Solo travel · Nassau · Bahamas
Solo travel in Nassau
How to enjoy Nassau at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: NAGB-Communications, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Nassau works for solo travellers on a short trip: downtown is walkable by day, jitneys are cheap, and tours to the Exuma Cays or snorkel sites are an easy way to meet people. Resort stays can carry single supplements. Many solo travellers base themselves in East Bay Street and Montagu.
Key facts
- Base
- East Bay Street and Montagu
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 911 or 919 (police, ambulance, fire)
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Stay downtown or on East Bay Street for lower prices and walkable access to sights.
- Join group snorkel or Exuma tours for company and lower per-person costs.
- Use licensed taxis at night rather than walking.
- The Fish Fry is a sociable place to eat alone and chat with locals.
- Carry small bills for jitneys and tips.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
East Bay Street and Montagu
East of the Paradise Island bridges, East Bay Street runs past Potter's Cay Dock's conch stalls, marinas, waterfront restaurants and the small Fort Montagu. Smaller hotels and apartments here are closer to local life than the resort strips.
- Good
- Local seafood stalls; Lower prices; Short ride to downtown and Paradise Island
- Watch out
- Few beaches for swimming; Traffic on East Bay Street
- Nearby
- Potter's Cay Dock, Fort Montagu, Montagu Beach
Great on your own
Landmark · Downtown Nassau
Parliament Square
Visit early before the cruise crowds; the colours photograph best in morning light.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Historic site · Downtown Nassau
Queen's Staircase
Combine it with Fort Fincastle and the walk down to Parliament Square for an easy downtown loop.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Downtown Nassau
Fort Fincastle
Go in the morning when it is cooler and the light on the harbour is clear.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
Historic site · West Bay Street
Fort Charlotte
Walk down to the Arawak Cay Fish Fry for lunch afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Views
Gallery · Downtown Nassau
National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
A cool, quiet break from the heat of Bay Street, a few minutes uphill.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- History
Historic site · Downtown Nassau
John Watling's Distillery
Try the rum punch on the veranda; the tour itself is short and free.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
Meeting people
- Arawak Cay Fish Fry evening — Join locals at the brightly painted shacks for conch salad, fried fish and Kalik, with music on weekend evenings.
- Potter's Cay lunch — Eat conch prepared in front of you at the dock stalls under the bridge, among fishermen and mail boats.
- Paradise Island — Atlantis's casino, bars and nightclub, plus restaurants at Marina Village.
- Cable Beach — Baha Mar's casino, lounges and bars along the resort strip.
Sensible precautions
Tourist areas are generally calm, but petty theft and bag-snatching occur, and some neighbourhoods away from the tourist zones are best avoided at night. Use licensed taxis, keep valuables out of sight on beaches, and respect red flags on beaches with currents.
- Emergency number
- 911 or 919 (police, ambulance, fire)
- Staying connected
- Hotels and resorts offer Wi-Fi; local SIMs and eSIMs provide mobile data across New Providence.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Nassau good for solo travellers?
Nassau works for solo travellers on a short trip: downtown is walkable by day, jitneys are cheap, and tours to the Exuma Cays or snorkel sites are an easy way to meet people. Resort stays can carry single supplements.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Nassau?
East Bay Street and Montagu: Waterfront strip of local restaurants, Potter's Cay and Fort Montagu.