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Voykit pocket guide · The Bahamas
Nassau
Nassau is a morning-and-evening city: do Bay Street and the hill fort before the heat, take the beach or the pool at midday, eat at the Fish Fry by taxi after dark — and check the cruise-ship calendar first.
Nassau's sights are a short walk apart on the harbour side of New Providence, but the heat is strong, cruise ships can fill Bay Street by 10:00, and the places worth eating at are not all in walking range. Four clusters cover a first visit: downtown, the hill fort, Paradise Island and the Fish Fry. Hurricane season (June to November) decides the calendar; Out Island trips start from here, not from the sights.
- Country
- The Bahamas
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · May · Dec
- Time zone
- America/Nassau
- Stay
- 2 days: Bay Street and the Straw Market, Fort Fincastle
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BSD
- Money
- Cards work in hotels, resorts and most restaurants; stalls, jitneys and some taxis want cash. US dollars are accepted at par and change often comes back in Bahamian dollars.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$60–100 excl. bed · Mid US$100–200 excl. bed · High US$200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid SIM at the airport or a phone shop (passport needed); BTC and Aliv are the local networks.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 919 or 911
- Plugs
- 120 V; US-style two-pin sockets (types A and B). Most visitors from the US need no adapter.
- Tipping
- Check the bill for a 15–18% service charge; if none, tip 15–20%. Round up for taxi drivers and give US$1–2 per bag to a porter.
- Water
- Tap water is treated but tastes of minerals; bottled or filtered water is common and hotels supply it.
- Toilets
- Cafés, hotels, the cruise port terminal and larger shops; few public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | US$4–6 |
| Bottle of water, shop | US$1.50–3 |
| Conch salad | US$10–18 |
| Kalik beer in a bar | US$6–9 |
| Taxi between clusters | US$10–20 |
| Beach chair and umbrella | US$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
- NAS to Bay Street: one taxi from the official rank at a zone fare, 20–45 minutes — the risk is a late landing with no room held, not the ride.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) | International and inter-island flights | Licensed taxi 20–45 min at a set zone fare |
| Prince George Wharf (cruise port) | Cruise ships | Walk 3–10 minutes to Rawson Square and the Straw Market |
| Paradise Island Bridge | Taxis and buses to Paradise Island | Taxi 10–20 min |
| Potter's Cay Dock | Mail boats and fast boats to the Out Islands | Taxi 10 min |
Typical fares
- Airport to downtown, taxi
- About US$30–40, 20–45 min (posted rate board)
- Downtown to Paradise Island, taxi
- About US$10–15, 10–20 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside downtown by day; use licensed taxis between clusters and after dark. Jitney buses are cheap but run on set routes and stop early.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside downtown by day |
| Licensed taxi | Zone fares posted on rate boards; US$10–20 across town | Between clusters, to the airport and after dark |
| Jitney bus | About US$1.25–2 (check) | Cheap local trips on set routes |
| Water taxi or ferry | A few dollars each way (check) | Downtown to Paradise Island by water |
| Rental car | US$70–120 a day | Beaches west of the centre |
| Scooter or golf cart | US$50–100 | Not recommended |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Taxi fares are set by zone and shown on the airport and port rate boards; agree the fare before you get in.
- Late at night
- No rail. Jitney buses stop early in the evening: ask your hotel to book the taxi back before you go out.
See and do
01Fort FincastleFort Fincastle
A harbour view from a water tower on the hill.
Hours: best Before 09:30 · Price: about US$2–5 · Time: 45–90 minHours: best Before 9:30 AM · Price: about US$2–5 · Time: 45–90 min · 25.0731, -77.3405
02Queen's Staircase
66 steps cut in the rock, beside palms.
Hours: best Early morning · Price: Free · Time: 15–30 min · 25.0743, -77.3413
03Straw Market
Hats and baskets in one hall.
Hours: best Before 09:30 · Price: Free · Time: 30–60 minHours: best Before 9:30 AM · Price: Free · Time: 30–60 min · 25.0780, -77.3436
04The Fish FryThe Fish Fry
Conch and fried fish by the water.
Hours: best Dusk · Price: US$15–35 · Time: 1.5–2 h · 25.0745, -77.3560
05Cabbage Beach
A long white beach on Paradise Island.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 2–3 h · 25.0864, -77.3128
06Rawson SquareRawson Square
The government buildings and a shaded green.
Hours: best Before the ships · Price: Free · Time: 15 min · 25.0784, -77.3458
07Christ Church Cathedral
A cool and quiet stop.
Hours: best Weekday · Price: Free · Time: 20 min · 25.0776, -77.3411
08Potter's Cay conch saladPotter's Cay
Conch made to order on a working dock.
Hours: best Late morning · Price: US$10–15 · Time: 45 min · 25.0780, -77.3303
09Graycliff
A long lunch or dinner in a historic house.
