3 days in Nassau

Day by day

1. Day 1: Atlantis Aquaventure and Cabbage Beach

   Atlantis Aquaventure, Cabbage Beach and Parliament Square, then Arawak Cay Fish Fry in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Atlantis Aquaventure

      The Atlantis resort's water park has slides through shark-filled tanks, including the Leap of Faith from a Mayan temple replica, a lazy river with rapids and large pools.

   2. Late morning

      Cabbage Beach

      Walk east away from Atlantis for space, and check flags before swimming.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Conch salad

      Arawak Cay Fish Fry and Potter's Cay Dock.

   4. Afternoon

      Parliament Square

      Pink, colonnaded government buildings from the early 19th century surround a statue of a seated Queen Victoria on Bay Street.

   5. Evening

      Arawak Cay Fish Fry

      Order a conch salad and watch it being chopped to order, then share a plate of fried snapper.

2. Day 2: Junkanoo Beach and Queen's Staircase

   Junkanoo Beach, Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle, then Paradise Island in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Junkanoo Beach

      Come early on cruise days, before the bars and loungers fill up.

   2. Late morning

      Queen's Staircase

      Sixty-six limestone steps cut by hand into a narrow gorge in the late 18th century lead up to Fort Fincastle.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cracked conch

      Fish Fry shacks and Bahamian restaurants downtown.

   4. Afternoon

      Fort Fincastle

      Go in the morning when it is cooler and the light on the harbour is clear.

   5. Evening

      Paradise Island

      Atlantis's casino, bars and nightclub, plus restaurants at Marina Village.

3. Day 3: Fort Charlotte and Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre

   Fort Charlotte, Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre and Nassau Straw Market, then Cable Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fort Charlotte

      The largest fort on New Providence, built in the late 18th century above the harbour's western approach, has a moat, ramparts, underground passages and dungeons.

   2. Late morning

      Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre

      Check the times of the flamingo show when you arrive and plan your walk around it.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Conch fritters

      Beach bars, the Fish Fry and resort pool bars.

   4. Afternoon

      Nassau Straw Market

      A large covered market on Bay Street with hundreds of stalls selling straw bags, hats, wood carvings, T-shirts and jewellery.

   5. Evening

      Cable Beach

      Baha Mar's casino, lounges and bars along the resort strip.

Before you go

• Atlantis Aquaventure: Day passes for non-guests are limited; reserve in advance, especially on cruise days.

If it rains

• Swap in National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (Downtown Nassau): A cool, quiet break from the heat of Bay Street, a few minutes uphill.
• Swap in Nassau Public Library (Downtown Nassau): Step in for a few minutes when passing Parliament Square; it is free and cool.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Downtown Nassau keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Paradise Island ($$$$) suits families, luxury, beach and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Nassau
• 2 days in Nassau
• 5 days in Nassau

Questions travellers ask