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How to Spend 3 Days in Nassau
15 Tours and Activities
With three days in Nassau, you’ll have plenty of time to hit all the highlights, from colonial sites to beautiful Caribbean beaches, and still have time left over for a couple of island day trips. Here’s how to make the most of three days in the Bahamian capital.
Day 1: Nassau in a Day
Spend your first day in Nassau familiarizing yourself with the city. In the morning, take the Queen’s Staircase to the top of Bennet’s Hill, the highest point on the island and a great place to get panoramic views. Also on the hill, 18th-century limestone Fort Fincastle is worth a quick visit for those interested in colonial or military history. Make your way down to the main strip—Bay Street—for lunch, perhaps stopping at the Straw Market to pick up local handicrafts along the way. In the afternoon, get some sun on nearby Cable Beach, a popular snorkeling spot. Stick around for sunset followed by dinner at one of the many beachfront restaurants and/or drinks at the sea-facing Baha Mar Casino.
Day 2: Swimming with Pigs
Spend your second day on a boat tour out to the Exumas, a pristine archipelago where you can swim with (and feed) friendly swimming pigs that hang out on Big Major Cay. Many tours also include visits to Allen's Cay, where visitors can feed Bahamian rock iguanas, and Compass Cay, known for its nurse sharks. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant followed by an afternoon swimming and snorkeling. Most tours will have you back in time for dinner; depending on your energy levels, you may want to hop on another boat for a sunset dinner cruise or simply head to one of the lively restaurants along Nassau’s Bay Street for dinner.
Day 3: Paradise Island
Spend your last day visiting nearby Paradise Island, a quick boat ride from Nassau proper. Here you’ll find beautiful beachfront and warm water, but most visitors come for the famous Atlantis resort. This sprawling megaresort is home to a huge casino, an equally impressive aquarium, and the waterpark Aquaventure (book ahead as the water park can sell out). Along with a slew of water features, the park has nine slides, one of which passes next to a shark-filled tank. After the water park, head to the resort’s extensive aquarium (don’t miss its nighttime illumination), followed by dinner or games at the on-site casino.

How to Spend 1 Day in Nassau
11 Tours and Activities
With its compact city center and mix of historic pastel-hued buildings, lively bars, and sandy beaches, Nassau is easy to explore in just one day. Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in the Bahamian capital city.
Morning: Explore the City
Start your day by exploring the heart of central Nassau. Start at the Queen's Staircase, a steep set of 66 stairs measuring some 100 feet (31 meters) that was carved by slaves at the end of the 18th century. The stairs lead to the top of Bennet's Hill, the highest point on the island and the location of Fort Fincastle, a towering limestone fort built in the shape of a paddle steamer. After taking in the views from the fort, head back into town, wrapping up your morning at the Straw Market, a popular spot to buy woven baskets and hats along with other local handicrafts.
Afternoon: Sea and Sun
In the afternoon, head over to Cable Beach, with its beautifully clear Caribbean waters and powdery sand. Stretching around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), this beach is popular both for its proximity to Nassau and its great snorkeling and water sports opportunities. The beach is lined with hotels and resorts, most of which offer amenities such as sunbeds and umbrellas. Many also offer day passes for nonguests, but if you want to save money, simply bring your own towel or beach blanket.
Night: Sunset and Drinks
When night falls, you may want to stick around Cable Beach to grab dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area or for a round of blackjack at the popular Baha Mar Casino, which sits right in front of the beach. For a more romantic option, charter a boat or join a group sunset cruise, many of which include dinner and drinks. Once you’re back in Nassau, wrap up your evening with a nightcap in one of the many lively bars that line the harbor along Bay Street.

How to Spend 2 Days in Nassau
12 Tours and Activities
With two days in Nassau, you’ll be able to check out the city’s historic sites, beaches, and nightlife and still have plenty of time left over to visit neighboring Paradise Island, home to the world-famous Atlantis resort. Here’s how to plan your time.
Day 1: History and Beaches
**Morning:**Start your first day at the Queen's Staircase, with 66 steep stairs that lead up to Bennet's Hill, the highest vantage point on the island and home to late-18th-century Fort Fincastle. From here, it's a short walk down to the Straw Market, where you can pick up a locally produced straw hat or basket.
**Afternoon:**Next, grab some beach time at Cable Beach, a powdery stretch of sand not far from the town center. Here you’ll find plenty of beachfront bars and restaurants where you can grab lunch, as well as the popular Baha Mar Casino. Many of the area’s hotels offer day passes to visitors, which allow access to facilities such as lounge chairs and showers.
**Night:**While you may want to stick around Cable Beach for sunset, you might choose to head out on a sunset cruise around New Providence Island; many sunset cruises include dinner and drinks. Alternatively, grab dinner on Bay Street in the city center, home to numerous lively bars and restaurants.
Day 2: A Day on Paradise
**Morning:**Devote your second day to nearby Paradise Island; you can catch a boat to the island from Nassau's waterfront or join a half- or full-day tour to the island. Spend your morning wandering around the resort Atlantis, checking out its huge aquariums, before grabbing lunch at one of the many on-site restaurants.
**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, make your way to the resort's Aquaventure water park—just make sure to reserve ahead in case it sells out. This sprawling park has wave pools that range from calm and family-friendly to exhilaratingly powerful, plus nine water slides, one of which passes through a (sealed-off) shark enclosure.
**Night:**Stick around Atlantis in the evening for dinner, followed by a stop at the huge on-site casino. If you've got kids with you, visit the arcade, which has games suitable for younger guests. Don't leave before revisiting the aquarium at night; evening illuminations make for an enchanting experience. Sail back to Nassau and top off your stay with drinks along Bay Street overlooking the harbor.

Island Hopping Tours from Nassau
3 Tours and Activities
The Bahamas is the textbook definition of a Caribbean paradise, with hundreds of islands to explore, and miles of white-sand beaches fringed with glittering waters and swaying palm trees. Here are some options for island-hopping tours from Nassau.
Cruise around Paradise Island, watch the sunset over Rose Island, or relax at a beach resort on Blue Lagoon Island on a short cruise from Nassau.
Dive in to swim and snorkel in the Caribbean Sea or enjoy exhilarating water sports such as water biking, sea kayaking, SNUBA, or a SUB (Scenic Underwater Bubble) excursion.
Set sail for the Exuma chain and spot sharks, stingrays, swimming pigs, and iguanas around Allen’s Cay, Pig Island, and Ship Channel Cay.
Travel by catamaran or powerboat on a full-day cruise and tuck into a delicious onboard lunch.
Feel like a VIP with a private island-hopping tour aboard a chartered boat.
Venture farther afield to explore the Out Islands such as Eleuthera, Bimini, Long Island, or Harbour Island.