Country

The Bahamas

First trip: 3–4 nights on New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island), then fly to one Out Island (Exuma, Eleuthera or Abaco) for 4–5; trying to hop three islands in a week spends the week in airports.

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2 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days

Key facts

Best months: Nov–Jul by month →
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Bahamian dollar
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: UTC−5

Month by monthIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 3Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…

Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…

Understand in one strip

Capital: Nassau (New Providence)
Language: English; Bahamian Creole in everyday speech
Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to the US dollar; USD accepted everywhere
Plugs: Types A and B; 120 V 60 Hz
Driving: Left-hand side
Tipping: 15% gratuity is often added; otherwise 15–20%
Emergency: 911 or 919
Time zone: UTC−5; UTC−4 with daylight saving March–November

The Bahamas is an independent country of about 700 islands and cays spread over hundreds of kilometres of ocean, and almost everything routes through Nassau. Inter-island travel is by small plane, fast ferry or mail boat, all of which run less often than visitors expect and stop first when weather turns. Prices are high everywhere and higher on the Out Islands. Pick one Out Island, not three, and treat hurricane season (June–November) as the main planning constraint.

About The Bahamas

An independent Commonwealth nation of about 400,000 people, most on New Providence, spread across some 700 islands. Tourism and financial services dominate; the islands sit on shallow limestone banks that give the water its colour.

Where's good this month

Each region's weather and verdict, holidays, crowds

NovemberGoCrowds medium· Prices medium

Drier and calmer; hurricane season ends 30 Nov.

Where's good: no region is at its best; pick the fair ones below

Northern islandsNassau, Grand Bahama, Abaco, EleutheraFair
Fairok: workable
Subtropical: winter days around 24–25 °C (75–77 °F) with cool fronts and sea near 23 °C (73 °F); summers 31–32 °C (88–90 °F) and humid with afternoon storms.Subtropical: winter days around 75–77 °F (24–25 °C) with cool fronts and sea near 73 °F (23 °C); summers 88–90 °F (31–32 °C) and humid with afternoon storms.
Central and southern islandsExuma, Long Island, Cat Island, InaguaFair
Fairok: workable
A little warmer and drier than Nassau; sea warm all year. Hurricane risk peaks August–October.

Holidays and festivals in November

No national holiday that changes transport or opening hours in The Bahamas this month.

Pick a route

Nights per stop, as the guide plans them

7 days10 days14 days

Nassau and Exuma

Nassau, 3 nightsArrival + day plans
Exuma, 4 nightsNo guide yet

Book a cays boat day from Exuma, not Nassau.

Nassau, Eleuthera and Harbour Island

Nassau, 3 nightsArrival + day plans
Harbour Island, 3 nightsBasic guide
Eleuthera, 4 nightsNo guide yet

Rent a car on Eleuthera.

Two Out Islands

Nassau, 3 nightsArrival + day plans
Exuma, 5 nightsNo guide yet
Abaco, 5 nightsNo guide yet
Nassau, 1 nightsArrival + day plans

Or sail Abaco on a bareboat charter.

Customize this route Explore cities

Top destinations in The Bahamas, ranked

For a first or second trip

Nassau plus one Out Island is the usual shape.

Nassau and Paradise Island
Arrival + day plans
Hub, history and beaches.
3–4 nights in Nassau and Paradise Island · Best Dec–May
Exuma
No guide yet
Cays, sandbars and boat days.
4–5 nights in Exuma · Best Dec–Jun
Harbour Island and Eleuthera
No guide yet
Pink sand and quiet coves.
4 nights in Harbour Island and Eleuthera · Best Dec–Jun
Abaco
No guide yet
Sailing between cays.
4–6 nights in Abaco · Best Mar–Jun
Andros
Basic guide
Blue holes and bonefishing.
3–4 nights in Andros · Best Nov–Jun
Grand Bahama
No guide yet
Closest to Florida; national parks.
3 nights in Grand Bahama · Best Dec–May

Decide the trip

What the country is like, who it suits and how long to give it

Open Decide the tripClose Decide the trip7 partsUnderstand in one strip · At a glance · Understand · First vs second trip · Good for · Time math · Fit my nights

Understand in one stripCapital · Language · Currency · Plugs · Driving · Tipping · Emergency · Time zone8 parts

Capital: Nassau (New Providence)
Language: English; Bahamian Creole in everyday speech
Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to the US dollar; USD accepted everywhere
Plugs: Types A and B; 120 V 60 Hz
Driving: Left-hand side
Tipping: 15% gratuity is often added; otherwise 15–20%
Emergency: 911 or 919
Time zone: UTC−5; UTC−4 with daylight saving March–November

The Bahamas: open now, and what is next

3 regions planned

On this page

1 of 4 regions open, with where to sleep and for how long
1 trip line with arrival paths and day plans
13 basic city guides
How to split 3, 7, 10 days
Money: cash, cards and ATMs
Safety notes and the rules that apply on every page below

Coming as the guide grows

Grand Bahama — Freeport and Lucaya; second airport, nearest island to Florida · 3–4 nights
The Exumas — Cays, sandbars and boat days out of George Town · 4–6 nights
Eleuthera and Abaco — Long islands with quiet beaches and sailing; car needed · 4–6 nights

Meanwhile

At a glance

1–5, with the reason

Each bar is 1 to 5. Green means the score makes the trip easier, amber is middling, red is harder; the words next to each score say what that end of the scale means, so colour is never the only signal.

Cost5/5 · expensive

Among the most expensive countries in the Caribbean.

Cash necessity3/5 · middling

Cards in Nassau; cash needed on Out Islands.

English on the ground5/5 · widely spoken

English is the language.

Connectivity4/5 · fast everywhere

Good in Nassau and main settlements; gaps on remote cays.

Transport ease2/5 · hard work

Everything via Nassau; flights and boats infrequent.

Safety3/5 · middling

Crime in parts of Nassau and Freeport; Out Islands calm.

Heat / climate risk3/5 · middling

Hot, humid summers; pleasant winters.

