Explore Nassau's Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle
A 66-step staircase carved by enslaved labor in the 18th century, leading up to a colonial-era fort with harbor views over Nassau.
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Caribbean
Things to do in the Bahamas
Over 700 islands of shallow turquoise water, swimming pigs that have become a genuine cultural icon, and some of the clearest diving conditions in the Atlantic.
Explore Bahamas on the map →Budget$$$
Best for5-7 days
CapitalNassau
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders.
CurrencyBahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to and used interchangeably with the US dollar
LanguagesEnglish
InternetGood on main islands, more limited on remote Out Islands
Typical lodging$80–$210/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage120V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC-5
Emergency number911 (most islands)
Dialing code+1-242
★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Luxury★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Stick to bottled or filtered water. 10–15% at restaurants is standard; often added automatically.
The Bahamas' shallow Great Bahama Bank produces some of the most vivid turquoise water anywhere in the world, visible even from space, and the archipelago's 700-plus islands and cays mean most visitors only ever see a small fraction of the country. Its swimming pigs at Big Major Cay have become a genuine cultural phenomenon, drawing visitors specifically to see feral pigs paddle out to greet passing boats.
When to go
Dry season (peak)December–April
The most popular and reliable window, with lower humidity and minimal rain, also the priciest and busiest period.
Early wet seasonMay–June
Increasing rain and humidity but still good conditions, with fewer crowds and better rates.
Hurricane season (peak)August–October
The highest risk period for tropical storms and hurricanes, monitor forecasts closely if traveling in this window.
Late wet seasonJuly, November
Hot and humid with a lower hurricane risk than peak season, a reasonable value shoulder period.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
5Visit the Straw Market in Nassau
A traditional craft market selling woven straw goods, a Bahamian handicraft tradition dating back generations, alongside general souvenirs.
Attend a Junkanoo festival celebration
A vibrant costumed street parade with cowbells, goatskin drums, and elaborate handmade costumes, held most prominently around Boxing Day and New Year's.
Explore the Hope Town Lighthouse in Abaco
A candy-striped, still-hand-cranked kerosene lighthouse on a small harbor island, one of the last of its kind in the world.
Explore the pirate history of Nassau's Pirates Museum
An interactive museum covering Nassau's brief but colorful era as a pirate haven in the early 18th century, including Blackbeard's local connections.
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Adventure & outdoors
7Swim with the pigs at Big Major Cay
Feral pigs paddle out to greet passing boats in the Exuma chain, now one of the most recognizable and photographed experiences in the Caribbean.
Snorkel or dive Thunderball Grotto
A partially submerged cave system near Staniel Cay, named for its James Bond film cameo, with a natural skylight illuminating the water inside.
Dive with sharks in the Exumas or Bimini
Well-regulated shark dives, including reef and tiger shark encounters, draw serious divers to some of the clearest water in the Caribbean.
Kayak the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
A protected marine park of uninhabited cays and shallow turquoise water, a paddling destination with minimal development.
Sail or charter through the Exuma Cays
A chain of small islands and cays connected by shallow, clear water, considered one of the best sailing grounds in the Caribbean.
Snorkel the reefs of Andros, the 'Bonefishing Capital'
The largest and least-developed of the major Bahamian islands, with the third-largest barrier reef in the world and renowned flats fishing.
Fish the flats for bonefish on Andros or Abaco
World-class shallow-water fly fishing draws serious anglers specifically to the Bahamas' extensive flats systems.
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Beaches
3Relax on Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island
A genuinely pink-tinted sand beach caused by crushed coral and shell fragments, stretching along a quieter, more low-key island than Nassau.
Swim in a coral reef marine park off Nassau
Accessible reef snorkeling close to the capital makes for an easy half-day add-on without a boat charter to the Out Islands.
Charter a boat to a private cay for a beach picnic
With hundreds of uninhabited islands, a chartered day trip to a private sandbar or cay is one of the most distinctly Bahamian experiences available.
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Food & drink
2Eat conch salad straight from a beach shack
Raw conch diced with citrus, onion, and pepper, prepared fresh right at the water's edge: a genuine Bahamian staple, not a tourist gimmick.
Try rum punch and Bahamian rum cake
Locally distilled rum features heavily in both drinks and desserts, with rum cake a genuine national specialty sold in bakeries across the islands.
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Nature & scenery
2Visit Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island
One of the deepest known saltwater blue holes in the world, popular with freedivers and a striking, dramatic swimming spot for everyone else.
Explore the Lucayan National Park caves on Grand Bahama
One of the longest underwater cave systems in the world, with above-ground boardwalk trails through pine forest and mangrove.
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Luxury
1Visit the Atlantis Resort's marine habitat and waterpark
A vast resort complex with an aquarium housing thousands of marine animals alongside waterslides threading through shark-filled lagoons.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for the Bahamas?
Most Western passport holders, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, can enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism.
▾Nassau or the Out Islands, which for a first trip?
Nassau and Paradise Island have the resorts, casinos, and easiest logistics; the Out Islands (Exuma, Eleuthera, Harbour Island) offer a quieter, more local, and arguably more beautiful experience for those with extra travel time.
▾Where do the swimming pigs live and how do I visit them?
They're on Big Major Cay in the Exuma chain, typically visited via a day-trip boat tour from George Town or a live-aboard charter. Book with a reputable operator that follows responsible feeding guidelines.
▾Is the Bahamas expensive?
Yes, among the pricier Caribbean destinations, particularly for resorts and dining, the US dollar peg makes budgeting straightforward but doesn't make it cheap.
▾How's diving in the Bahamas compared to other Caribbean spots?
Very well regarded: exceptional visibility, blue holes, and shark-diving opportunities around sites like the Exumas and Bimini set it apart from many other Caribbean diving destinations.
▾How much does it cost to swim with the pigs?
There's no government entrance fee: the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay are a private day-trip experience, typically booked through a boat tour running $150-250 per person from Nassau or Exuma, depending on group size and departure point. Prices vary significantly by operator, so it's worth comparing a few before booking.