Nassau Activities From Rum Tours to Reef Dives
Read this first. Washington lists The Bahamas at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) and London’s FCDO warns about armed robbery and violent crime on New Providence. Both governments also flag jet skis, badly regulated water sports and sharks near baited water. Rather than rely on a summary, open the US travel advisory and the UK travel advice and read the current text.
Quick facts
- Island layout: Nassau is on New Providence. Paradise Island, home to Atlantis, is across the harbour and joined by bridge and ferry.
- Money: the Bahamian dollar is fixed at one to one with the US dollar, and both are accepted everywhere.
- Season: hurricane season is 1 June to 30 November, peaking from mid-August to mid-October.
- Cash or card: small vendors and Arawak Cay stalls favour cash, while Atlantis takes no cash at all.
Eat, drink and look around
The free tour at John Watling’s Distillery is the easiest way to spend an hour. The walk-in visit includes a cocktail sample and takes place at 17 Delancy Street from 10am to 6pm every day except Bahamian public holidays. Longer paid sessions (mixology, rum tasting, bottling your own) are advertised without prices, so ask when you arrive. The distillery’s own site is johnwatlings.com .
For dinner, Arawak Cay on West Bay Street is a strip of Bahamian seafood stalls. Recent coverage names Goldie’s Conch House for fritters and sky juice, Drifters for conch salad and The New Duff for guava duff. Bring cash. Evenings are busiest, and jitney Route 10 stops close by.
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is another option on a quiet day. It charges $10 for non-residents and is shut on Mondays.
On and under the water
Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas is based on Coral Harbour Road. It runs scuba and snorkel boats to reefs and wrecks, a Snuba programme and trips to sites used in films. Its Shark Adventure puts divers alongside Caribbean reef sharks that staff feed, at designated sites with professional crews. The company discounts online bookings by $10 per person per activity, accepts cards only, and does not publish a price list. Start at stuartcove.com .
Clifton Heritage National Park sells snorkelling over the offshore sculpture garden for $50 if you go unguided and $75 with a guide and gear. The park also protects the remains of an enslaved community, and the Clifton Heritage Authority lists fees and hours.
Beach days
Cable Beach by the Baha Mar resort suits a relaxed swim, while Love Beach in the north-west sits near roughly 40 acres of protected coral according to the tourism board. Lifeguard cover at the public beaches is not confirmed anywhere, so swim with company, stay out at dusk and skip any spot where bait is thrown.
Jet skis are not recommended. The US Embassy urges Americans not to rent them anywhere in The Bahamas after injuries and assaults, and the government is tightening licensing.
Getting about
Jitneys cost about $1.50 in exact cash, and Route 10 links downtown with Cable Beach, passing Fort Charlotte and Ardastra Gardens. No jitney goes to the airport or Paradise Island. Taxis use zone fares rather than meters, so settle the price before the ride.
Compare listed tours on GetYourGuide .
Read more: guided attractions or time outdoors around Nassau.