Understand

People, belief, history that matters on the ground

People: About 400,000; mostly of African descent, with European and Haitian communities.
Government: Parliamentary democracy; King Charles III as head of state via a Governor-General.
Land: About 13,900 km² (5,367 sq mi) over 700 islands and 2,000+ cays; highest point 63 m (Mount Alvernia, Cat Island).About 5,367 sq mi (13,900 km²) over 700 islands and 2,000+ cays; highest point 63 m (Mount Alvernia, Cat Island).
Economy: Tourism and financial services; no income tax; 10% VAT.

History that still shows on the ground · 8 dates

When	What happened	Where you meet it today
Before 1492	Lucayan Taíno islands	Columbus' first landfall was in the Bahamas.
1648	Eleutheran Adventurers settle	First English settlement.
1700s	Pirate republic in Nassau	Blackbeard's base.
1780s	Loyalists arrive with enslaved people	Plantations on the Out Islands.
1834	Emancipation	Emancipation Day in August.
1967	Majority rule	Majority Rule Day, 10 January.
1973	Independence	10 July national day.
2019	Hurricane Dorian	Devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Read or watch before you go

Colin Woodard — The Republic of Pirates (2007).

First trip vs second trip

Which regions, and what to leave

Trip	Go to	Why	Leave for later
First trip (7 nights)	Nassau and Paradise Island 3 + Exuma or Eleuthera 4	Town, beach and one Out Island.	More than one Out Island.
Beach only (5 nights)	Harbour Island or Exuma	Pink sand or cays by boat.	Cruise-day Nassau.
Second trip	Abaco sailing, Andros bonefishing, Long Island	Quiet islands and boat life.	Tight connections in storm season.

Good for…

Where each kind of traveller does best

Verdict is how well the Bahamas works for that traveller.

English-speaking and close to the US.

1Nassau — easy hub.

Time math

How to split a stay, by total days in the country

3 days in total: Nassau and Paradise Island 3
7 days in total: Nassau 3 + one Out Island 4 (fly or fast ferry)
10 days in total: Nassau 3 + Out Island 4 + a second Out Island 3, only with direct connections

Which regions fit my nights?

Tick the regions you are weighing up. The nights are the ranges this guide gives for each region.

Regions you want to see

New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island)Capital, main airport and cruise port; the hub for everything else3–4 nights
Grand BahamaFreeport and Lucaya; second airport, nearest island to FloridaPage still planned3–4 nights
The ExumasCays, sandbars and boat days out of George TownPage still planned4–6 nights
Eleuthera and AbacoLong islands with quiet beaches and sailing; car neededPage still planned4–6 nights

Nights you have

Tick the regions you are considering.

Cities

Regions, cities and the places between them

Open CitiesClose Cities5 partsRegions · Cities · Other destinations · See · Do

Regions

4 regions · 1 open

New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island)published

Capital, main airport and cruise port; the hub for everything else

3–4 nights in this region

Nassau

Grand Bahamaplanned

Freeport and Lucaya; second airport, nearest island to Florida

3–4 nights in this region

The Exumasplanned

Cays, sandbars and boat days out of George Town

4–6 nights in this region

Eleuthera and Abacoplanned

Long islands with quiet beaches and sailing; car needed

4–6 nights in this region

Cities

The ones to know; each says what Voykit has for it

NassauArrival + day plans

Capital, cruise port, Fish Fry and gateway to every island.

Paradise IslandBasic guide

Resort island across the bridge; Atlantis and Cabbage Beach.

Freeport and LucayaNo guide yet

Grand Bahama's town and beaches, still rebuilding after Dorian.

George Town (Exuma)No guide yet

Base for the Exuma cays and Stocking Island.

Dunmore Town (Harbour Island)No guide yet

Pink-sand beach and golf-cart village.

Marsh Harbour (Abaco)No guide yet

Sailing hub for the Abaco cays.

Other destinations

Parks, bays, heritage sites, islands

Place	What	Getting there	Why go / verdict
Exuma Cays	Cays and sandbars	Boat day from Nassau or Exuma	Swimming pigs, Thunderball Grotto, Land and Sea Park.
Harbour Island →	Beach village	Fast ferry or flight to North Eleuthera + water taxi	Pink sand and pastel houses.
Eleuthera	Long island	Flight or ferry	Glass Window Bridge, empty beaches.
Andros →	Blue holes and flats	Flight from Nassau	Bonefishing, the barrier reef and blue holes.
Abaco	Sailing	Flight to Marsh Harbour	Cays by boat; recovered after Dorian.
Long Island	Quiet island	Flight	Dean's Blue Hole, among the deepest known.
Lucayan National Park	Park	Grand Bahama	Caves and Gold Rock Beach.

See

By theme, not by list

Nassau

Fort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase · Nassau
Straw Market · Bay Street
Arawak Cay Fish Fry · West Bay Street
Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation · Downtown

Walk downtown on non-cruise days or early morning.

Out Islands

Glass Window Bridge · Eleuthera
Pink Sands Beach · Harbour Island
Thunderball Grotto · Staniel Cay, Exuma
Dean's Blue Hole · Long Island

Fly in, rent a car, stay four nights.

Do

Where, when, what it costs

Activity	Where	Best months	Cost (2026 estimate)	Verdict
Exuma boat day	From Nassau or Staniel Cay	All year, calm seas	US$250–450	Long day from Nassau; better from Exuma.
Diving and snorkelling	Andros barrier reef, Exuma, Nassau walls	All year	US$80–200	Clear water; shark dives available.
Bonefishing	Andros, Abaco, Grand Bahama flats	All year	US$400–800 a day with guide	World-famous flats.
Sailing charter	Abaco, Exuma	Nov–May	US$500+ a day	The islands make most sense by boat.
Junkanoo experience	Nassau	26 Dec, 1 Jan; museum all year	Free–US$50 seats	Go to the parade if you can.

Connect the cities

Ready-made routes, the route builder and the legs between cities

Open Connect the citiesClose Connect the cities3 partsItineraries · Route builder · Between cities

Itineraries by length

Nights per stop (the number after each place); fly the long legs

Fly or ferry via Nassau; keep a buffer night before flying home.

7 days

Nassau and Exuma

Nassau → fly → George Town, Exuma

Nassau3n
Exuma4n

Book a cays boat day from Exuma, not Nassau.

