Visiting the Bahamas: Top 5 Attractions in Nassau
Tourism is a $2 billion industry in the Bahamas and there are dozens of historical attractions, museums, resorts, and novel sites to visit in Nassau alone. Because most visitors only have a short time to explore the city, however, it is best to know which sites are the most significant and offer the widest range of unique experiences so it is possible to gain insight into all aspects of Bahamian life.
Explore Bahamas History at Fort Fincastle
Built in 1793, Fort Fincastle is an excellent lookout offering panoramic views of Nassau and a glimpse of the city’s historic defenses. It is perched at the top of Elizabeth Avenue and can be reached by the Queen’s Staircase, a 65-step staircase carved by slaves out of a limestone cliff in the late 1700s. The adjacent Water Tower is one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks and at 216 feet above sea level, it is also the highest point on New Providence Island. After walking through Fort Fincastle, visitors can ascend an elevator to the top of the tower for a nominal fee and witness breathtaking views of the city, cruise ship docks, and nearby islands.
Find Bahamas Bargains at the Straw Market
The Straw Market on Bay Street just west of the cruise docks is one of the largest straw markets in the world, offering beaded jewelry, hand-woven bags, wood carvings, and other trinkets from hundreds of vendors. Interspersed with the unique crafts are more traditional souvenirs: t-shirts, key chains, picture frames, and shot glasses are plentiful. Shoppers are welcome to barter with merchants, and watching local artisans weave new merchandise on-site is a treat even for non-shoppers. The Market is open daily and is often augmented by small boats on the northern end where additional vendors display conch shells and other aquatic treasures.
Bahamian Natural Wonders at Ardastra Gardens
Visitors to the Bahamas will be struck by its natural beauty and exotic wildlife as they explore Ardastra Gardens, a set of extensive botanical gardens that house more than 300 species of mammals, reptiles, and birds native to Caribbean and Latin American nations. Pink flamingos are the national bird of the Bahamas, and a trained flock of the tropical birds performs three daily shows to delight young and old. Across from the Gardens is an additional botanical preserve with more than a dozen acres of carefully cultivated flowering trees and shrubs, including multiple orchid varieties that line winding pathways and decorative ponds.
Luxury Living at the Atlantis Resort
For tourists who crave a vacation of mystery and mythology, there is no better destination than the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, just minutes from downtown Nassau. With more than 2,300 rooms in various towers and luxurious suites, this is the one of the largest resorts in the Caribbean. The resort celebrates the Lost Continent of Atlantis with numerous waterfalls, marine habitats, lagoons, and aquariums that house more than 200 species of sharks, fish, and other marine life. Underwater grottos and viewing tunnels offer visitors a rare glimpse of the natural habitats of these exotic creatures, and pools and waterslides offer adventurous marine habitats for guests. Atlantis is also home to one of the largest casinos in the Caribbean, dozens of restaurants and lounges, and the Marina Village Bahamian marketplace with more than 20 distinctive shops. Non-hotel guests can purchase access passes to the resort’s many attractions for a modest fee.
Delve into Local Bahamas Color with a Surrey Ride
Despite the many organized attractions available in Nassau, one of the best options is one of the least commercialized: a quaint surrey ride in a horse-drawn cart. Knowledgeable local drivers offer 30 minute tours of downtown Nassau in private carriages, and along the circular route passengers are treated to colorful historical tidbits and local culture. Rides begin near Parliament Square with its distinctive pink buildings (in honor of the flamingo) that surround a statue of Queen Victoria. Other tour highlights include the shopping district, where drivers point out the best stores for different shopping needs, as well as several historic homes throughout the city. Drivers are independent dealers and prices can be negotiated, though the standard rate is $20-30 per ride (not per passenger).
From historical monuments to natural wonders to luxury resorts, Nassau is the political, cultural, and economical capital of the Bahamas. Though there are more than 700 islands in the nation, 29 of which are inhabited, a visit to this lively capital on New Providence Island provides tourists with insights into all areas of Bahamian culture and history, and every visitor leaves with just a little more Caribbean spirit in their soul.
