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5 Things To Do The First Time You Visit Nassau

Did you know The Bahamas is made up of 700 islands? With so many options, you don’t want to miss the best action.

The capital Nassau is the king of the islands and has the most to offer. There’s so much to do, it can be overwhelming. And you don’t want to waste time on your first visit to a new place. If you don’t know where the action is, what’s far or what’s close… then poof! Your vacation is over before it even started. To avoid aimless wandering and to make sure you know the best your destination has to offer, here’s a quick and easy list of the must-do activities and spots you don’t want to miss the first time you visit Nassau.

  1. Get Wet

It’s The Bahamas—you came for the water, so get into it. You can take a dive trip at Stuart’s Cove, explore underwater caves, sail a catamaran, snorkel at one of the local beaches, and do a lot more in the sea. Nassau’s tropical coast opens the door for you to swim with almost any tropical sea life you can imagine, including sharks, sting rays, and dolphins. You can even swim with pigs (for real). 

  1. Eat Like the Locals

You need to know about the Fish Fry. West of downtown at Arawak Cay, you can hop through multiple food stalls to sample all types of Bahamian seafood. Conch salad, reef fish grilled over fire pits, guava duffs, and plantains will keep you eating for hours. Be sure to check with the chef on your spice tolerance before you chow. If you came to Nassau for seafood, you can also go right to the source and buy the daily catch of fresh fish or lobster from the local fishermen.

  1. Have at Least One Late Night Out

Do you love to dance? Great! No? No problem, you can have just as much fun watching the experts. Nassau boasts the liveliest nightlife scene of anywhere in the Bahamas, where you’ll find action at Paradise Island and downtown any night of the week. Get on the daiquiris and choose a club with the music genre you’re into. Nassau clubs draw partygoers from around midnight ‘til 4:00 am.  

  1. Treat Yourself

This is your vacation. You likely waited months for it and worked hard to make it happen, so there’s no better time than now to splurge on yourself. It’s no secret that the sand, sun, and sea are the combo meal of self-cleansing, but in Nassau, you can take it to another level. Put your feet up and get pampered with a massage, spa treatment, or some traditional body sugaring. You won’t regret it when you’re back in the office.

  1. Learn about The Bahamas

It’s a fascinating place, rich with history, pirate stories, and diverse geography. Nassau has a Junkanoo music carnival each year, as well as a rum festival. If politics is your thing, you can also tour the colorful Bahamian government buildings and watch government sessions happen live—not recommended if you’ve just been to the rum festival.