10 days

Nassau, Eleuthera and Harbour Island

Nassau → fast ferry → Harbour Island → Eleuthera → fly Nassau

Rent a car on Eleuthera.

14 days

Two Out Islands

Nassau → Exuma → Nassau → Abaco

Nassau3n
Exuma5n
Abaco5n
Nassau1n

Or sail Abaco on a bareboat charter.

Build a route

Days and interests in, cities, nights, transfers and cost out

Days in The Bahamas

Interests (optional)

Based on: Nassau, Eleuthera and Harbour Island (10 days, itineraries by length)

Nassau3 nights
Ferry / boat · Bahamas Fast Ferries · 2–3 h · About US$90–140 one way — check All options →
Harbour Island3 nights
Transfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
Eleuthera4 nights

Rent a car on Eleuthera.

Open the trip planner

What this route costs

StyleTravelers

Nassau3 nights · city pricesBSD 1,900
Harbour Island3 nightsBSD 2,500
Eleuthera4 nightsBSD 3,000

Total, 2 travelers

BSD 7,500

Per person per day: BSD 400

2026 estimate (check): rooms for two, food, local transport and sights; international flights, visas and insurance excluded. Tweak it in the budget calculator.

Getting between cities

Door to door, fastest first · 2026 estimate, check fares

Between	Fastest	Other ways
Nassau to Harbour Island	Ferry / boat · 2–3 hAbout US$90–140 one way — checkBahamas Fast Ferries	—	All options →

How each mode works here Any two places: A-to-B Is a rail pass worth it?

This month

Weather and crowds by month

Open This monthClose This month2 partsYear at a glance · Climate

Year at a glance

Every month in one list: how it rates, how busy and pricey it is, and which holidays land in it.

Busiest or big holidays: Jan–Apr, Jul, Dec

Jan
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- New Year's Day and Junkanoo (high impact)
- Majority Rule Day (low impact)
Feb
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
Mar
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Good Friday and Easter Monday (medium impact)
Apr
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Good Friday and Easter Monday (medium impact)
May
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Whit Monday (low impact)
Jun
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Whit Monday (low impact)
- Randol Fawkes Labour Day (low impact)
Jul
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Independence Day (high impact)
Aug
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Emancipation Day (medium impact)
Sep
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
Oct
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
- National Heroes Day (low impact)
Nov
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
Dec
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Christmas and Boxing Day Junkanoo (high impact)

Climate by region and month

When each region works

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Northern islandsNassau, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera	cool	cool	best	best	best	hot	hot	storm	storm	storm	ok	best
Central and southern islandsExuma, Long Island, Cat Island, Inagua	best	best	best	best	best	hot	hot	storm	storm	storm	ok	best

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windowsstorm: typhoon or flood risk

Northern islands: Subtropical: winter days around 24–25 °C (75–77 °F) with cool fronts and sea near 23 °C (73 °F); summers 31–32 °C (88–90 °F) and humid with afternoon storms.Subtropical: winter days around 75–77 °F (24–25 °C) with cool fronts and sea near 73 °F (23 °C); summers 88–90 °F (31–32 °C) and humid with afternoon storms.
Central and southern islands: A little warmer and drier than Nassau; sea warm all year. Hurricane risk peaks August–October.

Mid-December to April is the dry high season; May is a sweet spot before summer rains; late August to October is peak storm risk and some Out Island hotels close.

Cost

What a day costs, and how to pay

Open CostClose Cost4 partsMoney at a glance · Daily budget · Costs · Money & passes

Money at a glance

Cash or card, ATMs, a day's spend, tipping

Currency and cash

Bahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to the US dollar; USD accepted everywhere

Card and cash both needed

Cash or card

Cards work in Nassau and resorts; on the Out Islands, small shops, taxis and boat operators often want cash.

ATMs

ATMs are few on the smaller islands: take enough cash from Nassau before you fly out.

On landing: Withdraw at a Nassau ATM before Out Islands.

A day, per person

BudgetBSD 135–290
Mid-rangeBSD 350–740
ComfortBSD 930–2,200

Per person per day, bed included

What that covers ↓

Tipping

Restaurants: 15% often added; check the bill.
Taxis: 15%.
Hotels: Gratuity often added; extra for porters and housekeeping.

Also

VAT of 10% applies to most goods and services; hotels add resort fees and gratuities on top.

Money & passes Card, cash or ATM: the cheapest way to pay Tipping calculator

Budget per day, per person

2026 estimate · converted to your currency · totals include a bed

Per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort. International flights not included. 2026 estimate, BSD = USD.

Tier	Bed	Food	Transport	Sights	Extras	Total, bed included
BudgetGuesthouse, Fish Fry, jitneys	BSD 70–130	BSD 40–70	BSD 5–20	BSD 10–40	BSD 10–30	BSD 135–290
Mid-rangeHotel, restaurants, taxis, a boat trip	BSD 150–300	BSD 90–150	BSD 30–80	BSD 50–150	BSD 30–60	BSD 350–740
ComfortResort, charters, domestic flights	BSD 450–1,000	BSD 180–350	BSD 100–250	BSD 150–450	BSD 50–150	BSD 930–2,200

Costs per day

Per person, 2026 estimate

Budget

BSD 150–250

Guesthouse or cheap rental, Fish Fry meals, jitneys, a mail boat.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Mid-range

BSD 350–600

Mid-range hotel (shared), restaurants, taxis, one boat trip.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Comfort

BSD 900+

Paradise Island or Out Island resort, private boat charters, domestic flights.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Typical price	Amount
Conch salad at Arawak Cay	BSD 15–25
Kalik or Sands beer	BSD 5–9
Jitney ride	About BSD 1.25–2.50 — check
Taxi NAS – Cable Beach	About BSD 30–40 for two
Exuma swimming-pigs boat day from Nassau	BSD 250–450 — check
Nassau – Harbour Island fast ferry	About BSD 90–140 — check
Supermarket basics	30–70% above US prices

2026 estimate, per person. 10% VAT; hotels add resort fees and 15% gratuities. Out Islands cost more than Nassau.

