Wondering what the best things to do in the Bahamas are? Do not worry; we’ve got you covered!
The Bahamas is one of the most beautiful countries, not just in the Caribbean but also in the world! It is also a popular tourist destination, and it is quite evident why that is the case, given the kind of variety the island offers, be it in terms of food, activities, or just experiences.
While some places in the Bahamas are energetic and pulsating, others are quieter and laid back. But whatever you are looking for, we are sure you will find it in the list below!
Here are the 16 Best Things to do in the Bahamas!
1- Roam Around the Pink Sands Beach
Harbour Island is best known for its stunning Pink Sand Beach, located on the eastern side of Harbour Island, toward the Atlantic Ocean. It is also commonly believed to be one of the best beaches in the Bahamas!
Pink Sands Beach is ideal for sunbathing and swimming in the pleasant, clear waters. It is located in a tranquil setting, making it the perfect destination for relaxing and unraveling from the strain of travel.
However, the most impressive feature is the stretch of picture-perfect pink sand! It seems to go on forever, extending for three miles or more and measuring 50 to 100 feet wide, making it one of the world’s most extraordinary beaches!
The almost unfathomable, pale pink color of the sand is caused by microscopic coral insects called Foraminifera, which have a vibrant pink or red shell riddled with holes by which they extend their pseudopodia.
You must visit this beach in The Bahamas, as it provides a truly unique experience! You shall remain assured of a comfortable visit with small clusters of palm-topped umbrellas and sunbeds to relax on, in addition to some of the island’s most appealing boutique hotels!
2- Explore the Underwater World at Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island, a private island, is located 3 miles northeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and is one of the popular tourist attractions!
Officially known as Salt Cay, the Blue Lagoon Island was once a hideout for pirate buccaneers, and subsequently, it became a diver training ground during WWII.
It was found in the nineteenth century by pirates who came to extract salt from its water, and it has since developed itself as one of the top all-around family attractions in The Bahamas!
The beautiful stretches of white sand that form the shores and the craggy McCutcheon’s Tower, which offers a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea, are the attractions that lure visitors to this beautiful island, along with the exotic wildlife, marine life, and watersports!
Visiting the Blue Lagoon Island would allow you to swim and snorkel in a tucked-away lagoon with clear blue water and mesmerizing coral reefs, sunbathe on the white sand beaches encircled by coconut palm trees, and take a stroll through picturesque natural vegetation that serves as a nesting habitat for birds.
Interestingly, Blue Lagoon Island is also the location of the acclaimed programs, which allows you to cross something off your bucket list by swimming with the ocean’s most intelligent mammals!
3- Go on an Adventure at the Paradise Island Water Park
Another of the best things to do in the Bahamas is to adventure at the Atlantis Paradise Island Water Park!
Paradise Island Water Park, previously known as Hog Island, is located on Atlantis, Paradise Island, a private island possessed by Sol Kerzner. The Water Park is one of many tourist spots hidden among the vast open premises of the massive Atlantis Bahamas Resort on Nassau’s northern outskirts.
With water slides, open-air lagoons, and a zoo in the backyard, the Paradise Island Water Park is ideal for thrill-seekers! But the place is also fun, accessible, and family-friendly, with many twisty water slides and splash pools!
There is the cleverly titled Leap of Faith, a ride that unloads passengers down the terraces of a fictitious Aztec temple, along with the terrifying Abyss, which drops people 15 meters into a pitch-black hole before entering the water.
The place also has adult-only pools with bars, a lazy river, and some gleaming white beaches!
So, irrespective of whether you’re traveling with friends or family, Atlantis Paradise Island has something for everyone to enjoy. You will enjoy the fun that the place offers you with its pools, parks, restaurants, and walk-in aquarium!
4- Visit the Lucayan National Park
Founded in 1977, the Lucayan National Park is the shining star out of the three parks on the island! The park is a 40-acre slab created out of the southern coast of Grand Bahama Island, and it contains one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems, two of which are accessible to the public!
