A group of 700 islands scattered in the Atlantic Ocean in North America, the Bahamas are one of the most popular tourist locations in the world. The exotic country that bases its entire economy on tourism and finance makes it one of the richest countries in the North America. The Bahamas are known as one of the most desirable locations in the world to spend your vacations at. A place of incredible culture, mesmerizing sceneries, the bluest of water you will ever see, coral reels that would leave you with your mouths open and the most beautiful beaches in the world. From modern havens of tourist-filled islands to inhabited islands where you can spend your days solo, the Bahamas offers you everything you could want from a striking island country.
Here are the top cities and places in the Bahamas that you can't miss at any cost.
The capital of the country which houses more than 70% of the total population, Nassau is the place you must go if you are visiting the Bahamas. The commercial hub of the country, Nassau is famous for its markets, the local and the best food available in the country. The popular festival, Junkanoo, takes place in Nassau. The insanely famous Fish Fry is located in the city. It’s a beautiful city filled with markets, houses, hotels, beaches, and everything else you could wish for. One of the main airports of the country is also located in Nassau. Visit the historical Fort Fincastle and the Cloisters in the Versailles Gardens, and don’t miss the Cable Beach, a 6-mile-long stretch of sandy goodness lined with houses, shops, casinos, restaurants, bars and other water sports opportunities. Lastly, head over to the famous Nassau Straw Market to splurge on souvenirs.
Freeport is famous for the Lucaya Beach, Taino Beach, Port Lucaya Market, Peterson Cay National Park and so much more. It’s also one of the cities to house a main airport alongside Nassau. There are tons of places to visit in Freeport, or you could just chill on one of those spectacular beaches. The buzzing energy, the never ending beaches, proper accommodation and the perfect marketplace make Freeport an amazing destination.
Harbour Island is situated on the Northeast Coast of Eleuthera Island. There’s only one town on the whole island, however, the main attraction are the renowned Pink Sand beaches. The whole east side of the Island houses these gorgeous beaches which attract tourists from all around the world.
Paradise Island is located near Nassau but it’s a separate island known mainly for the exotic resort of Atlantis which houses an amazing water park with a lot of water rides, pools, beaches, casinos and aquariums of several kinds. It is also famous for being a location to several movies including James Bond movies.
Eleuthera Island is a sought-after beach destination in the Bahamas. Although it’s underdeveloped, it attracts tourists for precisely that reason. Less people come but they are more interested in what the island has to offer. Rock Sound Beach, Tarpum Bay and Gregory Town are few of the endless things to do and places to visit in this stupendous place. Due to fewer crowds, it has a relaxing ambience.
The largest festival that takes place in the Bahamas is the Junkanoo. It’s a parade held over the span of two days, 26th December (Boxing day) and 1st January (New Year). The groups that take part in the Junkanoo run and rush through the streets of towns.
As you’d expect from an island country, seafood is immensely popular and preferred throughout the Bahamas. The national dish is conch. Fruits and vegetables are imported from nearby mainland making the dishes made from such very expensive. The best authentic food in Bahamas is found at Curly's at the Fish Fry owned by none other than Curly himself. At Curly's seafood is delivered from the boat directly into the rear entrance of the restaurant. There are many little restaurants dotted around Cable Beach and Downtown Nassau that are worth exploring. More expensive fine dining can be found at Atlantis and at Baha-Mar, the two largest resorts on the island of New Providence. All sorts of seafood are available and enjoyed throughout the islands.
The Bahamas havethe famous Caribbean vibe running through them. There are tons of bars and places where you can spend your nights dancing to the local music as well as beats installed from foreign artists and drinking yourself to sleep. On New Providence you will find lots of places that adhere to the famous nightlife. For more traditional north american style bars and nightclubs seek out the major hotel resorts.
The Bahamas can get pretty expensive during prime travel season like Christmas and New Years. The options range from luxurious 5-star resorts like One and Only Ocean Club, to more affordable all-inclusive hotels like the Riu at Paradise Island. Avoid some of the smaller little Inns in Cable Beach as many people have found them disappointing. Vacation rentals are also available. Price wise, the best bet is to visit in the off-season to get good prices. There are no hostels or cheap accommodation available.
Although the weather throughout the year is great, the best times to visit the Bahamas would be outside of Hurricane season from the start of December to the middle of April. The prices are naturally high during these times as well because the tourism is on peak during these days. If you are looking to avoid the massive crowds, you should look to visit in early December or late April. The summer months can get very hot and humid and the usual trade winds that cool you down are not as common. Not even the ocean will give you a reprieve in the summer as its as luke warm as a bath tub. If you want to see the Junkanoo you will have to go over New Years.
Things to Do in The Bahamas
The most common way to get to the Bahamas is by air. Major airports are located in Nassau and Freeport. There are dozens of smaller airports that are located on the other islands. Most of the US cities offer direct flights to the Bahamas while people coming from Europe and Asia can use connecting flights to reach the Bahamas. There’s also the option of travelling via boats and yachts, used mainly by locals and Americans.
Travelling within The Bahamas is done by-air, by-sea, or by-road. By-air is the common way of getting into the country but travelling between the islands is mostly done through boats and yachts. Boats are the cheapest way to get around while on main developed islands, there are cars and taxis available.
The Bahamas’ local currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD) which is tied to the US Dollar’s exchange rate hence its value is equivalent to the US Dollar. The US dollars are accepted everywhere in the Bahamas making it incredibly easy for Americans to go around their way and spend their money. There are other nearby currencies that are equal to the Bahamian Dollar, but they have to be exchanged to be used. Because you cannot exchange the Bahamian Dollar outside of the Bahamas, and technically it is illegal to leave the country, make sure to use them up before you leave.
If you decide to go away, book your hotel, flights and activities through our trip concierge for discounts and benefits. We offer free upgrades, free breakfasts, free hotel credit and VIP gifts at many luxury hotels for the same price as the hotel’s own websites. (Book direct and you don’t get these benefits so why would you?). Our packaged vacation prices tend to be considerably cheaper than flight and hotel prices available online.