Budget calculator

DaysTravellersStyleInternal flights

Beds1 room × 10 nightsBSD 2,500
Food and drink2 × 10 daysBSD 2,500
Local transport2 × 10 daysBSD 1,000
Sights and tours2 × 10 daysBSD 1,600
Domestic flight Nassau – Out Island (one way)2 × 1BSD 400

Trip total, 2 travellers

BSD 8,000

Per person per day: BSD 400

2026 estimate. Beds priced per room for two; international flights, insurance and visas excluded. Add a rental car or golf cart on the Out Islands and boat tours at BSD 100–450.

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 3/5 (5 means cash for most things)

Currency is the Bahamian dollar (BSD), held at par with the US dollar; US dollars are accepted everywhere and change often comes back mixed.
Cards work in Nassau and resorts; on the Out Islands, small shops, taxis and boat operators often want cash.
ATMs are few on the smaller islands: take enough cash from Nassau before you fly out.
VAT of 10% applies to most goods and services; hotels add resort fees and gratuities on top.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Getting in

Before you go, entry rules and the first day

Open Getting inClose Getting in5 partsBefore you go · Arrive · Entry · Documents · First 24 hours

Before you go

Dated steps for your passport

What to sort, and by when, before a trip to The Bahamas. Pick your passport and flight date; everything else follows.

My passportI fly on

Add your flight date to turn “weeks before” into dates.

US plugs fit
Sockets here: type A, B.
No visa needed: Up to 8 months — set by the officer
No visa needed. Return or onward ticket and proof of funds may be requested.
Entry rules Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗

Passport valid long enough
90 days before
Valid for the stay; six months beyond departure is the safe rule.
Passport check
Travel insurance
30 days before
With hurricane cancellation and air evacuation.
Insurance check
Vaccines and medicines
30 days before
Some vaccines need weeks or two doses; carry prescriptions in their boxes.
Health Medicine rules
eSIM or roaming
2 weeks before
BTC and Aliv sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at Nassau airport and in town.
eSIM finder
Cards and cash
2 weeks before
Card and cash both needed (cash need 3/5). ATMs are few on the smaller islands: take enough cash from Nassau before you fly out.
Money & ATMs
Arrival card or e-arrival form
3 days before
Immigration card on arrival (an online version may be offered — check).

Lead times are Voykit's safe margins, not official deadlines (check the official portal). The full countdown with calendar reminders: Before-you-go countdown · Passport check.

Arrive

NAS

Lynden Pindling International (Nassau)

About 20–40 min by taxi to downtown Nassau or Cable Beach; US preclearance for flights to the US; hub for all Out Island flights

FPO

Grand Bahama International (Freeport)

Short taxi ride to Freeport and Lucaya; terminal rebuilt after Hurricane Dorian — check facilities

GGT

Exuma International (George Town)

Direct flights from Nassau and some from the US

ELH

North Eleuthera

For Harbour Island and Spanish Wells by water taxi

Entry: visas and borders

2026 rules — confirm on the official portal

US, Canadian and UK citizens and several European nationalities get up to eight months visa-free; most other Western, Latin American and Asian passports, including China, get up to three months. Indian citizens with a valid US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visa are exempt; Nigerians, Filipinos and other visa-required nationals apply for an e-visa. Passports must be valid for the stay (six months advised), with a return ticket. Flights to the US clear US preclearance at Nassau and Freeport, so you need your ESTA or US visa before check-in.

My passport

Visa-freeUp to 8 months — set by the officer

No visa needed.

Cost: Free
Form to fill: Passport and return ticket.
Arrival card: Immigration card on arrival (an online version may be offered — check).
Passport: Valid for the stay; six months beyond departure is the safe rule.
Onward ticket: Return or onward ticket and proof of funds may be requested.

US citizens by air need a passport book; a passport card works only for closed-loop cruises.

Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗

Who	Rule	Stay	Watch
US, Canada, UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey and a few others	Visa-free	Up to 8 months	Officer sets the stay; show a return ticket.
Most other EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China, Latin America	Visa-free	Up to 3 months — check	Return ticket required.
India	Visa-free with a valid US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visa	Up to 90 days — check	Without one, apply for an e-visa.
Nigeria, Philippines, Haiti and other visa-required nationals	E-visa	As granted	Apply weeks ahead.

By land and river

Crossing	To / from	Mode	Visa there	Trap
No land borders; cruise ports at Nassau (Prince George Wharf) and Freeport, plus private cruise islands	Cruises from Florida and the US east coast	Cruise	Ship handles formalities; US passport card valid only on closed-loop cruises	Miss the ship and you need a passport book to fly home.
Ferry Fort Lauderdale – Freeport (Balearia Caribbean)	Florida	Ferry, about 3 h	Full entry formalities; ESTA or US visa to return	Schedules change seasonally — check.

US preclearance at Nassau and Freeport: arrive three hours early for US flights.
A forgotten bullet or cartridge in luggage can lead to arrest and a fine or jail.

Documents checklist

Tick as you go; saved in this browser

0/5 ready

Passportbefore bookingValid for the stay (six months advised); passport card only for closed-loop cruises. Official site ↗
E-visa or visa (if required)before bookingOnline e-visa for visa-required nationals.
US ESTA or visabefore bookingNeeded for any flight to or via the US (preclearance in Nassau/Freeport).
Return ticketat check-inRequired.
Travel insurancebefore bookingWith hurricane cancellation and air evacuation.

First 24 hours

Tick these before you leave the airport

Do these on arrival.

Onward link: Reconfirm your Out Island flight or ferry.
Schedules change at short notice.
Cash: Withdraw at a Nassau ATM before Out Islands.
Few ATMs beyond Nassau.
Data: BTC or Aliv SIM or eSIM.
Maps, WhatsApp and taxis.
Ride: Licensed taxi at the zone fare.
Avoid overcharging.
Beach: Skip beach jet-ski touts.
Unregulated operators.