Along with protecting one of the world’s largest charted underwater cave systems, the Lucayan National Park also preserves the remains of the Lucayan Indians and a premier amalgamation of natural environments such as pine forests, coral reefs, mangrove creeks, and the famous Gold Rock Beach, popularly known as “The Welcome Mat of Grand Bahama!”
The area also contains some amazing wild structures that are suitable for sightseeing.
Despite its natural beauty, the Lucayan National Park receives very few visitors. As a result, it is the ideal location for outdoor activities such as taking a stroll, yoga, or a picnic with family and friends.
Take a walk around the park to appreciate its natural beauty and take photos in some of the picturesque spots.
So, all in all, if you are looking for the best things to do in the Bahamas, you must consider heading to the Lucayan National Park!
5- Enjoy the Beauty of the Eleuthera Island
The Eleuthera Island is one of The Bahamas’ true natural jewels, hidden away from the spotlight and devoid of all the ritzy celebrity mansions and resorts of Nassau, with Harbour Island just across the bay.
It’s shaped like a backward C and stretches for more than 100 miles from top to bottom, with plenty of concealed coves and coastal crevices to discover, where rock formations spatter the vacant sands and seagrasses bristle against the prevailing winds.
Eleuthera Island also allows you to witness two different ocean worlds through a serene Caribbean Sea shore called Exuma Sound and a rippling Atlantic Ocean shore known as “Surfers Beach.”
Surfers Beach is popular with surfers, while horseback riders will enjoy exploring the caves and strange geological formations that flare up from Whiteland down to Rock Sound.
The island also has a wide range of breathtaking shoreline views, be it soft pink sandy beaches or stunning ascending cliff vistas, making it one of the best things to do in the Bahamas!
6- Shop to the Fullest at Port Lucaya Marketplace
The Port Lucaya Marketplace is situated in the Grand Bahama city of Freeport, approximately 140 miles from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is one of the best things to do in the Bahamas!
It reigns supreme and is vibrant on the outskirts of Freeport, adorned in traditional Caribbean colors of bright pink, yellow, turquoise, and green!
The Port Lucaya Marketplace is the Bahama Islands’ biggest shopping, dining, and entertainment outdoor complex, with over 40 boutique stores, restaurants to entice any flavor profile, and bars and lounges for late-night recreation!
The marketplace also features a wide range of Duty-Free stores, two well-stocked Straw Markets, two Craft Centres, and Push Carts stocked with Bahamian craft and souvenir items.
And it is not just the market, but the whole complex is a paradise! Some of the places you must visit for a worthwhile experience include Leo’s Art Gallery and the Marina!
Make sure to sample some of the tastiest local dishes in the marketplace and experience the most authentic culinary experiences! Also, you must buy some extraordinary artwork and local crafts! And stay until late at night to experience some of the best nightlife ever!
7- Spend a Day at the Cable Beach
Cable Beach, located about two and a half miles west of Nassau, is the most famous stretch of coast on New Providence Island!
It is located on Nassau’s northern coast, and not only is it one of the best things to do in the Bahamas, but it is also one of the most easily accessible, be it from the Nassau or the Lynden Pindling International Airport, located nearby.
This 4-mile stretch of land, surrounded by casinos, restaurants, and a gleaming beachfront, is the perfect escape from Nassau! The Bahamas Cable Beach features five first-class or luxury resorts, a golf course, extravagant nightlife, and The Bahamas’ largest casino!
Cable Beach offers incredible nightlife activities, such as gambling at the Crystal Palace Casino and beach parties! Apart from these activities, you can also engage in outdoor recreation, such as surfing and swimming at Cable Beach!
Some other sights to see before leaving the area include Ardastra Gardens and Fort Fincastle!
Also, much to your benefit, the sprawling city of Nassau surrounds Cable Beach!
8- Walk up The Queen’s Staircase
The Queen’s Staircase, commonly called the 66 steps, is a historical site in Nassau’s Fort Fincastle Historic Complex. It is a common belief that it made a direct route from Fort Fincastle to Nassau City available and was sculpted by enslaved people out of limestone rocks during the years 1793 and 1794.
