Your First Time Guide to 3 Days in the Bahamas (Nassau, New Providence)

The Bahamas is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the Caribbean, especially those coming from the United States. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Florida, its no wonder so many people come to this island nation every year. Pristine beaches, exciting resorts and a whole ton of unforgettable experiences await guests. I visited The Bahamas after having spent some time on other islands in the Caribbean. I definitely noticed just how touristy this nation was by comparison. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. I had an amazing time in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. I experienced luxury, culture and stunning serenity all in a brief stay. While you could easily just stick to one of the amazing resorts during your Bahamas vacation, in this itinerary for 3 days in The Bahamas, I’m going to show you why you should also venture out!

An Introduction to the Bahamas

The Bahamas is a chain of 700 islands and cays just north of the Caribbean Sea. Only around 30 of those islands are actually inhabited. Technically part of their own archipelago, for all purposes The Bahamas is considered a Caribbean nation. At some points, the archipelago is as close as 50 miles to the US state of Florida. The various islands are made of limestone and are surrounded by the clearest waters in the world.

Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador in The Bahamas on 12 October 1942. He claimed the islands for Spain, and this marked the very first landing of Europeans in the New World. At the time of Columbus’ arrival, The Bahamas were inhabited by the Lucayan people. When the Spanish left, disappointed by the lack of gold on the islands, they forced the natives into slave labour. This left The Bahamas devoid of any human population until settlers arrived from the British colonies of Bermuda and New England.

Over time, the Bahamas would bounce between the British and Spanish, with raids between the two powers commonplace. When European conflict calmed down in the region, the Bahamas were neglected and became a haven for pirates by the late 1600s. By 1713, estimates indicate at least 1,000 swashbucklers were based at Nassau. It wasn’t until 1718 that the British, under Woodes Rogers, took control of the ‘Pirate’s Republic’, turning it into a Crown colony.

Following the American Civil War, the Bahamas became home to many wealthy British loyalists. During Prohibition, the islands became involved in the illicit liquor trade. Tourism also boomed, particularly as the US embargo against Cuba in 1961 forced travellers to look for a new holiday hot spot. The economy subsequently prospered. On 10 July 1973, The Bahamas was granted independence, ending British rule. To this day, it remains an extremely popular destination for travellers.

When Should I Visit The Bahamas?

When deciding what time of year to visit The Bahamas, you should think about the weather. As with many countries in the Caribbean region, The Bahamas is impacted by hurricane season every year. Peak hurricane season runs from August to October, with September being the worst month. They can occur any time from June to November however. I visited The Bahamas in July. Unlike other islands I visited in the region, I got a fair bit of rain during my stay. It wasn’t the end of the world, and prices were good, but if you want the best of The Bahamas, you might want to avoid the storm season.

High season in The Bahamas runs pretty much all the way from late November until early May, with especially large numbers of American tourists flocking to the islands during the holidays and spring break. You’ll pay more at this time of year, and you’ll definitely want to book your hotels well in advance.

How to Get to the Bahamas

Most arrivals by plane (myself included) come to The Bahamas through its capital, Nassau. Located on New Providence Island, it is serviced by Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), which is easily the largest airport in the country. I flew to Nassau from Miami in the United States, and it was a very quick (and scenic) flight – we would have only been in the air for about half an hour. The airport receives flights from a ton of major cities in the US, and there’s also direct connections from Toronto and London. I was surprised by the limited number of Caribbean flights to The Bahamas, though there were connections to a few countries such as Jamaica, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Panama in Latin America.

Most travellers from Western nations won’t need a visa when visiting The Bahamas, though as always you should check official requirements before travelling. You’ll need at least 6 months validity on your passport as with most nations.

The airport terminal is fairly easy to navigate and customs doesn’t take long to clear in my experience. Once you’ve got your bags, you’ll need to get a taxi or rent a car to get to your hotel or resort. The airport is in the western part of New Providence, and there’s no public transport connecting it to Nassau. Uber also hasn’t yet arrived in The Bahamas. A taxi will cost about $45 USD into Nassau (20 minutes) or $55 USD to Paradise Island (30 minutes). In the case of the latter, expect to pay a $1.00 toll (in cash) to cross the bridge.

Where to Stay for 3 Days in the Bahamas

While you can stay on the various groups of islands that make up The Bahamas, as a first time visitor, you want to stay near Nassau. There’s definitely more serene and isolated beaches and cays elsewhere in the country (we’ll see some, don’t worry), but Nassau is the tourist hub, offering the most things to do. On a first time visit, I feel like you have to stay at one of the Atlantis resorts on Paradise Island, connected to New Providence by causeway bridges. They’re massively touristy, but are packed to the brims with restaurants, pools, activities and more. You could spend your whole time in The Bahamas on Paradise Island, though I definitely don’t advocate it.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The Bahamas is an expensive country. In high season, you can expect to pay the following prices per night:

• Budget: less than $150.00 USD.
• Mid-Range: $150.00 USD to $400.00 USD.
• Luxury: more than $400.00 USD.