Getting around

Modes, times and the clock

Open Getting aroundClose Getting around2 partsGet around · Local time

Get around

Door-to-door, 2026 estimate

Mode	Grand Bahama → Inagua	Cost	Use it when	What breaks
Domestic flight (Bahamasair, Western Air, Southern Air, Pineapple Air and others)	Nassau – Exuma or Eleuthera 30–45 min	US$100–250 one way — check	The normal way to the Out Islands.	Small planes with tight bag limits; delays common; almost all routes go via Nassau.
Bahamas Fast Ferries	Nassau – Harbour Island about 2–3 h	About US$90–140 one way — check	Scenic and good with luggage for Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.	Few sailings per day or week; cancelled in rough seas.
Mail boat	Overnight, 6–20 h depending on island	US$50–100 one way — check	The slow, cheap island lifeline from Potter's Cay dock in Nassau.	Timetables shift with cargo and weather; basic berths; ask at the dock days ahead.
Jitney (minibus) on New Providence	Downtown – Cable Beach about 20–30 min	About US$1.25–2.50 — check	Cheap for daytime trips on set routes.	Stops running early evening; exact change.
Taxi	Island-wide	Airport – Cable Beach about US$30–40 for two; zone fares	Easiest in Nassau and at Out Island airports.	Agree the fare first; extra per passenger and bag.
Rental car or golf cart	Out Islands	US$70–120 a day car; US$60–90 golf cart	Needed on Eleuthera, Exuma and Abaco.	Left-side driving; potholes; fuel stations close early.
Water taxi	North Eleuthera – Harbour Island 10 min	About US$10–15 — check	Short hops between cays.	Cash only.

Local time

What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.

Nassau
…
Checking your clock…America/Nassau

Practical

Money rules, safety, holidays, health, phones and phrases

Open PracticalClose Practical15 partsNext 90 days · Holidays · Safety & health · Safety · Safety by region · Health · Scams · Emergency card · Practical · Connect · Talk · Survival phrases · Cope · Learn & work · Who travels

Holidays in the next 90 days

What closes, sells out or costs more

Dec 25
in 54 days
Christmas and Boxing Day JunkanooBig impact
Dec 25–Dec 26
Boxing Day parade in Nassau; closures.
Jan 1
in 61 days
New Year's Day and JunkanooBig impact
Jan 1
Parade through downtown Nassau from before dawn.
Jan 10
in 70 days
Majority Rule DayMinor
Jan 10
Public holiday.

The full holiday list Holidays on your dates Festivals by month

Holidays and festivals

Operational effect, not a calendar

When	What	Impact	What it does to a trip
1 Jan	New Year's Day and Junkanoo	high	Parade through downtown Nassau from before dawn.
10 Jan	Majority Rule Day	low	Public holiday.
Mar–Apr (varies)	Good Friday and Easter Monday	medium	Closures.
May–Jun (varies)	Whit Monday	low	Public holiday.
1st Friday of June	Randol Fawkes Labour Day	low	Parade in Nassau.
10 Jul	Independence Day	high	Celebrations and fireworks; closures.
1st Monday of August	Emancipation Day	medium	Fox Hill Day festivities follow.
2nd Monday of October	National Heroes Day	low	Public holiday.
25–26 Dec	Christmas and Boxing Day Junkanoo	high	Boxing Day parade in Nassau; closures.

Show all 9 datesShow fewer

Safety and health at a glance

Advice, risky areas, water, shots, numbers, scams

Emergency numbers

Where to take care

3/5 for a careful visitor · Crime in parts of Nassau and Freeport; Out Islands calm.

high Nassau Over-the-Hill and eastern neighbourhoods · Violent crime; avoid on foot, especially after dark.
medium Downtown Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island · Theft, touts and unregulated water sports.
medium Freeport · Crime in some neighbourhoods; quieter tourist zone at Lucaya.

Tap water

Nassau tap water is treated but many buy bottled; on the Out Islands drink bottled or filtered. Tap water by country

Health

Main risks: Dengue, Drowning and boating accidents, Sunburn and dehydration, Ciguatera.

Top scams

1. Unregulated jet-ski and parasail operators · Book through hotels; avoid beach touts; injuries and assaults have been reported.
2. Taxi overcharging · Check the posted zone fare; agree the price first.
3. Straw market 'Bahamian-made' goods · Much is imported; look for local straw work and ask.

Safety Stay healthy Emergency card Scam spotter Health check

Safety

Emergency: 911 or 919.
Traffic drives on the left; many rental cars are left-hand drive, which makes overtaking harder.
Crime is concentrated in parts of Nassau, especially the Over-the-Hill neighbourhoods south of downtown and after dark: use licensed taxis and do not walk alone at night away from busy areas.
Boats and water sports: use operators with safety equipment and check the weather before long boat trips.
Sun and sea: the sun is strong all year; watch for currents and rip tides on unpatrolled beaches, and swim where locals swim.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov): follow local warnings and your airline; if a storm is forecast, leave early or shelter where your accommodation tells you.

The Bahamas is a short flight from Florida; Turks and Caicos, just to the south-east, is a separate territory with its own entry rules.

What four governments say

Comparison not available yet for this country

Read each government's own advice: US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice.

Strikes and disruptions

Official notices for the next 90 days. Open the full calendar.

No official-source strike or disruption notices for the next 90 days

That is not a promise that nothing is planned. This calendar lists only what a government or a public authority has published. Check US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice and the transport operator for your dates.

Safety by region

Risk to a careful visitor, not a crime index

Crime concentrates in Nassau and Freeport; the Out Islands are low risk.

Region	Risk	What to watch
Nassau Over-the-Hill and eastern neighbourhoods	high	Violent crime; avoid on foot, especially after dark.
Downtown Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island	medium	Theft, touts and unregulated water sports.
Freeport	medium	Crime in some neighbourhoods; quieter tourist zone at Lucaya.
Out Islands (Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco, Andros)	low	Boat safety, sun, remote medical care.

Stay healthy

Risk	Where / when	Do this
Dengue	Nassau and islands after rain	Repellent and screened rooms.
Drowning and boating accidents	Beaches and boat trips	Life jackets; licensed operators; watch the weather.
Sunburn and dehydration	Cays and sandbars	Shade, water, reef-safe sunscreen.
Ciguatera	Large reef fish (barracuda, amberjack)	Avoid big predatory reef fish.
Medical care	Nassau (Princess Margaret, Doctors Hospital); limited clinics on Out Islands	Insurance with air evacuation.

