"Postcard-perfect beaches, duty-free shopping,world-class restaurants and a pirate's trove of historical landmarks."
When you consider how much Nassau has to offer clients, it’s no surprise that this capital-city jewel is the most visited destination in The Bahamas. “Why anybody would fly beyond us is beyond us,” says Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, director general for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “We have something to offer for everybody.”
On the northeast shore of New Providence Island, Nassau charms visitors with its ambiance, a marriage of West Indian and colonial British influences. And just across the bridge is Paradise Island, with its bevy of posh resorts and sizzling casinos.
The first thing you may want to do is hit the beach--and the shores of Cable Beach and Paradise Island are among the finest in the world. Coral reef-encircled waters range in color from turquoise to aquamarine and the sand is pristine and white, like refined sugar.
Adventurous vacationers can choose from an array of water sports, including parasailing, snorkeling, diving, canoeing, jet skiing and water skiing. Landlubbers, meanwhile, will find golf and tennis at most resorts.
For shoppers, Nassau is a dream. At the city’s sprawling Straw Market, tourists bargain for T-shirts, handmade mats, hats, baskets, fabrics, jewelry and wood carvings. The market, one of the world’s largest, is open seven days a week, from early morning until evening. Upscale shoppers won’t be disappointed either. Nassau offers a wide range of international duty-free goods, from hand-crafted jewelry to sophisticated electronics. Bargains at boutiques along Nassau’s Bay Street include perfume, leather, crystal and china, with brand names such as Rolex, Gucci, Cartier, Fendi, Pentax, Olympus, Herrend and Waterford.
Nassau’s heritage dates to the days when pirates roamed the western seas. Visitors will feel as if they’ve stepped back in time as they explore the city’s noble colonial mansions, soaring cathedrals, and weather-beaten 18th-century fortresses. And walking is the best way to see this city. Start your city tour at Rawson Square, where the Ministry of Tourism’s Information Centre provides free brochures to help you discover the city’s subtropical treasures. A short walk from the square is Prince George Wharf, where cruise ships dock and glass-bottom boats depart for seafaring adventures. Parliament Square, in downtown Nassau, is the seat of government. Many of the pastel-painted buildings here date from the early 1800s. Points of interest include the House of Parliament, the old Colonial Secretary’s Office, the Supreme Court and a marble statue of Queen Victoria. Close by is Fort Fincastle, built in 1789 in the shape of a paddle-wheel steamer. You can get there by climbing Queen’s Staircase, with 66 steps, one for every year of Victoria’s reign, carved from a limestone hill overlooking Nassau and the harbor.
For fun in the sun, head to Cable Beach. Stretching for two miles, Cable Beach is one of the world’s finest expanses of sand and surf. In this district are elegant residences and exclusive enclaves. But the real draw is the warm, inviting, rainbow-colored sea.
Then it’s on to Paradise Island, the Bahamas’ resort capital, boasting mega-hotels, red-hot casinos, fine shops and gourmet restaurants.