If you’re planning on staying at the Atlantis Resort complex, expect to pay a pretty penny. I actually stayed nearby at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island. This mid-range option is significantly cheaper than staying in the Atlantis towers. Breakfast is included with your stay and the rooms are spacious. Best of all though (and the reason I stayed here), you get complimentary access to all of the Atlantis Resort, including its Aquaventure Water Park.

Other Things to Know About the Bahamas

The official currency of The Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar ($BSD), though US Dollars are used interchangeably. You will find that you get a combination of both in your change, as the currencies are set at a 1:1 exchange rate. This makes travelling in The Bahamas extremely easy as you don’t need to worry about currency conversions. ATMs are readily available and credit cards are accepted in the major tourist areas of Nassau and Paradise Island, however if you’re travelling further to the Out Islands, you’ll want to have some cash available.

As a a former British colony, the official language of The Bahamas is English.

The Bahamas is an extremely safe destination for tourists. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. When leaving the resorts, you’ll want to use normal common sense when exploring Nassau, though with so many tourists around, you shouldn’t be worried while wandering around the main areas. As with anywhere in the world, some parts of Nassau can be dicey, and you’re advised to avoid the quieter areas of Nassau (south of Shirley Street) at night (though most crime tends to be directed at other locals).

Just exercise normal precautions and you’ll be fine, whether you’re spending 3 days in The Bahamas or more.

How to Spend 3 Days in The Bahamas

In this itinerary for 3 days in The Bahamas, you’re going to see multiple aspects of the country. Naturally, you’ll enjoy the facilities of the big resorts of Paradise Island. You’ll also get a sense of the nation’s culture and history by crossing over to Nassau. Then you’ll go further afield by discovering some of the more isolated cays in the country, getting a whole new perspective of life in The Bahamas (along with its natural beauty). Unless you’re doing more travel in the Caribbean region, chances are you’ll want to spend than 3 days in The Bahamas. That’s fine – the first day of this itinerary can easily be repeated as often as you like, particularly if you’re staying in Paradise Island!

Day 1 in the Bahamas: Relaxing on Paradise Island

If you’re staying in Paradise Island, you’re going to want to see everything this mega-resort island has to offer. Paradise Island is dominated by the Atlantis Resort, and while its everything but authentically Bahamian, you can’t deny that its home to a whole lot of fun. With dining options, beach activities, shopping, casinos and more, there’s tons to do. For your first of 3 days in The Bahamas, I’m not even going to try to make you leave this slice of commercial paradise.

If you’re staying at Atlantis (or the Comfort Suites), chances are breakfast will be included in your hotel package. Have a leisurely morning as you load up on food to sustain you for the action packed day ahead.

Aquaventure Water Park

• Where? One Casino Drive, Paradise Island.
• When? 10.00am – 7.00pm daily.
• Admission: Free for Atlantis Resort guests (and those staying at the Comfort Suites. Prices for day-passes vary by season but are generally $250.00 USD for adults and $125.00 USD for children 12 and under (kids 3 and under are free).
• Website: https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/things-to-do/aquaventure-water-park

Once the park opens for the day, you’re off to Aquaventure. Chances are, you’ll be spending the better part of your first day in The Bahamas here. This massive water park is part of the Atlantis Resort complex, and is one of the reasons many tourists come to Paradise Island. Covering 141 acres, I can see why – its everything you would want a water park to be. Artificial Mayan temples and shrines are covered in water slides, with thrills aplenty.

The most intense slide is arguably the Leap of Faith – a free fall that shoots right through a shark aquarium! In addition to the slides, Aquaventure contains 11 swimming pools and lagoons to splash around in, and even a private beach to relax on. In my view though, the best part of the park is the Rapid River – spanning over a mile, its one of the longest types of these raft rides that I’ve been on. Definitely ride it from one end to other at least once during your stay.

If you’re staying at any of the resorts that make up Atlantis, admission to Aquaventure Water Park is free. You’ll be given a wristband on check in, so just wear it and you’ll be waved right through the entrance seamlessly. Normally the same applies to the Comfort Suites, though they were out of wrist bands when I checked in. In that case, all I had to do was show my room keycard (which is water proof). Considering a day pass to Aquaventure is extremely expensive, this is one of the main reasons I recommend staying at an Atlantis Resort for your 3 days in The Bahamas.

