Many travelers visiting Nassau in Bahamas are there for one reason – to visit the beautiful beaches the country is famous for. And while Nassau City Bahamas does have soft white sand, turquoise water, swaying palms, and all of the other hallmarks of a beach destination, it’s also home to many other incredible attractions.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of six reasons to visit Nassau Bahamas. After you finish reading, you’ll know what makes the capital of The Bahamas so special.
Read on to get started!
Nassau in Bahamas: 6 Reasons to Visit Nassau Bahamas
1. Access to an Archipelago of Attractions
Paradise Island is one of many islands you can easily explore from New Providence.
Nassau in Bahamas is full of history and culture. Destinations like Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and the Heritage Museum of The Bahamas, showcase the country’s rich and colorful past. However, Nassau’s main island of New Providence is just one of 700 in the archipelago. Thankfully, after arriving in Nassau, you’ll be in an excellent position to enjoy some of the top destinations around the country.
For example, in the Nassau area alone, you can find several islands worth visiting, such as Nassau Paradise Island, Rose Island, and Pearl Island. All of these are great destinations for day trips and are easy to visit in just a couple of hours.
Nassau Paradise Island, in particular, is home to some of the largest resorts like Atlantis. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s easy to visit from New Providence.
Outside of the immediate area, flights from Nassau to destinations like Exuma or Eleuthera let you see some of the country’s top attractions before returning to Nassau later that afternoon.
While Nassau in Bahamas has a lot to offer, its connectivity to the rest of The Bahamas is an added bonus.
2. You Can See the Bahamas Swimming Pigs
The Swimming Pigs are in Exuma, not Nassau, but are easy to visit.
As The Bahamas encompasses 700 islands, beautiful destinations abound everywhere you look. Nevertheless, if there’s one attraction in the country you should make a point to visit, it’s the Swimming Pigs of Big Major Cay.
Located in Exuma, a region of the country containing 365 islands, Exuma is renowned for its world-class beaches, bright blue water, and for being the home of the Swimming Pigs.
While Big Major Cay is around 80 miles away from Nassau, air travel makes Pig Island easy to reach. A short plane ride of 30 minutes is all it takes to fly from Nassau in Bahamas to Staniel Cay, an island near Pig Beach with an airport. After landing, you then switch over to a boat to visit the pigs.
As your boat pulls up to the island, you’ll see the pigs jump in the water and swim out to greet you. From there, you’ll have time to swim alongside them and explore their gorgeous island home.
Seeing the playful Swimming Pigs snort through the water and run around their beach might just be the highlight of your Bahamas vacation. Once again, visiting Nassau makes reaching them a breeze.
3. Opportunities to Meet Other Wildlife
An Exuma day trip from Nassau lets you swim with sharks.
One of the best parts of visiting Nassau in Bahamas is all the wildlife you get to see.
Snorkeling in the Nassau area lets you see coral, tropical fish, and other animals like nurse sharks, sea turtles, or stingrays if you’re lucky. At Nassau Paradise Island you can swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cay, while on land in Nassau City Bahamas, you can see flamingos, peacocks, and other colorful birds at Ardastra Gardens.
If you sign up for the Nassau Exuma day trip, you don’t just get to see these animals up close – you get to interact with some of them. For example, Compass Cay marina is home to a school of nurse sharks that, over the years, have become well acquainted with people. This has caused the island to become one of the most popular places in the country to go swimming with sharks.
Whether you’re hoping to see dolphins, sharks, tropical birds, or other animal species, staying in Nassau Bahamas makes it easy to do so.
4. Stunning Beaches
Many consider Cabbage Beach the top beach in Nassau in Bahamas.
Although Nassau is full of interesting cultural and historical attractions, the city is undeniably a fantastic place to escape to for a beach vacation. From the moment you land, you’ll find yourself just steps away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
On New Providence, Junkanoo Beach is a short walk away from the Nassau Cruise Terminal and offers a fun and lively environment. Farther out from the city, Cable Beach and Love Beach are consistently ranked as some of the top beaches on the island, while Cabbage Beach on nearby Nassau Paradise Island may be the prettiest in the area.
Day trips from Nassau let you visit many of the other most popular beaches around the country. From Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island to the sandbars at Pipe Creek in Exuma, there’s no limit to the beautiful destinations you can find throughout the country.
5. Great Accommodation Options
Baha Mar is a top-rated resort on Cable Beach.
Nassau in Bahamas is home to dozens of accommodation options ranging from the modest to the decadent. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort experience or a small and intimate boutique hotel, Nassau Bahamas has you covered.
To name a few, Baha Mar and Atlantis Paradise Island are some of the largest Nassau hotels, encompassing massive areas and sporting numerous attractions, making them great for families. Near Atlantis is The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, which is the most luxurious property and one ideal for those looking to splurge.
Finally, Comfort Suites is a budget-friendly Nassau hotel yet conveniently located near some of the top Nassau Paradise Island attractions.
For more information on many of the different Nassau hotels, make sure to check out our individual Nassau destination guides.
6. Fun Waterparks
Aquaventure at Atlantis on Nassau Paradise Island is home to many exciting attractions.
Many of the larger Nassau hotels have waterparks, making them great accommodation options for families, in particular. Nevertheless, if you don’t stay at a specific resort, most of them offer day pass options.
For example, Atlantis has Aquaventure Waterpark, which houses slides, pools, a lazy river, and more. From slides that propel you through shark-inhabited waters to rides with drops that cause your heart to leave your chest, the waterpark promises an exhilarating experience to all.
In Downtown Nassau, Margaritaville Beach Resort – Nassau has Fins Up Water Park. While not as big as some of the others, it’s steps away from Junkanoo Beach and still has pools, slides, and a lazy river.
Finally, Baha Mar Resort is home to Baha Bay, another sprawling waterpark with enough to keep you entertained for hours on end. That combined with the waterpark’s location on Cable Beach makes it a fantastic destination to visit, even if you don’t stay at the resort.
Nassau in Bahamas: Explore the islands with Bahamas Air Tours
You don’t have to look far to find reasons to visit Nassau in Bahamas. Whether you spend your afternoons touring the beaches or splashing through the waterparks, you’ll find Nassau City Bahamas and its surrounding area to have something for everyone.
No matter what type of traveler you are, Exuma day trips to meet the Swimming Pigs are an excursion you won’t want to pass up on. The Swimming Pigs of Pig Island, underwater caves, stunning sandbars, and many more amazing attractions are just 30 minutes away from Nassau Bahamas.
Book a Pig Island day trip with Bahamas Air Tours today!
Get your FREE Nassau & Paradise Island Guide
With beautifully illustrated maps and informative destination guides.
Browse Nassau Travel Guides