Hours: best A booked lunch · Price: US$50–130 · Time: 1.5–2 h · 25.0770, -77.3460
10A boat day
Clear water and a beach.
Hours: best Dry season · Price: US$80–150 · Time: Half or full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon Island and Rose Island | Boat about 25–40 min from the harbour | Half or full day |
| Exuma Cays (the swimming pigs) | Flight about 30–40 min or a fast boat | Full day |
| Clifton Heritage National Park | Taxi about 25 min west | Half day |
| Cable Beach and Baha Mar | Taxi about 15 min | Half day |
| Eleuthera and Harbour Island | Flight about 30–40 min or ferry | 2–3 nights |
| Andros | Flight about 20–30 min | Overnight |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potter's Cay Dock (conch salad) | Conch salad · Potter's Cay | US$10–15 | Budget |
| Local bakery or a patty stall | A beef patty and a drink · Downtown | US$5–9 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Fruit, bread and cheese · Citywide | US$8–15 | Budget |
| Fish Fry at Arawak Cay | Cracked conch and rice · Arawak Cay | US$14–25 | Mid-range |
| Twin Brothers (Arawak Cay) | Fried snapper · Arawak Cay | US$18–28 | Mid-range |
| Café Matisse | Pasta or pizza in a courtyard · Downtown | US$18–30 | Mid-range |
| Graycliff | A set lunch or a tasting menu · Downtown | US$50–130 | Splurge |
| Resort restaurants on Paradise Island | Steak and seafood · Paradise Island | US$60–150 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in US dollars. Addresses and hours change; check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | US$100–180 double | Downtown and Cable Beach guest houses | Guest houses and small hotels |
| mid | US$200–400 | Downtown and Cable Beach | Chain hotels and boutique hotels |
| splurge | US$500–1,500+ | Paradise Island and Cable Beach | Resorts |
Per room per night in US dollars, 2026 estimate; peak season (Dec to April) adds 20–50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello / Good morningBahamians greet warmly; say good morning before asking for anything |
| Thank you | Thank youSay it often |
| How much is it? | How much is this?Ask before you pick it up |
| Could you do a bit less? | Can you do a little better?Smile and be patient |
| To this address, please | To this address, pleaseShow the hotel name |
| The bill, please | Can I have the check, please?US usage |
| Local slang for friend | Bey / BruhCasual and friendly; use with care |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say good morning or good afternoon before asking for anything.
- Dress: Cover up in town, shops and restaurants; beachwear is for the beach.
- Camouflage: Do not wear camouflage clothing: it is illegal for civilians.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people or their goods.
- Tipping: Check the service charge; otherwise tip 15–20%.
- Pace: Service is unhurried; patience works better than pressure.
Red lines
- Cover up in town, shops and restaurants; beachwear is for the beach and resort.
- Do not bring firearms or ammunition: a forgotten round is an arrest.
- Ask before photographing vendors and their goods.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed taxi or private car offers at the airport or port: use the rank and the posted rate board.
- Hair braiding, henna or a 'free' rum punch offered on the street, followed by a request for cash: agree a price before you sit down or say no thank you.
- Jet-ski or parasail operators who quote a low price and add fees or a damage claim after the ride: use licensed operators through the hotel and get a written price.
- Tour sellers on the pier who promise a full-day tour: check the operator's licence and the inclusions.
- Handling of bags at the port or hotel: agree a tip in advance; do not hand your bag to a stranger.
One and two days
1 day
A cruise stop or a short stopover. Skip: The Fish Fry unless you are staying for dinner.
- 08:308:30 AMStraw Market and Rawson Square
- 10:0010:00 AMFort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at Café Matisse
- 15:003:00 PMCabbage Beach or a rest at the hotel
2 days
The usual Nassau stay. Skip: A boat day and the fort on the same morning.
Day 1 — Bay Street, the market and a lunch
- 08:308:30 AMStraw Market
- 10:0010:00 AMRawson Square and the cathedral
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch downtown
Day 2 — The fort and the Fish Fry
- 08:008:00 AMFort Fincastle and the staircase
- 17:305:30 PMThe Fish Fry at dusk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (official): www.bahamas.com/
- UK FCDO travel advice: The Bahamas: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bahamas
- Wikivoyage — Nassau: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nassau
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nassau
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Fort FincastleFort Fincastle & the Queen's Staircase
- The Fish FryFish Fry at Arawak Cay
- Rawson SquareRawson Square and Parliament Square
- Potter's CayPotter's Cay Dock (conch salad)
- Police, fire, ambulance919 or 911
Write your embassy's phone number below; the US Embassy is on Queen Street.
English is the language of the Bahamas; use your name at the hotel desk for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nassau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.