Many visitors to the Bahamas will arrive in Nassau. Lynden Pindling International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the Caribbean, and the main international gateway to the Bahamas. As a popular destination on most Caribbean cruises this port city receives over 7 million foreign visitors annually.
It is a vibrant city with magnificent beaches, here are my top recommendations.
#5 Cable Beach
As the most popular beach in Nassau stretching 2.5 miles, it is bustling with activity. Numerous resorts dot the shore and vendors of Bahamian foods are plentiful.
Here is where visitors can partake in numerous watersports including kayaking, jet-skiing, and banana boating. Alternatively, lounge in the sun with a cocktail as music pumps from various beach retailers.
Enjoy some jerk chicken with plantains and if you enjoy beer, order a Bahamian Kalik or one of the fruit Radlers. My personal favorite is the Grapefruit.
#4 John Watling’s Distillery
My fellow rum and vodka lovers will greatly enjoy a visit to John Watling’s Distillery. The historic Bueno Vista estate was founded in 1789 and the distillery produces hand crafted small batch rum. Tours are complimentary and at the end visitors will be able to lounge at their bar as well as visit the shop for purchases of bottles.
The distillery crafts its Bahamian products from hand-cut sugarcane molasses. The molasses is fermented then distilled in both pot and continuous stills. It is then charcoal filtered, sometimes married, and aged in the tropical heat in one-time used bourbon or sherry barrels.
While the distillate used for the vodka is filtered through the pink sands of Eleuthera, the rums are left to age at the Buena Vista Estate for up to 8 years. After ageing, the product is hand blended by Bahamians into different expressions at the distillery.
#3 Graycliff Hotel/Historical Area
The Graycliff Hotel is a historic colonial mansion that serves as both a hotel and restaurant, the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant. The hotel consists of 20 rooms and two swimming pools. A lovely boutique experience for the discerning traveler. The heritage village at Graycliff consists of a heritage museum, of which many pieces are owned by Hamilton White, a well-known British antiques collector, is a great venue for history and culture buffs.
The heritage village artists studios will provide visitors with the opportunity to see the works of some of the best local artisans offering first editions and one-of-a -kind pieces. Within the village is also Graycliff Cigar, Graycliff Chocolatier and Bahamas Barrels. Each of these shops offer complimentary (or for a very small fee) tours/demos to visitors. A great way to learn more about that souvenir/gift!
#2 Fish Fry
A visit to Nassau is not complete without a visit to Fish Fry. Heritage Village is the location of the fish fry, a venue consisting of approximately 40 food stalls, various shops and entertainment. To indulge in authentic Bahamian cuisine, in particular seafood this is perhaps one of the best places to do so.
Fish and conch are the two featured options which can be experienced in many ways. Conch salad and fritters are my top recommendations as well as grilled snapper. To accompany your meal, try their sky juice, a blend of gin, coconut water and condensed milk.
During Christmas, New Year’s and the month of June a “Junkanoo” is held which is a traditional parade. Marvel at the beautiful costumes and immerse yourself in this beautiful culture if you happen to be visiting this time of year!
#1 Atlantis, Paradise Island Hotel
Although not in Nassau, about 30 minutes over a bridge visitors can enjoy all that Paradise Island has to offer. The mega resort Atlantis is sure to impress. Consisting of six different hotels, six dining options ranging from formal to casual, a casino with 85 tables and over 700 slot machines, golf course, marina, and acquaventure, this resort is a must visit.
Unique experiences such as paddle boarding amongst dolphins, snorkeling the ruins of Atlantis or swimming amongst stingrays will surely entice visitors to return.
A not to be missed feature of the casino within Atlantis are the stunning artworks by Dale Chihuly, a renowned glass sculpture/designer. There are a total of four exquisite glass sculptures: Temple of the Moon, Temple of the Sun, Seaform, and Crystal Gate. My absolute favorite is the Temple of the Moon which consists of over 900 pieces of cobalt blue and white glass.
From afar the moon glistens majestically on its base but its true beauty, in my opinion, is in the details in the variance of each glass piece. The variance in the shades of each color and resultant sparkle is something just indescribable! All four sculptures were specifically commissioned for the casino and each sculpture is valued at over $1 million USD.
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