These steps were eventually named after Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, who abolished slavery in the British Empire. By chance, the number of steps equals the years of Queen Victoria’s reign.
So, if you’re visiting the Bahamas and looking for something to do other than a boat cruise or an island adventure, the Queen Stairs are a must-see! You can walk up the stairs, pretending to be a part of a fantasy world where you are a member of the prestigious royal family!
Also, water cascades down to a pool below from the side of the staircase over a set of steps and a walkway that runs through the bottom, between high stone walls and tropical trees.
9- Take a Moment to Appreciate the Art at the National Art Gallery
The Bahamas National Art Gallery is a non-profit, world-class museum in downtown West & West Hill Streets in New Providence Island.
The National Art Gallery collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets historical and contemporary Bahamian art. The museum persists in educating, uplifting, and inspiring all Bahamians everywhere, and its curators are driven by a desire to expand cultural boundaries.
Housed in Villa Doyle, its bright lights make it one of the best things to do in the Bahamas, especially on New Providence Island!
Stay inside the museum and discover some of the Bahamas’ cultural artifacts to learn more about the country’s rich history. Furthermore, some of the gallery’s artworks are picture-perfect!
10- Explore Stocking Island
Stocking Island is a comparatively tiny yet narrow and long island off the coast of Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. It is a sturdy and wild barrier of rock that safeguards Great Exuma from the eastern Caribbean wave action and the stormy trade winds that blow over The Bahamas from the Atlantic.
It significantly differs from many of the other picture-perfect small islands in the Bahamian group of islands with sky-high cliffs and rugged boulders.
The Island is home to some of the most beautiful cliffs in the Caribbean and some of The Bahamas’ best white sand beaches!
The whole vista of the island can be taken within seconds from the highest point of the Rocky Hills! You can either take a stop and take in the legendary sight of the deep blue ocean from here, or you can go for a coastal hike!
Divers and snorkelers can enjoy exploring the island’s underwater blue holes, coral reefs, and caves! Stromatolites, which are said to be the world’s most ancient macro-fossils on the planet, can also be discovered on the Island’s beaches!
It is a slightly uninhabited island but makes for a great tourist attraction! It is also easily reached by boat from Elizabeth Harbor.
11- Spend an Afternoon at Prince George Wharf
Prince George Wharf is on the northern outskirts of New Providence Island, between Paradise Island and Nassau. It takes pride in being the most notable and toured cruise ship in the world, with massive ocean liners docking here from dusk to dawn!
Cruise ships frequently dock in this harbor, lined with shops, bars, and tour operators.
Prince George Wharf is the best place worldwide to book the most extraordinary cruise ship. It’s also a picture-perfect location for making the most of your Bahamas’s itinerary!
Row after row of big lumbering ocean travelers is a pretty incredible treat to the eyes and provides insight into the thriving tourist industry that keeps these islands running.
Take a picture with the great ships from the end of Woodes Rogers Walk, and don’t skip the adjacent holes in the wall!
There is also a charming museum near the Wharf that is ideal for art enthusiasts!
12- Meet the Phenomenal Creatures at The Stingray Adventure
If you are looking for the best things to do in the Bahamas, make your way to Half Moon Cay, which is tucked away in the swells between South Eleuthera and Cat Island and rises in facades of rock from the blue ocean all around.
The Stingray Adventure at Castaway Cay is a Disney-sponsored educational trip where you can learn more about stingrays in the shallow, pristine waters.
You will encounter the formidable stingray in this gorgeously unaltered and remote location about 30 minutes by boat from Nassau. You’ll love the beautiful white sandy beaches where you can stand or swim with the Stingrays, who will welcome you like an old friend!
Feeding, snorkeling, and taking photos with your new Stingray friends are all part of your encounter!
