hide their booty here. Today, though, the only inhabitants are bats.
Rum & Pirates
John Watling’s Distillery, Nassau
What are the Bahamas famous for? Pirates and rum are two cultural icons you’ll come across again and again.
Plunge yourself into the world of buccaneer life at the Pirates of Nassau Museum to discover what the Golden Age of Piracy was all about. Explore exhibits and pirate ships while delving into stories about famous pirates like Anne Bonny, Charles Vane, and Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard.
From there, switch courses to learn more about Bahamian rum, which, as you might have guessed, pirates often enjoyed.
John Watling’s Distillery—on the scenic Buena Vista Estate, with sweeping harbor vistas—is famed for its artisanal production of sugarcane spirits. Visit the distillery, learn about ingredients and aging processes, and sample some of their signature small-batch rum.
Graycliff Chocolatier, Nassau
For a sweeter take on the rum business, swing by Graycliff Chocolatier in Nassau to taste how these two treats pair together.
Finish your tour in local pubs or restaurants where you can enjoy Bahamian drinks like the Bahama Mama, Yellow Bird, or the Goombay Smash.
Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island
Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island
You’ll be in awe when you visit the glitzy Atlantis Resort, with its distinctive coral-pink architecture and mix of luxurious amenities and excitement, from high-end fashion to casinos, a spa, and golf.
Located on Paradise Island, Atlantis features the Aquaventure Waterpark, which entices with its water slides, lazy rivers, and immersive marine exhibits, such as the underwater Atlantis Dig Aquarium, full of exotic marine life.
After relishing some of the water-based attractions and exhibits, you can refuel at one of the on-site restaurants, with dozens to choose from, ranging from casual fare to gourmet dining. A day pass will also give you access to some of the inviting pools and private beaches dotted around the resort.
Fort Fincastle & the Queen’s Staircase
Fort Fincastle, Nassau
Step back in time at Fort Fincastle, located on Nassau’s tallest hill, Bennet’s Hill. The castle, constructed in 1793, overlooks Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island. Thankfully, the large defensive walls and cannons are no longer in use, as pirate raids are a thing of the past.
Just across the street is the Queen’s Staircase, which you can use to access the fort. The steep staircase, surrounded by lush tropical greenery, was sculpted by enslaved workers in the late 18th century out of solid limestone.
The 66 steps here, named for Britain’s Queen Victoria, are a popular photo op, representing the strength of the Bahamian people while simultaneously offering a glimpse into Nassau’s stormy past. Queen Victoria is honored here as it was during her reign that slavery was abolished.
Pearl Island
Pearl Island
Pearl Island, or Sun Cay, east of Paradise Island, is a brilliant destination for a pleasurable afternoon. Begin by snorkeling across the colorful reefs, teeming with tropical marine life, or perhaps paddle across the water in a rented kayak.
Wander over to the historic lighthouse for a 360-degree view of the sea, then take a scenic stroll along the beach, soaking in the island’s spirit before or after you enjoy a Bahamian lunch beneath the shade of palm trees.
Ernest Hemingway
Bimini
Hemingway was famed for his love of sport fishing and sleepy Bimini was one of his favorite destinations. You can try your hand at fishing; not for the majestic marlin and bluefin tuna hunted by the author, but over Bimini’s reefs, on a small group tour where you could land a grouper or snapper.
Hemingway, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and Richard Nixon, were also great bonefishing fans. The waters off the east end of Grand Bahama are the place to fish for these fast and powerful game fish, although eating you catch is an acquired taste, as they’re full of tiny bones, as the name suggests.
CocoCay
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