The back story
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Island guide
Eleuthera & Harbour Island: a tale of two islands
Eleuthera’s 210 miles of coastline and three airports, Harbour Island’s pink sand and Dunmore Town, and Spanish Wells.
Island guide · a tale of two islands
Eleuthera & Harbour Island: Our Favourites
Eleuthera and Harbour Island in one page: Pink Sand Beach, Dunmore Town’s inns, The Cove, the Glass Window Bridge and French Leave Beach.
What's onThis week in The Bahamas
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What to see and do
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Two seas, one view
Glass Window Bridge
The narrow bridge where the deep-blue Atlantic meets the calm Bight of Eleuthera.
Queen’s Highway, North Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Eleuthera’s first national park
Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve
A 30-acre botanic garden of Bahamian plants, managed by the Bahamas National Trust, with a medicinal plant trail.
Banks Road, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Blush-rose sand at the southern tip
Lighthouse Beach
Miles of soft, blush-rose sand at the southern tip of Eleuthera, below an old lighthouse.
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Eleuthera’s surf
Surfer’s Beach
A two-mile beach two miles south of Gregory Town, where Atlantic breaks roll in.
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Shallow and soft
Spanish Wells Beach
Soft, powdery sand and shallow water that runs a long way out, good for small children.
Where to eat
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Sunset tables on Bay Street
Rock House Restaurant
Dining over the water or by the pool at Rock House, on Harbour Island’s sunset side, with a fine wine list.
Bay & Hill Streets, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Oceanfront sushi on Eleuthera
Freedom Restaurant & Sushi Bar
The Cove Eleuthera’s oceanfront restaurant, with an Asian-inspired menu and a sushi bar.
Queen’s Highway, Gregory Town, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Briland’s breakfast stop
Arthur’s Bakery & Restaurant
A Harbour Island bakery for breakfast and lunch, with fresh breads, danishes, cookies and pastries.
Dunmore & Crown Streets, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Chef Madelene Pedican’s kitchen
The Landing Restaurant
The restaurant of The Landing, a harbourfront guesthouse from 1800, cooking local produce and fresh local fish.
Bay Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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On the pink sand
The Clubhouse at The Dunmore
The Dunmore’s beachfront restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner over Pink Sand Beach.
The Dunmore, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Under the old fig tree
Fig Tree Restaurant
The Potlatch Club’s restaurant, named after a fig tree said to be hundreds of years old.
Banks Road, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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An Eleuthera institution
Tippy’s Restaurant & Beachside Bar
A beachside restaurant and bar near Governor’s Harbour, known for live music for more than 20 years.
Banks Road, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Pineapples and conch fritters
Sugar Loaf Café
The café at the Eleuthera Pineapple Farm, with conch fritters, fresh baking, lemonade and pineapples in season.
Queen’s Highway, Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
Where to stay
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The only Relais & Châteaux in the Bahamas
The Cove Eleuthera
Villas between two private white-sand coves near the Glass Window, a Michelin Key resort and Relais & Châteaux member.
Queen’s Highway, Gregory Town, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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A Briland institution
Rock House
A newly renovated boutique hotel on Bay Street, on Harbour Island’s sunset side, loved for more than 80 years.
Bay Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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On the pink sand
Pink Sands Resort
Cottages and villas on Harbour Island’s three-mile Pink Sand Beach, celebrating 75 years.
Chapel Street, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Gold List 2026 on Briland
Coral Sands Inn & Cottages
An inn and cottages on Chapel Street, named on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List 2026.
Chapel Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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A Michelin Key on the pink sand
The Potlatch Club
A boutique resort of 11 keys on a 12-acre estate by a pink-sand beach, founded in 1967 and holder of a Michelin Key.
Banks Road, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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A guesthouse from 1800
The Landing
A 13-room historic guesthouse on the harbour, dating back to 1800, with rooms inspired by India Hicks.
Bay Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
Bars and nightlife
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Sundowners in Spanish Wells
Wreckers Restaurant & Bar
The waterfront bar and restaurant at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven, open from breakfast to dinner.
South Street, Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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By golf cart, boat or kayak
Sandbar Bar & Grill
A beach bar and grill on Russell Island, part of the Spanish Wells settlement.
Vivian Pinder Road West, Russell Island, Spanish Wells, The BahamasExplore View on map
Shopping
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A herbalist’s recipe
Bahamaro
An Eleuthera herbal rum and tea made in the tradition of Bannerman Town herbalist Mitchell McPhee.
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Gifts on Briland
Iola Lily Company
A Harbour Island shop for designer perfume, jewellery, watches, handbags and Bahamian-made jewellery.
South Street, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
Health
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Skin treatments on Briland
Dermalogica Harbour Island Spa
Dermalogica skin treatments, massage and waxing at Valentines Resort, by appointment.
1 Bay Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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The local clinic
Harbour Island Community Clinic
The government community clinic in Harbour Island, run by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health.
Harbour Island, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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The local clinic
Governor’s Harbour Community Clinic
The government community clinic in Governor’s Harbour, run by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health.
Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
Getting there and marinas
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Berths on Briland
Valentines Resort & Marina
The marina and resort at the heart of Dunmore Town.
1 Bay Street, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Fast ferries to Harbour Island
Bahamas Ferries
High-speed ferries from Nassau to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, and cargo-passenger routes to Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma and Freeport.
Potter’s Cay Dock (western end), Nassau, New Providence, The BahamasExplore View on map
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30 slips by the fishing grounds
Spanish Wells Yacht Haven
A 30-slip marina with rooms, a pool and Wreckers restaurant.
South Street, Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
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Megayachts on Briland
Romora Bay Resort & Marina
A full-service 40-slip marina and 17-room resort on Harbour Island.
Colebrooke Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, The BahamasExplore View on map
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A 4,500-acre hideaway
Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina
A resort and marina at the southern tip of Eleuthera, on more than 4,500 acres.
Cape Eleuthera, near Rock Sound, Eleuthera, The BahamasExplore View on map
Questions and answers
How do you get to Harbour Island?
Harbour Island is accessible only by boat. From North Eleuthera it is a five-minute ferry ride, and Bahamas Ferries runs a high-speed service from Nassau.
Why is the sand pink?
Foraminifera, single-celled sea creatures with pink or red shells, wash ashore and mix with the white sand.
Is Governor’s Harbour airport open?
Southern Air reports that Governor’s Harbour airport (GHB) closes from 1 October 2026 for a few months; fly to North Eleuthera or Rock Sound instead.
Share your Eleuthera & Harbour Island tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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