There is something about the name “Bahamas” which screams exotic island destination to me, and I was very excited to visit Nassau.

In this quick guide, you will find information about the things to do in Nassau in a day on a budget – perfect if you are on a Caribbean cruise stopover, as well as information you will need for a longer stay – check out the best family resorts in the Bahamas!

Things to do in Nassau

Here is how we spent our afternoon in Nassau in the Bahamas on a budget of $50.

Nassau is a much bigger cruise port than the other stops on our cruise.  It was also busier than our other stops (you can read about Antigua and the British Virgin Islands). However, busier does not mean it was busy. There were three other cruise ships docked with us and not many people around. We lost other people all together very easily.

Nassau cruise port is right in the heart of things, so it is very easy to go sightseeing independently.  They actually make you walk through tourist information and booking places, so if you want to organise something direct with Bahamians, this is easy to do, and looked a lot cheaper.  There were lots of transfers to different places on the island for US$4 per person.

We walked around the main downtown sites.  We went to places such as Rawson Square, Parliament Square and the Nassau Public Library.  They were so underwhelming that we actually had problems finding them.

We also tried to go to Fort Fincastle but all we found were empty car parks.  We were going for the supposed views anyway, and the hill just wasn’t high enough to offer these.

We checked out the straw market, renowned for being full of tacky souvenirs.  This was true although there was not much for sale so we did not look there for long.

My favourite part was wandering the main street called Bay Street.  It is a very pretty street with colourful buildings and nice big footpaths.  I enjoyed just walking around Nassau a lot.

Practical Information
All this is easily walkable from the cruise ship.  We didn’t have the kids with us, but we easily could have done this with them.

I also recommend a visit to the Atlantis. Read all about the Atlantis here.

Drinking in Nassau

After sightseeing was over so quickly, there was only one thing to do – head for a pub.

We decided to go tacky and fun and headed to the Senor Frogs, a popular chain in this part of the world where we have had fun in the past in Mexico. It was packed full of people drinking far more than we were going to, but we enjoyed listening to the music and drinking pina coladas and trying the local beer. More information here.

This soon became boring as we actually wanted to hear each other talk (and not pay a ridiculous amount for drinks) so we went to a nearby bar where we could sit outside on the waterfront.  There are a few nice bars by Nassau cruise port and it is not difficult to find one.

Best Family Resorts in Bahamas

If you are planning on spending longer in the Bahamas, here are some places which are highly recommended for a family stay where you can hang out in Nassau easily…

The Reef Atlantis

If you are looking for the best family resort in the Bahamas, this could well be it! It is part of the Atlantis Resort but set up perfectly for families – all the accommodation is apartments with kitchens and multiple bedrooms. You have access to everything the Atlantis Resort has to offer including a private beach, swimming pools, water slides, free movie cinema – it is amazing and perfect for families with kids of all ages.

Read more and see the latest prices here.

Comfort Suites Paradise Island

If you are looking for something more budget friendly but still with great facilities, the Comfort Suites Paradise Island is an excellent choice.The rooms feature a sitting area seperated by a divider from the bedroom area and also have mini fridges and microwave (by request). The resort has its own pool.

However, the best part is that the resort is located right next door to the Atlantis Resort and guests have free access to all the facilities there. This is a great way to save money while still having all the facilities of the best resort in the Bahamas.

Read more details and check out the latest prices.

Budget

We spent just under our $50 budget on a few beers, a big pina colada, a diet coke and internet access.  It didn’t cost anything to wander around checking out the sites.

Our verdict?

We enjoyed our time in Nassau.  It is a pleasant place with a pretty main street.  It felt a bit empty (perhaps because it was a Saturday?) and lacked the charm of our other stops because of this. There were surprisingly few people around.  Perhaps they all head to beaches or Paradise Island.

It felt like a sanitised version of the other Caribbean Islands.  It is neat and clean, slick and commercial in comparison. In saying this, we did like it, and I would love to come back to the Bahamas one day and see more.

You can also read about our stops in the US Virgin Islands, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands and our worries and experiences taking a Caribbean cruise with a 1 and 3 year old as well as our overall thoughts about our Caribbean cruise.

What are your favourite things to do in the Bahamas?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a booking, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Tags:  Accommodation Bahamas Travel Blog Caribbean cruising