Scams and overcharges

Trap	Where	Defence
Unregulated jet-ski and parasail operators	Cable Beach, Paradise Island	Book through hotels; avoid beach touts; injuries and assaults have been reported.
Taxi overcharging	Cruise port and airport	Check the posted zone fare; agree the price first.
Straw market 'Bahamian-made' goods	Nassau Straw Market	Much is imported; look for local straw work and ask.
Fake tour sellers	Downtown Nassau	Book tours via licensed operators or your hotel.

Emergency card

Numbers, disasters, who to call

The Bahamas emergency numbers — screenshot this card

911 or 919

Police, fire, ambulance

Nationwide

Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau

Hospital

Main public hospital

BASRA (Bahamas Air Sea Rescue), +1 242 325 8864 — check

Marine rescue

Volunteer rescue

Natural and on-the-ground hazards

Hazard	When / where	Do this
Hurricanes	Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct	Follow NEMA and Bahamas Met; Out Islands empty first.
Storm surge	During storms	Low islands flood; evacuate when told.
Rip currents	Windy days, Atlantic beaches	Swim at calm beaches.

Alerts and apps

Bahamas Department of Meteorology.

Police, embassies, paperwork

Serious cases fly to Florida; evacuation insurance matters.
Lost passport: police report, then your embassy or high commission in Nassau.

Insurer and 24-hour linePolicy numberWhere I'm staying

Kept only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

Emergency card · The Bahamas

My passport: — · find my embassy
Insurance: —
Staying at: —

Hospitals with emergency care

Doctors Hospital · Shirley Street, Nassau
Princess Margaret Hospital · Shirley Street, Nassau

Emergency numbers, every country

Practical

Plugs, water, tips, hours

AtypeBtype

120 V · 60 Hz

Same as the US.

Tap water: Nassau tap water is treated but many buy bottled; on the Out Islands drink bottled or filtered.
Toilets: In hotels, restaurants and marinas; few public toilets.
Weekly closing days: Sunday closures common; Out Island shops close by 17:00.Sunday closures common; Out Island shops close by 5:00 PM.

Tipping by situation

Situation	What locals do
Restaurants	15% often added; check the bill.
Taxis	15%.
Hotels	Gratuity often added; extra for porters and housekeeping.

Opening hours

What	Typical hours	Watch
Shops	Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00Mon–Sat 9:00 AM–5:00 PM	Sunday closures.
Fish Fry at Arawak Cay	Lunch to late	Busiest on weekend nights.

Connect

BTC and Aliv sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at Nassau airport and in town.
US plans often roam here at extra cost — check.

Google Maps (download offline maps for the Out Islands)Your airline's app for schedule changesBahamas Fast Ferries (tickets and schedules)A banking or card app with travel notifications

Numbers: Country code +1 242.
Payments: Cards in Nassau; cash on Out Islands.

Talk

English is the official language; Bahamian dialect is fast and rhythmic but easy to follow once you tune in.

Where	Lingua franca	English	Note
All islands	English and Bahamian Creole	Native	Haitian Creole is spoken by the large Haitian community.

'Mornin'' and 'good afternoon' are expected before any question.
Family Islands is the local name for the Out Islands.

Survival phrases

7 phrases · tap one to show it full screen

Translate a sign or menu Diet and allergy card

Cope

Embassies, laundry, lockers, media, lost things

Consulates: US Embassy and British High Commission in Nassau; Canadian consulate — check.
Pharmacies: In Nassau and Freeport; bring enough medication to the Out Islands.

Learn and work

Study, teaching, working holidays

Marine science: Field programmes in Eleuthera and Andros run by research centres — check.

Working legally

Route	Who	The rule	Watch
Remote work	Digital nomads	BEATS extended-stay permit for remote workers (fee — check).	Local employment needs a work permit.

Travellers with specific needs

Short and factual

Traveller	On the ground	Do this
Solo women	Generally safe in resort areas; sexual assault reports, including at resorts.	Avoid isolated beaches alone and unregulated water-sports operators.
LGBTQ+	Legal but conservative; no legal recognition of same-sex couples.	Discreet in public; resorts are relaxed.
Families	Easy: Atlantis waterpark, calm beaches.	Choose one island for young kids.
Wheelchair users	Resorts accessible; small planes and boats are hard.	Stay on New Providence.
Older travellers	Comfortable in Nassau and resorts.	Avoid mail boats and long transfers.

Culture and food

Rules, manners, what to eat, where to sleep and what to buy

Open Culture and foodClose Culture and food6 partsRules · Respect & laws · Eat · Drink · Sleep · Buy

Country rules

Inherited by every page below

Check entry rules for your passport on the official Bahamas government sources before you fly; requirements differ by nationality.
Respect marine protected areas: fishing, collecting shells or coral and anchoring rules are enforced in national parks such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
Do not bring firearms or ammunition; even a single forgotten round in a bag can lead to arrest.
Water-sports operators on Nassau and Paradise Island beaches are poorly regulated: use tour companies booked through your hotel and wear a life jacket.

Etiquette

Beachwear is for the beach and resort: cover up in town, shops and restaurants.
Greet people before asking for anything; 'good morning' and 'good afternoon' matter.
Island time is real on the Out Islands: plan slack into every connection.

Junkanoo (Boxing Day, Dec 26, and New Year's Day): Street parades through the night in Nassau; roads close and the city is packed.
Spring break (Mar–Apr): Nassau and Paradise Island fill with students; prices rise.
Independence Day (10 July): Celebrations and closures; Out Island flights fill.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct): Storms can close airports and ports for days; ferries and small flights are cancelled first.

Respect and laws that surprise

What gets visitors fined, refused or arrested

Topic	The rule	What happens
Greetings	Greet before asking; say thanks.	Cooler service.
Beachwear	Cover up off the beach; nude and topless bathing illegal.	Fines.
Marine life	Do not feed or chase pigs, sharks or iguanas beyond what guides allow; no shell or coral collecting in parks.	Fines; animal harm.
Cannabis	Medical cannabis law passed in 2024; recreational use remains illegal.	Arrest.
Church and Sunday	Sunday is quiet; many shops closed.	Closed doors.

