Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas. It is the largest city in the Bahamas and its low-rise sprawl dominates the eastern half of New Providence Island. The city's name is locally pronounced like "NAH-sor" but without the R.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Founded around 1650 by the British as Charles Town, the town was renamed in 1695 to honor the ruling house in the Netherlands (and later England), which ultimately derives from Nassau Castle, Rhineland Palatinate. Due to the Bahamas' strategic location near trade routes and its multitude of islands, Nassau soon became a popular pirates' den, and British rule was soon challenged by the self-proclaimed "Privateers Republic" under the leadership of the infamous Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard.
A water taxi service is an available alternative to a taxi to get to Paradise Island from downtown. It is picked up under the bridge and costs $6 round trip. The water taxi stops operating at 6PM. Minibuses (locally known as jitneys) act as the bus system of Nassau city and New Providence island. Jitneys are found on and near Bay Street. The famous #10 Jitney to Cable Beach loads passengers on George & Bay Streets (in front of McDonalds, across from the British Colonial Hilton). Other jitneys are located on Charlotte & Bay Streets. A bus will typically wait until it's full before departing. Understanding the various routes can be complex.
Take a walk around Old Town, an interesting mixture of abandoned buildings and bright Caribbean structures. It doesn't take long to get away from the over-scrubbed tourist areas in the very center. Walk ten minutes uphill to the pink 1 Parliament House, which has a statue of an enthroned Queen Victoria out front. 2 Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center, ☏ +1 242-323-5806, fax: +1 242-323-7232, info@ardastra.com. 9AM-5PM. Visit the Bahamas' only zoo. See the marching flamingo shows. Let the parakeets land on you as you feed them. $15. 3 National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, West & West Hill Streets, ☏ +1 242-328-5800. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.
Bus tours are interesting. They'll drive you around, and tell you about the local government, tell you about different points of interest, and take you to old forts, and to Paradise Island, to see the famous Atlantis hotel resort and its stunning aquarium. 1 Queen's Staircase. 66-step staircase named after Queen Victoria. (updated Nov 2017) Golf: the best-known course is Royal Blue GC at Baha Mar east end of the city, designed by Jack Nicklaus. The President's Cup is played here in Sept 2023.
Get out of the hotel and try real Bahamian fare. You can get greasy fish, sides and desserts at one of the holes-in-the-wall in downtown Nassau for around $8. On the upscale side, there's no shortage of waterside seafood restaurants where it would be easy to part with $50 for an excellent piece of lobster. Sbarro, McDonald's and Chinese restaurants are mixed in to satisfy the budget diner or someone who has had enough conch. The Shoal Restaurant and Lounge, Nassau Street, ☏ +1 242 323-4200. Sa-Th 7:30AM-11PM, F 7AM-7PM. If the tourist crowds are getting you down, take a taxi out to where the locals eat. Enjoy fish that falls off the bone, friendly service, and a dessert of guava $10-20.
Nassau isn't a spring break mecca for nothing. The club scene is nightly and rowdy. Some popular establishments: Señor Frogs, ☏ +1 242 323-1777. 11AM-3AM. Next to the cruise dock, beside a stinky sewer pipe. Check which way the wind is blowing before you order. Doesn't serve Kalik. Club Waterloo, East Bay Street. 8PM-4AM. On the north side of the island, about two miles from the dock. Cocktails and Dreams, West Bay Street, ☏ +1 242 328 3745. Draws a sketchier crowd, although it is on the beach. Come here in a group. Club Fluid. Draws a very local crowd. You will get lots of recommendations from Bahamians you meet, but it is not a tourist club at all.
The "Over-the-Hill" area south of downtown is the poorest part of Nassau, and tourists might want to be wary. It is, however, much nicer than "slums" in the Third World and, indeed, parts of the United States. Some criminals target restaurants and nightclubs frequented by tourists. The most common approach is to offer victims a ride, either as a "personal favor" or by claiming to be a taxi, and then robbing and/or assaulting the passenger once in the car. Take care to ride only in licensed taxis, identifiable by their yellow license plates. Be wary of touts offering goods and services. As in other tourist destinations, some people try to take advantage of visitors.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Nassau typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 14 rainy days.
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