Bahamas
North America · Nassau · BS
The Bahamas is the shallow, sun-drenched archipelago that begins off the coast of Florida and strings seven hundred islands through the turquoise shallows of the Atlantic. Nassau on New Providence mixes the colonial-era forts, the crowded straw markets and the rows of the historic downtown with the resorts of the nearby Cable Beach, while the resort island of Paradise across the bridge holds the giant casino and its beach. The outer islands, the Out Islands as the locals call them, keep the truer rhythm: the swimming pigs of the Exumas, the reefs and the wrecks of the dive sites, and the pink sand of the quiet cays. The water is the colour of the travel posters and the days run on beach, boats and the rum of the local cakes. Easy, warm and water-bound, the Bahamas is the classic Caribbean escape, a short step from the mainland.
Overview
Bahamas is a country in North America. Its capital is Nassau and the international dialling code is +1242. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English. Local currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Lynden Pindling International Airport. We also list 1 city in Bahamas: Nassau.
Nassau, the Forts and the Market Stalls of the Capital
The capital of Nassau crowds its history into a small, walkable pocket of New Providence: the colonial-era parliament square, the scale of the government house and the painted streets of Bay and the surrounding lanes. The great staircases and the forts of the town, the two old bastions of the British era, crown the hill above the harbour, and the Straw Market of the centre still sells the woven bags, the hats and the souvenirs of the island in a lively, good-humoured jumble. The harbour promenade and the waterfront restaurants face the cruise ships that fill the docks, and the Junkanoo museums tell the story of the loud, painted carnival of the island. It is a small, friendly capital, easily covered in a morning, and the jump-off point for the whole country.
Paradise Island, the Cables and the Pools of the Resorts
Across the bridge from Nassau, the resort island of Paradise holds one of the biggest hotel developments of the region, its pink towers, its casino, its water park and its enormous lagoon strung along the beaches of the quiet side. The pools of the resort are famous, the underwater exhibits of the marine park draw the families, and the golf and the marina of the island add the price tags. For those staying outside, a day pass or a table at the restaurants gives the taste of the fantasy. The beaches of the island, calmer than the crowded Cable Beach, hold the real sunbathing, and the water sports of the lagoon run throughout the day. The island is a self-contained escape that many visitors never leave, and it does that job brilliantly.
The Exumas and the Swimming Pigs of the Cays
The Exumas, the long chain of cays that runs south from New Providence, hold some of the purest water in the Bahamas and one of the most photographed sights of the whole archipelago: the swimming pigs of the sandbanks, a matron and her rows of piglets that paddle out to the boats in the shallow, clear sea. The swimming with the pigs of the island of the Big Major Cay is the day trip of the region, and the sandbars, the mangrove pools and the coral heads of the Exuma cays make the whole chain a marine park of the first water. The Exuma land and sea parks guard the iguanas, the rays and the turtles of the shallows, and the lodges of the outer cays keep the pace deliciously slow. The boat journeys between the islands are as beautiful as the islands themselves.
The Reefs, the Wrecks and the Diving of the Water
The Bahamas sits on shallow banks and reef lines that make it one of the great diving destinations of the world, with visibility that often runs deep into the blue and water that stays mild all year. The shallow gardens of the outer islands teem with the fish and the rays, the drop-offs of the Exumas and Long Island fall away into the deep blue, and the wrecks of the region, both deliberate and accidental, hold the lionfish, the barracuda and the grouper of the reefs. The blue holes of the Andros and the caves of the coast challenge the technical divers, while the snorkellers of the shallows need no certification at all. The boats of the dive operators leave from the beaches of the main islands every morning, and the water life of the Bahamas is the invisible half of the country's great beauty.
The Rum Cakes, the Beaches and the Boats of the Days
The days in the Bahamas run on the sun, the sea and the small pleasures of the island table. The rum cakes of the bakeries, soaked and sweet, are the souvenir of the country, and the conch of the season, raw in the salads or fried in the fritters, is the taste of the shore. The beach bars line the sands with the rum punches and the grills of the fish and the hungry lobsters, and the day boats leave the marinas for the cays, the reefs and the sandbanks of the hours of light. Evenings close with the sunset cruises and the Junkanoo rhythms of the street festivals. It is a country designed for the off-duty hours, and its generosity, its colours and its easy charm carry the visitor from one perfect island day to the next.
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- Capital
- Nassau
- Currency
- Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1242
- Internet TLD
- bs
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Bahamas.
Which nationalities can enter Bahamas?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Bahamas?
For the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Bahamas visa-free for tourism, and 3 more origins are visa-free too. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Bahamas?
Nassau is the capital of Bahamas, and the country sits in North America.
What currency is used in Bahamas?
You pay with Bahamian Dollar (BSD) in Bahamas. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Bahamas?
The languages we list for Bahamas are English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Bahamas?
The dialling code for Bahamas is +1242 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Bahamas?
Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau is the airport we cover for Bahamas.
Which cities in Bahamas do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Bahamas: Nassau (capital).