• Aquaventure is so much fun. I’ve written a guide to the water park’s slides, which you can read HERE.

Enjoy the Rest of Atlantis

When you’ve had enough fun in the sun, its time to explore everything else that Atlantis has to offer. I’ll write about the resort in more detail in a future blog post (there’s too much to cover here), but there’s tons to do away from the water park. One of my favourite things about Atlantis was the way the resort weaves aquatic animal exhibits throughout the property. Wander around and you’ll come across pools containing turtles, stingrays, sawfish and so much more. It really is like an open air aquarium. Speaking of aquariums, The Dig is an actual aquarium (again free to resort guests) that you can spend a bit of time checking out fish, eels and so much more. While I’ve been to better aquariums, for what it is (a free walk-through diversion), The Dig definitely warrants a stop.

• I loved checking out the marine habitats throughout Atlantis Resort. I’ve written about them in more detail HERE.

Another spot to spend time in Atlantis is the Marina Village. This artificial shopping and dining precinct (think a smaller scale Disney Springs on an island) is filled with places to eat. While its not the most authentic place in the world (we’ll have some real Bahamian food later), Frankie’s Gone Bananas is the Caribbean themed restaurant, and they do a great jerk chicken. There’s restaurants to suit all palates and budgets though – from take away pizza to fine dining.

Atlantis also brings the Vegas vibes with a massive casino inside the main resort complex (complete with surrounding retail outlets). I’m not a big gambler, so I didn’t spend much time here, but if its your thing, go for it. As the night wound down, I actually spent most of my time outside – the towers of Atlantis Resort are beautiful at night!

Day 2 in the Bahamas: Exploring the Capital

On your second of 3 days in The Bahamas, you’re leaving the splendour of the resort behind you as you experience a more authentic side of the country. After a lazy start and feed, you’ll need to make your way across the bridge back to New Providence. While you could get a taxi into Nassau, I actually enjoyed the walk – the bridge is well set up for pedestrians (and you don’t have to pay the toll if you’re walking either). Once you’re across, its a brief stroll west to get into the heart of the capital.

Queen’s Staircase

• Where? Elisabeth Avenue, Nassau
• When? Any time.
• Admission: Free
• Website: https://queensstaircase.com/

Your tour of Nassau begins at the iconic Queen’s Staircase. Quite literally a set of 66 steps, this stunning landmark was carved out of limestone by slaves in the late 16th century. Surrounded by palm trees and other foliage, the bottom of the staircase is a tranquil alcove off the busy streets of Nassau. The Queen’s Staircase’s significance goes back to the days of British colonisation. The staircase formed a direct passage to the fort above, and therefore provided an important route in the event of an attack.

The Queen’s Staircase is a 10 to 15 minute walk south from the heart of downtown Nassau. You won’t spend a huge amount of time there, but its an important landmark in Nassau. It also provides ready access to the next stop of your itinerary, the aforementioned fort. While admission to the Staircase is free, there’s a strong chance you’ll run into a local guide that will be willing to tell you about the history of The Bahamas and the Staircase. They’ll ask for a small tip afterwards, so keep that in mind.

• I’ve written a brief post about my experience at the Queen’s Staircase. You can read it HERE.

Fort Fincastle

• Where? Bennet’s Hill, Prison Lane, Nassau.
• When? 8.00am – 5.00pm daily.
• Admission: $5.00 BSD.

At the top of the Queen’s Staircase, its a short walk to Fort Fincastle, which dates back to 1793. Built under Lord Dunmore to protect Nassau harbour from naval attack, the fort never saw combat, unlike many others throughout the Caribbean. Its the youngest of the three major forts standing in Nassau today (the others being Fort Montagu and Fort Charlotte), but sitting atop Bennet’s Hill, it offers sweeping views across the island.

The exhibition inside is nothing mind-blowing, but I still recommend paying the small admission fee to access the interior. There’s a number of displays that chronicle the fort’s history, along with a brief film inside. I found the most fascinating part of touring the fort to be the vents that let wind blow inside, cooling down the otherwise warm stone interior. Good thing too – I got caught at Fort Fincastle during a tropical downpour so spent a fair bit of time getting acquainted with the inside of the fort!

• You can read more about my rainy trip to Fort Fincastle HERE.

Pirates of Nassau

• Where? King Street and George Street, Nassau
• When? 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 2.00pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Admission: General admission for adults costs $13.50 BSD.
• Website: http://www.piratesofnassau.com/

With the age of piracy playing such a key role in Bahamian history, it makes sense that there’s a museum dedicated to the swashbucklers that called Nassau their home centuries ago. What I didn’t expect is just how mind-blowing this museum’s displays would be. Its a really immersive experience from the moment you enter the first hall. You’re instantly transported to a recreation of a Nassau dock, with a pirate ship in port. Your path takes you aboard the ship, where you can see how pirates would have lived at sea. From there you step into a series of halls filled with dioramas and other displays that take you through pirate history. At one point, you’ll even be subject to a pirate ambush!

