Many visitors to the Bahamian capital spend less than 24 hours here before joining a cruise ship — but that’s still enough time to taste the delights of Nassau
It’s probably the cruise ship capital of The Bahamas, and by some estimates, nearly 80% of visitors here stay in Nassau for less than a day. But whether you’re on a similarly tight itinerary or just have a long layover before heading elsewhere, both the city and New Providence Island are compact enough for some quick explorations.
1. The Bahamas’ national dish? Cracked conch, of course. You can find these battered conch fritters, usually served with rice and peas, all over Nassau, but some of the most popular food shacks serving the seafood delicacy are in Arawak Cay, west of downtown.
2. New Providence, like most of the Bahamian islands, is entirely surrounded by the most extraordinarily blue, clear sea. And the sight of those waters as your plane swoops in to land may be just too tempting to resist. So grab a taxi to Cable Beach, on the western outskirts of downtown Nassau, where you’ll find the needful: soft white sand, crystal-clear water, a deckchair if you so desire.
3. Looking for a souvenir that screams “Nassau”? Head to the fabled Straw Market, where you’ll have your pick of straw hats, straw baskets, straw placemats, and more. And make sure to ask the vendor if your choice object is made in The Bahamas from traditional palmetto straw — some of the wares you’ll see displayed here are actually imported from abroad.
4. You’d be forgiven for thinking that pink is The Bahamas’ national colour, so often does it turn up in Nassau architecture. Pink is also practically the theme colour of Ardastra Gardens, Nassau’s four-acre zoo and conservation centre, famous for its flamingo breeding programme.
5. Nassau has its share of museums — covering everything from art to pirates — but none is more charming than Balcony House, a modest 18th-century cottage on Market Street. Painted bright pink with white trim, and named for its shuttered second-story balcony, it’s now run as a small history museum — just the right size to linger in for an hour, soaking in the atmosphere of long-ago Nassau.