The Stingray Adventure tours begin with introductory sessions covering safe handling methods and ray behavior patterns before allowing participants to get intimate with the stinging creatures, trying to feed and pet them in their natural habitat.
Furthermore, Castaway Cay, where the adventure takes place, has many opportunities. Surfing or snorkeling are two options for taking advantage of the waves.
13- Sample Wine at the John Watling’s Distillery
Since its inception in 2003, John Watling’s Distillery has consistently delivered high-quality spirits to the people of Nassau and the rest of the Bahamas! The Buena Vista Estate, one of the unchallenged jewels in the line-up of ancient and cultural homes that make up the historically significant region of downtown Nassau, is home to the island’s much-loved John Watling’s Distillery!
At the distillery, you can learn about winemaking and sample unbottled wine.
Frequent tours of the location take visitors through the groomed garden lawns and palm beds and into the brewery.
The locals have been brewing the legendary spirit for centuries with firewater and sugarcane, using barrels and crackling piles of coconut husks!
Do not worry if it sounds boring right now, as John Watling’s Distillery is one of the best things to do in the Bahamas. It is a place to have fun and unwind!
14- Have a Fun Time at the Tiki Bikini Hut
Tiki Bikini Hut is a new addition to the tourist scene on New Providence Island. It is one of the most wonderful flashpoint locations in the Bahamas and is situated in Nassau!
An array of red brollies and swaying palm trees distinguishes Byron’s creation from the sands of Junkanoo Beach in Nassau’s northern portion!
This happening tiny joint is uber-welcoming and laid back to the max, ticking over the tunes of Caribbean steel drums and South American samba!
If you have a thing for romantic views, the Tiki Bikini Hut is the place to be! It is a beach club during the day and a dreamy dining restaurant in the evening, making it one of the best things for couples to do in the Bahamas!
The food at the Bikini Hut is also fantastic! There’s also a selection of conch fritters and hotdogs, served directly to the salt-seasoned timber tables and beach beds just meters from the water!
15- Take Selfies at the Pig Beach
Pig Beach on Big Major Cay is a beach on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas’ Exuma. The island gets its unofficial identity from a colony of feral pigs that reside on the island. Recently, the beach has become one of the best things to do in the Bahamas!
Do you want to know how the pigs got to Pig Beach? Well, unfortunately, nobody knows for certain.
Big Major Cay is an uninhabited island, and the pigs are not indigenous. Some claim they were abandoned by a group of sailors who intended to return and cook them. Or that the pigs paddled over from a neighboring shipwreck.
But wherever they came from, about 20 pigs and piglets are now living a comfortable life, with regular visits from Bahamians and foreign visitors.
Although other islands in the Bahamas have swimming pigs, the Pigs-on-pigs Beach is referred to in popular culture as “the swimming pigs.” So, when you visit the place, do not forget to snap a picture with the ‘swimming pigs‘!
16- Try the Delicious Food at Arawak Cay
Arawak Cay, also known as Fish Fry, was founded in 1969. It is close to Nassau and is well-known for having some of the nation’s best native restaurants and bars!
If you enjoy trying new foods, Arawak Cay is the place to go in the Bahamas! Going to Arawak Cay allows you to sample the local dishes and beers of the Bahamas! Also, no other holiday experience compares to tasting Bahamas coleslaw with a fine Pina Colada!
Closing Thoughts
What Is Most Well-Known About The Bahamas? The Glass Window Bridge, one of Mother Nature’s phenomenal wonders, will leave you speechless as you take in the majestic panoramic view.
It is one of the few places on the planet where you can try comparing the tumulus blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean on one side of the road to the serene Bight of Eleuthera. Often referred to as the Caribbean Sea, on the other, it is another one of the best things to do in the Bahamas!
Some other places to visit in the Bahamas include the Leon Levy Native Plant, the Elbow Reef Lighthouse in Hope Town, and Junkanoo Beach! You can also explore Nassau, the Bahamas, in-depth!
We hope you found this list helpful! We hope you have a great trip to the island nation!
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