I was really impressed by the Pirates of Nassau museum. If you go through and read everything, it won’t eat up more than an hour of your time, but I walked away with far more knowledge about the likes of Blackbeard, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, just to name a few of the captains that once plundered the waters around Nassau. The museum is an easy walk from Fort Fincastle. Getting there will only take around 15 minutes, as the museum is in the heart of town.

• You can read about all you’ll see in the Pirates of Nassau museum HERE.

Explore the Rest of Nassau

You’ll probably be hungry by the time you’re done with the Pirates Museum, so grab lunch somewhere in town before spending the rest of the day exploring the rest of Nassau. As the capital of The Bahamas, there’s a few more museums and other attractions that you can check out in the area, depending on what you’re interested in. The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas ($10 BSD; closed Mondays) has an excellent collection of Bahamian art housed inside the historic Villa Doyle, just a few blocks further west. Another popular spot is the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre ($18 BSD), home to the largest population of West Indian pink flamingos in the world. The area is also filled with heritage buildings, such as Government House, notable for a statue of Christopher Columbus out front (though it had actually been desecrated at the time of my visit).

If you end up visiting all the places I’ve just listed, you’ll easily eat up your second of 3 days in The Bahamas, and that’s not even spending time checking out the various souvenir stalls and tourist shops along the main road. When you’re ready for dinner, go local. In The Bahamas, that means fish fry. While the most famous fish fry in Nassau is out at Arawak Cay, I didn’t get there during my stay. Instead, I stopped by a local restaurant called McKenzies Fish Fry in Potter’s Cay. Being just underneath the bridge to Paradise Island, it makes for a great option when winding up a day in Nassau. The fish and conch fritters are a must-try, and go down particularly well with the local Kalik beer. Watch the sunset over dinner as you wind down your second day in The Bahamas.

Day 3 in the Bahamas: Venturing to the Out-Islands

I’ve left the best part of your 3 days in The Bahamas for last. Today you’re headed to the fabled Out Islands, specifically the Exumas. The Exumas are a string of 365 islands stretching across tranquil blue waters. They’re a fair way out from Nassau, so that means an early start today. You’ll definitely want to pre-book your tour in advance and set that alarm for a day you won’t soon forget!

Day Trip – Staniel Cay and the Exuma Cays

• When? Tours run daily. Confirm pick-up times when booking.
• How much? A one day tour of the Exumas from Nassau with Staniel Air costs $675.00 BSD per person.
• Website: https://www.bahamasairtours.com/tour/nassau-to-exuma-day-trip-swimming-pigs/

While there’s a number of operators that run Powerboat tours to the Exumas, if you can afford it, I highly recommend booking a tour with Staniel Air. Operating out of the Jet Aviation Airport (a short drive from the international airport), this company runs day trips out into the Exumas. You’ll fly in a very small plane (think around 10 people aboard with no aisle). I was picked up from my hotel at 7.20am and was in the air by 9.00am. The flight to Staniel Cay, a small village in the heart of the Exumas is only about 40 minutes (as opposed to the hours you’ll spend over rough seas getting out there by boat).

Upon arriving, we boarded a small boat and were whisked around the most famous sights in this isolated island chain. Most famous of all are the Swimming Pigs, but you’ll also see Iguanas, swim with sharks, and snorkel among colourful fish in the Thunderball Grotto. Your tour will also include a stop on a sandbar, a brief pass by a plane wreck, and a lunch break at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Its definitely an experience that I’ll write about in more detail in the future, as it was the most memorable experience I had during my stay in The Bahamas.

A trip to the Exumas by plane is expensive, but I can’t recommend it enough. If you can afford to splurge, this is an essential experience in this beautiful part of the world. Its the perfect cap on 3 days in The Bahamas!

• I’ve written about the amazing day I spent in the Exuma Cays. You can read more HERE.

I absolutely LOVED my time in The Bahamas. While its always hard to compare destinations, I think it may be my favourite place that I’ve been to in the Caribbean. There’s just so much to do, and this itinerary for 3 days in The Bahamas has only just hit the tip of the iceberg. With so many islands to explore, so many beaches to bask on, and so many resort activities to enjoy, the possibilities for a vacation in The Bahamas are endless. If you’re a first time visitor, now you have a plan. Have you got an upcoming trip to The Bahamas in the works? Already been? What are your favourite things to do in the country?