Nassau Family Fun: Flamingos, Slides and Sand

October 18, 2026

Parents, please read. Washington rates The Bahamas Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) for crime, and both Washington and London warn about jet skis and loosely regulated water sports. Plan family outings for daylight, keep everyone together and prefer attractions with staff on site. The current text is on the US advisory page and the UK safety page .

Families in Nassau tend to choose among a small zoo, a very large waterpark, a pirate exhibit, a fort and a few easy beach hours. Costs here are in Bahamian dollars, equal to the US dollar, and both currencies change hands freely.

Flamingos and animals at Ardastra

Ardastra Gardens sits on Chippingham Road, on the Route 10 jitney line. Official prices for visitors are $35 for adults and $25 for ages 4 to 12, with younger children and members admitted free. The marching flamingos perform at 11:00, 1:30 and 3:00, and keepers give talks at 10:30 and 2:00. Feeding a rabbit or a tortoise costs $5 each. Gates open at 9:30am and close at 4:00pm, but the last entry is 3:00pm, so arrive early. The garden is shut on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Tickets can only be bought at the entrance, and visitors sign a waiver. The grounds are uneven for wheels. Visit ardastra.com before you go.

Aquaventure at Atlantis

Day passes are the only way in for guests who sleep elsewhere. They include the waterpark, the resort pools except The Cove Pool, the beaches and the marine displays The Dig and Predator Tunnel. Highlights include a Mayan Temple, the Leap of Faith, a 60-foot near-vertical slide, and a river ride about a mile long. There is no published price because it moves with the date and season. You must buy ahead, pay by card because the resort takes no cash, and bring ID, a signed waiver and the card you paid with. Under 3s are free, with age 3 to be confirmed at checkout. Check the official day pass page for the rules and hours by month.

Fort Charlotte, pirates and chocolate

Fort Charlotte has a moat, dungeons and passages to explore, and on Wednesdays and Fridays a living-history scene leads up to a cannon firing at noon. It costs $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children under 12. See the Bahamas tourism page . Fort Fincastle is being renovated and its reopening is unconfirmed, so check first.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum on King Street is wheelchair accessible and takes one to two hours. Fees and hours are inconsistent across sources, so check on arrival.

Graycliff Chocolatier on West Hill Street offers workshops that booking listings place between about $55 and $82 per person.

Sand and sea

Blue Lagoon Island has an Island Beach Day with the boat crossing, lunch and an inflatable aqua park for about $120 per adult in listings. Closer to the cruise port, Junkanoo Beach is free. It is a working harbour beach with small-boat traffic and occasional water quality concerns, so keep it to a short daytime paddle with an adult in the water. Nothing confirms lifeguards at the main public beaches. Children and jet skis do not mix, and the US Embassy advises Americans to avoid renting them.

Browse family tours in Nassau if you want a guided day.