Everyday manners

Situation	Do	Avoid
Greeting	Good morning / good afternoon first	Straight to business
Dress	Cover up in town	Swimwear on Bay Street
Pace	Allow island time	Showing impatience
Photos	Ask before photographing people	Assuming consent

Eat

Regional food, diets, allergy card

Bahamian food is built on conch, fish and crawfish (spiny lobster), peas 'n' rice and baked macaroni, with Southern US and Caribbean influences. Eat at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry in Nassau and at shacks on the Out Islands.

Region	Style	Order this
Nassau	Fish Fry stalls, conch shacks	Conch salad, cracked conch, fried snapper
Out Islands	Home cooking, fresh catch	Boil fish and johnnycake, crawfish

Dish finder

Region

Diet

12 of 12 dishes

Conch saladIsland-wide
Conch salad
Raw conch diced with lime, onion, peppers and tomato.
Lunch, snack · Usually has fish/seafood
Cracked conchIsland-wide
Cracked conch
Tenderised conch, battered and fried.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood, egg
Conch frittersIsland-wide
Conch fritters
Fried dough balls with conch and peppers.
Snack · Usually has fish/seafood, egg, milk
Boil fishIsland-wide
Boil fish and johnnycake
Fish boiled with lime, onion and potatoes, served with johnnycake.
Breakfast · Usually has fish/seafood, fish stock or sauce
Stew fishIsland-wide
Stew fish
Fish in a brown roux gravy.
Breakfast · Usually has fish/seafood, fish stock or sauce
Chicken souseIsland-wide
Souse
Lime and pepper soup with chicken (or sheep's tongue, pig's feet).
Weekend breakfast · Usually has chicken, pork
Peas 'n' riceIsland-wide
Peas 'n' rice
Rice with pigeon peas, tomato and salt pork.
Every meal · Usually has pork · vegetarian version exists — ask
Baked macaroniIsland-wide
Mac 'n' cheese
Firm baked macaroni and cheese, sliced.
Side · Usually has milk, egg · vegetarian version common
JohnnycakeIsland-wide
Johnnycake
Dense, slightly sweet pan bread.
With fish · Usually has milk, egg · vegetarian version common
CrawfishIsland-wide
Grilled crawfish
Spiny lobster grilled or cracked.
Season Aug–Mar · Usually has fish/seafood, milk
Crab 'n' riceAndros
Crab 'n' rice
Rice cooked with land crab and its fat.
Summer · Usually has fish/seafood, pork
Guava duffIsland-wide
Guava duff
Rolled guava pudding with rum butter sauce.
Dessert · Usually has egg, milk · vegetarian version common

Tags describe the usual recipe, not every kitchen. Stocks and sauces hide animal products: ask, or show the allergy card below.

Table manners

Fish Fry stalls cook to order; expect a wait on weekends.
Check whether gratuity is on the bill.

Allergy / diet card — show it, do not say it

I have a severe allergy to ___. Please tell me if this food has ___ in it or is cooked with it.

“English is the local language; show it to your server or cook.”

Peanuts: peanuts
Tree nuts: nuts
Shellfish: shellfish (conch, crawfish, crab, shrimp)
Fish: fish / fish stock
Milk: milk, butter, cheese
Egg: egg
Wheat / gluten: flour / batter
Pork: pork / salt pork
Alcohol: rum in sauces

Diets: the reality

Diet	On the ground	Do this
Vegetarian / vegan	Limited outside Nassau.	Ask for peas 'n' rice without pork.
Halal	Very limited.	Seafood.
Gluten-free	Understood in resorts.	Cracked conch and fritters are battered.
Allergies	English spoken; shellfish everywhere.	Conch is a mollusc — tell staff if you react to shellfish.

Drink

Laws, what to order, what it costs

Legal age: 18.
Drink-driving: 0.08% limit — check.

Drink	What it is	Typical price
KalikKalik	Local lager.	BSD 5–9
SandsSands	Local lager and craft range.	BSD 5–9
Sky juiceSky juice	Gin, coconut water and condensed milk.	BSD 8–12
Goombay SmashGoombay Smash	Rum and pineapple punch from Abaco.	BSD 10–15
SwitchaSwitcha	Bahamian limeade.	BSD 3–5

Sky juice contains milk.

Sleep

Types, registration, booking

Type	Price (2026 estimate)	Use it for	Watch
Guesthouse / inn	US$120–250	Nassau downtown, Out Island settlements	Few budget options.
Holiday rental	US$150–400	Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco	Need a car.
Resort	US$350–1,200+	Paradise Island, Cable Beach, Harbour Island	Resort fees and 15% gratuities on top.

Registration and the law

Some Out Island hotels close September–October.

Booking reality

Book winter and Junkanoo dates months ahead.

Buy

Tax-free, bargaining, customs

Straw work, rum, conch-shell crafts (legally sourced) and Androsia batik.

Prices and bargaining

Expected at the Straw Market; not in shops.

What to bring home

Item	Where	Watch
Androsia batik	Andros, Nassau shops	Made in Andros.
Bahamian rum and rum cake	Nassau	Check allowances.
Straw bags	Straw Market, Out Islands	Ask for locally made.

Customs allowances on arrival

What	Limit or rule
Conch shells, coral	Check export and home-country rules
Firearms and ammunition	Forbidden without permit

Deep dive

Questions, where next, photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive3 partsGo next · Deep dive · Sources

Go next

New Providence

Nassau base

Region page.

Turks and Caicos

Flights from Nassau (check schedules)

Separate British territory.

Cuba

Flights via Nassau or Miami (check)

Check US rules for US passports.

Jamaica

Flights via Nassau or the US

No ferry link.

United States

Florida is 1 h by air; ferry Freeport – Fort Lauderdale

US preclearance.

Caribbean

Subregion

Compare islands.

Sources compared: Wikivoyage — The Bahamas · Wikitravel — Bahamas. Section coverage was checked against these community guides (CC BY-SA) as secondary sources; the text on this page is Voykit's own, with facts cross-checked against the official sources above.

Deep dive

3 min read · 6 chapters

This deep dive is for the traveller who sees the Bahamas as more than a cruise stop. Seven hundred islands on shallow banks shaped a nation of seafarers, from Lucayan canoes to pirates, wreckers, rum-runners and mail boats, and its capital still sets the rhythm for every island.

