NassauCapital
Bahamas · Country profile
Nassau is the historic capital of the Bahamas, the cruise-ship port and the business heart of the island nation that spreads across the north coast of the island of Providence around its beautiful natural harbour. Founded by the British in the seventeenth century, the city grew into the rollicking pirate port and then the elegant colonial capital of the islands, and its old town of the pastel houses, the straw markets and the great Georgian forts now faces the enormously busy port of the modern cruise industry. The beaches of the island, the lively markets of the bay, the grand hotels of the waterfront and the historic citadel of the Fort Fincastle anchor the visitors that crowd the capital, while the reef and the cays of the surrounding sea deliver the diving and the fishing of the whole archipelago. Bright, historic and relentlessly lively, Nassau is the beating heart of the Bahamas.
About Nassau
Nassau is the capital of Bahamas. The city's documented population is around 274,400 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1242. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Lynden Pindling International Airport.
The Straw Market and the Parliament of the Harbour
Nassau is a compact, colourful capital where the historic bay and the old town, the straw markets and the great forts of the hill anchor the walking circuit, and the enormous cruise ships of the port line the quays of downtown. The beaches of the island, the aquariums and the resorts of the coastline and the casinos of the western district draw the families and the day visitors, while the diving boats and the fishing charters of the harbour reach the reefs, the wrecks and the cays of the surrounding seas. The evenings fill with the music, the restaurants and the festivals of the waterfront, and the whole capital runs the busy, tropical rhythm of the island nation.
The Forts of the Fincastle and the Charlotte
The climate of the capital is the warm, sun-soaked season of the Bahamas, with hot, humid summers, the hurricane season of the late summer and the autumn, and the milder, drier winter months the classic season of the visitors. The dollar of the Bahamas and the US dollar trade at par, with the English the language of the islands. The historic bay, the forts and the markets of the town make the core circuit, and the cays and the reefs of the surrounding sea lie a short boat ride away. Sun protection, light clothing and a good hat are essential in the glare of the tropical waterfront.
The Beaches and the Junkanoo of the Carnival
The queen of the historic forts of the capital, the fort of the Fincastle that crowns the ridge above the town with its water staircase and its cannon, gives the panoramic views over the harbour and the cruise ships, while the great fort of the Charlotte, the massive eighteenth-century citadel of the bay, stages the tours and the cannon firings of its old garrison. The straw market of the city, the enormous covered crafts bazaar by the docks, spills its woven hats, its bags and its souvenirs across the waterfront, and the parliament buildings and the old colonial squares of the town centre preserve the British heritage of the islands. The festival of the Junkanoo, the great carnival of the capital in the holiday season, explodes through the streets with the music, the massed dancers and the feathered costumes of the folk tradition.
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- Country
- Bahamas
- Population
- 274,400
- Coordinates
- 25.0390, -77.4661
- Capital
- Nassau
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1242
- Country code
- BS
Entry requirements for Bahamas
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Bahamas for tourism.
Getting to Nassau
Airports we list for Nassau:
Frequently asked questions
Is Nassau the capital of Bahamas?
Yes — Nassau is the capital of Bahamas.
What currency do I need in Nassau?
The local currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD). Languages spoken in Bahamas include English.
What is the dialling code for Bahamas?
The international dialling code for Bahamas is +1242.
Which airport should I fly into for Nassau?
Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) is the airport we list for Nassau.
Do I need a visa to visit Bahamas?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Bahamas visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Nassau? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.