With more than 700 islands scattered across turquoise Atlantic waters, the Bahamas is one of the most iconic destinations in the Caribbean. Choosing which to visit can feel overwhelming, so this nassau travel guide breaks down the five that deliver the best mix of beaches, wildlife, and culture.
Nassau, New Providence Island
When it comes to best things to do in nassau, no island delivers more variety than New Providence. Nassau is the capital and the main entry point for most travelers arriving by cruise ship or plane. The Queen's Staircase and Fort Charlotte are the top historical stops in the city center, and things to do near nassau cruise port range from Bay Street shopping to snorkeling and beach club day passes. Blue Marlin on Nassau Harbour serves fresh grouper with waterfront views and is a natural way to end the day.
The Exumas
The Exumas rank among the top nassau excursions for any traveler ready to go beyond the capital. Big Major Cay, called Pig Beach, is the most iconic stop in this chain of 365 cays, home to a colony of swimming pigs that has lived on the uninhabited island since the early 1990s. Thunderball Grotto is an underwater cave filmed for two James Bond movies, and at Compass Cay nurse sharks circle the marina at high tide. Travelers planning ahead can find the full rundown in the Best Day Trips from Nassau guide, which covers the Exumas as one of the best things to do in bahamas for nature-focused visitors.
Harbour Island and Eleuthera
Harbour Island is one of the most photographed destinations in the Bahamas and an essential stop in any honest bahamas travel guide. The island is famous for Pink Sand Beach, a three-mile stretch where microscopic organisms called foraminifera tint the sand a distinctive blush color. There are no high-rise hotels and no chain restaurants, with golf carts as the main transportation around Dunmore Town. The surrounding reef holds more documented shipwrecks than any other island in the country, and the official Eleuthera and Harbour Island page covers the full range of beaches and dive sites on both islands.
Grand Bahama Island
Grand Bahama is the adventure capital of the Bahamas and one of the most underrated islands in nassau tourism discussions. Lucayan National Park covers 40 protected acres with one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world and Gold Rock Beach, a filming location for Pirates of the Caribbean. Tiger Beach draws divers for open-water tiger shark encounters, some of the best bahamas travel guide diving in the country, while Port Lucaya Marketplace offers restaurants and live goombay music on the waterfront. Full details on the park and its trails are available at the Lucayan National Park official page.
Bimini
Bimini sits 50 miles east of Miami, the closest Bahamian island to the United States and an easy addition to any nassau attractions plan for Florida-based travelers. Ernest Hemingway spent two years here in the 1930s, and Bimini is still called the Big Game Fishing Capital of the World. The Bimini Road, a formation of large limestone blocks off the northern coast, draws divers with long-running rumors of Atlantis. The Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port, opened in 2021, made Bimini the second most popular cruise port in the Bahamas. Travelers combining multiple destinations can plan the full route using the island hopping in the Bahamas guide, which covers what to do in nassau and beyond on a single trip.
FAQ
What is the most visited island in the Bahamas?
Nassau on New Providence Island is the most visited, serving as the country's capital and main cruise hub for over 11 million international visitors in 2024.
Where are the swimming pigs in the Bahamas?
The swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay, also called Pig Beach, in the Exumas, about 80 miles southeast of Nassau, accessible only by boat or guided day trip.
Is Harbour Island worth visiting from Nassau?
Yes, it is about 60 miles away and reachable by a short flight to North Eleuthera Airport and a three-minute water taxi, with Pink Sand Beach and Dunmore Town as the main draws.
How close is Bimini to the United States?
Bimini is approximately 50 miles east of Miami, with flights from Fort Lauderdale taking about 25 minutes and the Balearia Caribbean ferry connecting both cities in about two hours.
Can you visit multiple Bahamas islands on one trip?
Yes, many cruise itineraries include Nassau and Bimini, and independent island hopping to the Exumas, Harbour Island, and Grand Bahama is possible by plane or fast ferry.
