UltimateGuide Bahamas
Our favourites
Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island, a deep blue circle in a white-sand cove Dean’s Blue Hole on Long Island, a deep blue circle in a white-sand cove Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the Exumas Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island Colourful buildings on Bay Street, downtown Nassau

The city guide to The Bahamas

Best of The Bahamas

Seven hundred islands and 2,400 cays: Nassau’s forts and fish fry, Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays by boat, Harbour Island’s pink sand and the blue holes of Andros and Long Island.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to The Bahamas

The Bahamas is a nation of islands, and each one has its own character: Nassau, the capital, and Paradise Island across the bridge; the Exuma Cays and their national park; Eleuthera and pink-sand Harbour Island; Grand Bahama, Bimini, the Abacos, Andros, Long Island and the Berry Islands. We’ve checked every listing against its own website or an official source such as the Ministry of Tourism, the Government of The Bahamas or the Bahamas National Trust.

Fish Fry at Arawak Cay

Eat like a local

Conch salad at the Fish Fry

Western Esplanade · Nassau·Bahamian, made to order

Arawak Cay was built from harbour sand in 1969, and its Fish Fry is where Nassau goes for conch salad made in front of you and fried fish until late.

Plan your visit

Start here: planning your Bahamas trip

New to The Bahamas? Begin with the essentials, then choose your island.

A Bahamasair turboprop on the apronPlanBefore you goFlights, ferries and boatingA Bahamas Fast Ferries boat in Nassau harbourTravelIsland hoppingFlights, ferries and mail boatsThe swimming pigs on the beach at Big Major CayBy boatSeven days in the ExumasAn island-hopping itineraryBoats in Hope Town harbour, AbacoBoatingMarinasWhere to tie up

Dig deeper: the back stories

Our in-depth guides to island hopping, the Exuma Cays, property and the history of the islands.

Colourful buildings on Bay Street, downtown NassauHistoryPirates and pink sandThe Bahamas back storyLyford Cay and the west of New Providence from the airPropertyBuying propertyThe rules for foreign buyersThe pink sand and turquoise water of Harbour IslandBeachesThe best beachesPink, white and powder-softA motor yacht moored in Ocean Reef Bay, Grand BahamaLuxuryPrivate islandsYachts and private jets

The Bahamas island by island

From the capital to the farthest cays.

Colourful buildings on Bay Street, downtown NassauIsland guideNassau & Paradise IslandThe capital and Paradise IslandGoat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasIsland guideThe Exumas365 islands and the pigsA quiet beach at Current, EleutheraIsland guideEleuthera & Harbour IslandPink sand and the Glass WindowThe beach at Port Lucaya, Grand BahamaIsland guideGrand BahamaFreeport and the national parksBimini and its shallow turquoise banks seen from spaceIsland guideBiminiThe islands of legendsHope Town and its harbour on Elbow Cay, AbacoIsland guideThe AbacosThe boating capitalConch Sound and the coast of Andros from the airIsland guideAndrosThe largest islandA church in Clarence Town, Long IslandIsland guideLong IslandBeaches, blue holes and cliffsGreat Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands from the airIsland guideThe Berry IslandsWhere big-game fishing is king

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide

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    Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park

    This week's pick

    Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park

    Exuma Cays·National park

    Created in 1958, the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park was the first land-and-sea park in the world. Boaters pay their mooring fees online through the Bahamas National Trust.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    The Bahamas island by island

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1DUNE by Jean-GeorgesThe Ocean Club · Paradise Island · International, by the sea
    2. 2Graycliff RestaurantDowntown Nassau · Bahamian & European fine dining
    3. 3Café MatisseDowntown Nassau · Italian
    See all 8

    Cafés

    1. 1Louis & Steen’s Market OrléansWindsor Field Road · Nassau · Specialty coffee & Creole kitchen
    2. 2Chives Café & MarketplaceHarbour Green · Western Road, Nassau · Café & market
    3. 3Joe Merchant’s BakeryMargaritaville Beach Resort · Downtown Nassau · Bakery & coffee
    See all 5

    Bars

    1. 1Martini Bar and LoungeThe Ocean Club · Paradise Island · Cocktail lounge
    2. 2Manor BarRosewood Baha Mar · Cable Beach · Adults-only bar
    3. 3John Watling’s DistilleryBuena Vista Estate · Downtown Nassau · Rum distillery & bar
    See all 6

    Nightlife & Beach Clubs

    1. 1Aura NightclubAtlantis · Paradise Island · Nightclub
    2. 2SkybarSLS Baha Mar · Cable Beach · Rooftop lounge
    3. 3Baha Mar CasinoCable Beach · Nassau · Casino
    See all 6

    Hotels & Resorts

    1. 1The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons ResortParadise Island · Luxury resort
    2. 2Rosewood Baha MarCable Beach · Nassau · Luxury resort
    3. 3Atlantis Paradise IslandParadise Island · Resort
    See all 13

    Attractions

    1. 1Queen’s Staircase & Fort FincastleElizabeth Avenue · Nassau · Historic landmark
    2. 2Fort CharlotteWest Bay Street · Nassau · Historic fort
    3. 3Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation CentreNassau · Gardens & zoo
    See all 13

    Beaches

    1. 1Pink Sand BeachHarbour Island · Beach
    2. 2Cabbage BeachParadise Island · Beach
    3. 3Cable BeachNew Providence · Beach
    See all 8

    Museums & Heritage

    1. 1National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB)Villa Doyle · Nassau · Art museum
    2. 2Pirates of Nassau MuseumKing & George Streets · Nassau · Themed museum
    3. 3Balcony House MuseumMarket Street · Nassau · Historic house
    See all 9

    Spas & Wellness

    1. 1ESPA at Baha MarBaha Mar · Cable Beach · Spa
    2. 2Sense, A Rosewood SpaRosewood Baha Mar · Cable Beach · Spa
    3. 3Mandara Spa AtlantisAtlantis · Paradise Island · Spa
    See all 6

    Hospitals & Clinics

    1. 1Princess Margaret HospitalShirley Street · Nassau · Public hospital
    2. 2Doctors HospitalCollins Avenue & Shirley Street · Nassau · Private hospital
    3. 3Centreville Medical Centre (Doctors Hospital)Collins Avenue · Nassau · Outpatient clinic
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1Straw MarketBay Street · Nassau · Market
    2. 2John Bull284 Bay Street · Nassau · Watches & jewellery
    3. 3Graycliff Cigar CompanyGraycliff · Downtown Nassau · Cigars
    See all 5

    Luxury Lifestyle

    1. 1Musha Cay — The Islands of Copperfield BayExuma · Private-island estate
    2. 2Fowl Cay ResortExuma Cays · Private-island resort
    3. 3The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionNassau · Bimini · Sandy Point · Luxury yacht voyages
    See all 6

    Marinas

    1. 1Albany MarinaSouth-west New Providence · Marina
    2. 2Palm Cay MarinaEastern New Providence · Marina
    3. 3Bay Street MarinaEast Bay Street · Nassau · Marina
    See all 9

    Property

    1. 1Bahamas Sotheby’s International RealtyWindsor Business Park · Nassau · Estate agent
    2. 2HG ChristieNassau · Estate agent
    3. 3Bahamas RealtyNassau · Estate agent
    See all 7

    Getting There & Around

    1. 1Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)Nassau, New Providence · International airport
    2. 2BahamasairNassau · National airline
    3. 3Western AirNassau · Airline
    See all 9

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