1Lucayans, Columbus and the pirate republic1 min

The Lucayans, a Taíno people, lived across the islands when Columbus made his first landfall in the Americas here in October 1492, most likely on San Salvador. Within about 30 years the Spanish had taken almost all of them as forced labour to Hispaniola and Cuba.

English Puritans, the Eleutheran Adventurers, settled Eleuthera in 1648. By the early 1700s Nassau was a haven for pirates such as Blackbeard, until Governor Woodes Rogers restored Crown rule in 1718.

The shallow banks made wrecking, salvaging ships lost on the reefs, a trade for generations. Later came blockade running in the US Civil War and rum-running during Prohibition, each a boom built on the sea.

Columbus landfall: 12 October 1492
Eleutheran Adventurers: 1648
End of pirate era: 1718

See itFort Fincastle, Nassau →Pirates of Nassau museum

2Loyalists, emancipation and majority rule1 min

After American independence, Loyalists moved to the Bahamas with enslaved Africans and tried cotton plantations on the Out Islands; thin soil ended most within a generation. Slavery ended in 1834, and freed communities such as those on Exuma and Cat Island kept farming and fishing.

A small white merchant elite, the Bay Street Boys, controlled politics and the economy into the 1960s. The Progressive Liberal Party won majority rule in January 1967, and the country became independent on 10 July 1973 under Lynden Pindling.

Tourism and offshore banking then built modern Nassau. A large Haitian community, many undocumented, is part of the story and a political flashpoint.

Emancipation: 1834
Majority rule: 10 January 1967
Independence: 10 July 1973

See itStraw Market, Nassau →Pompey Museum, Nassau

3Junkanoo, rake 'n' scrape and island life1 min

Junkanoo is the national festival: groups in crepe-paper costumes parade Bay Street before dawn on Boxing Day and New Year's Day to goatskin drums, cowbells and horns. Its roots lie in the few holidays allowed to enslaved people, and groups spend all year building costumes in secret shacks.

Rake 'n' scrape, played with a saw scraped by a knife, an accordion and a goatskin drum, is the music of the Out Islands. Regattas of wooden sloops, especially in Exuma each April, are the other great gathering.

Churches are central to life, Sundays are quiet, and Family Island homecomings bring the diaspora back each year.

Junkanoo parades: 26 December and 1 January
National Family Island Regatta: April, George Town, Exuma

See itBay Street parade route, Nassau →

4Conch and the Bahamian plate1 min

Queen conch, a large sea snail, is the national food: raw in conch salad with lime and peppers, fried as cracked conch or fritters, stewed or in chowder. Overharvesting has pushed stocks down, and the government has moved to limit exports and protect juvenile conch.

Breakfast is boil fish or stew fish with johnnycake or grits; peas 'n' rice and baked macaroni come with almost every meal. Spiny lobster, called crawfish, is a major export with a closed season from April to July.

The Arawak Cay Fish Fry in Nassau is where locals eat, drink Kalik or sky juice, and listen to music late into the night.

National dish: Conch in many forms
Crawfish season: About 1 August – 31 March

See itArawak Cay Fish Fry, Nassau →

5Banks, blue holes and cays1 min

The islands sit on the Great and Little Bahama Banks, limestone platforms covered by only a few metres of water, which gives the sea its pale turquoise. Deep channels such as the Tongue of the Ocean drop to thousands of metres just offshore.

Blue holes, collapsed caves flooded by the sea, dot Andros and Long Island; Dean's Blue Hole is among the deepest known. Andros also has one of the largest barrier reefs in the region, and the flats are prime bonefish water.

Protected areas include the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the first of its kind in the region, and Inagua, home to a huge flamingo colony.

Dean's Blue Hole depth: About 200 m
Exuma Cays park founded: 1958
Inagua flamingos: Tens of thousands

See itThunderball Grotto, ExumaDean's Blue Hole, Long Island

6Visiting the Bahamas today1 min

US, Canadian, UK and most Western passports enter visa-free; flights to the US clear US preclearance in Nassau or Freeport. Everything routes through Nassau: small planes, fast ferries to Eleuthera and Harbour Island, and overnight mail boats from Potter's Cay.

Hurricane Dorian in 2019 devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama; both have largely rebuilt. Hurricane season runs June to November, and many Out Island hotels close in September and October.

Costs are high everywhere. Crime concentrates in parts of Nassau and Freeport; the Out Islands are calm. Dial 911 or 919 in an emergency.

Emergency: 911 or 919
Currency: BSD at par with USD
Driving: Left

See itNassau →

Read, watch, wordsReading · Watching · Glossary · Sources4 parts

Reading

The Republic of Pirates — Colin WoodardNassau as a pirate base.
Islands in the Stream — Ernest HemingwayBimini in the 1930s–40s.

Watching

Thunderball — Terence Young, 1965Filmed around Nassau and Exuma.

Glossary

Term	Local	Meaning
Out Islands / Family Islands		All islands except New Providence.
Junkanoo		National street festival.
mail boat		Cargo boat carrying passengers between islands.
Conchy Joe		Informal term for a white Bahamian.
jitney		Minibus on New Providence.
crawfish		Spiny lobster.

Read for this deep dive

Background reading only: the text above is written by Voykit, not copied from these pages.

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage — The Bahamas
officialUK FCDO travel advice: The Bahamas
officialBahamas Department of Immigration — visa requirements
officialUS State Department — Bahamas travel advisory

Open Americas Up to Caribbean

Ask about The Bahamas

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About The Bahamas

Holidays and festivals in November

Read or watch before you go

Also with a guide 12

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Budget calculator

By land and river

What four governments say

Strikes and disruptions

Natural and on-the-ground hazards

Alerts and apps

Police, embassies, paperwork

Tipping by situation

Opening hours

Working legally

Etiquette

Everyday manners

Dish finder

Table manners

Diets: the reality

Registration and the law

Booking reality

Prices and bargaining

What to bring home

Customs allowances on arrival

Reading

Watching

Glossary

Read for this deep dive

Ask about The Bahamas