I love when my friends and family come to visit because it gives me the perfect excuse to ‘play tourist’ and carry them to some of my favorite places on the island. As a born & raised island gal (and recovering broke millennial), I’ve discovered some of the my favorite places to take folks, no matter their budget. I wanted to share this list with you so whether you’re a local wanting to explore more of the island or a tourist looking for cost-friendly ways to enjoy your vacation you will have a better idea of where to go for a good time.
- The Caves : Located off of West Bay Street is an entrance to historical caves dated by Prince Alfred in 1861. It is said these caves can be dated by the 10th Century were used by the original inhabitants of the Islands of the Bahamas, the Lucayans. You can enter at your own risk and explore within at zero cost. I went in for the first time last year and I was pretty amazed at this little piece of history. Also, as an added bonus, it’s across from the beach so win-win.
- Compass Point : A 5-minute drive along West Bay Street from The Caves is another favorite – the colorful Compass Point Resort and Restaurant. I love bringing folks here for four reasons: Delicious food, Buckets of margaritas, colorful esthetic and ocean-front view. This place is a must-see and is a guaranteed good time.
- Bay Street : This is a pretty well-known tourist location but it’s still popular with the locals too, tbh. Bay Street has been a main street in the history and culture of The Bahamas for years. It’s where we hold our Junkanoo parades every Independence, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day! On my adventure days, I love strolling down Bay Street discovering new stores and restaurants ( and buying things I don’t need) . Warning, Bay Street is near the cruise ship docking station so it can be bit busy at times. If you can, I recommend going when the cruise ships are gone – way less aggravating if you don’t like crowds of people.
- Arawak Cay (Fish Fry) : This is another known tourist location but an essential to any visit to Nassau. Fish Fry is one of the best places to eat Bahamian local cuisine – conch salads, fritters, snappers, groupers and the list goes on. It’s pretty popular among the locals as well for anyone looking to integrate into the culture beyond the hotel experience. I recommend Drifters for conch salads and Twin Brothers for daiquiris.
- Cable Beach (The Daiquiri Shack) : One of my favorite spots to take people when they come in town. I mean seriously – Who doesn’t want a customized daiquiri made fresh right in front of you (with rum of course)? I absolutely love the daiquiris – so yummy and refreshing on a hot summer day! Also, the service is always great and island tunes tend to jammin’ in the background. It’s just the recipe for the perfect summer day.
- Atlantis (Paradise Island): I added Atlantis to this list because it is still really a great place to explore and relatively open to the public. Atlantis is a huge mega-resort located on Paradise Island located across the bridge from the capital – Nassau, Bahamas. Some of my favorite budget-friendly things to do are walk through Marina Village, eat at Anthony’s, explore the underwater aquariums or grab a scoop of ice cream from Sun & Ice. Point is, Atlantis/Paradise Island has a lot to offer for everybody which is one of the main reasons why its been around for so many years.
- Baha Mar : This is the newest mega-resort on the island. The resort is three hotels in one (Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood) with a lot of great restaurants offering a huge variety of cuisines. Two of my favorite restaurants are Commonwealth (Rosewood) and Three Tides (Grand Hyatt). The bar and nightlife is also pretty impressive too. It’s relatively accessible to the public and something new is always happening so it’s a fun spot to explore.
And there you have it! If you’ve been to any of these places, do you agree or disagree? What’s on your list? I’d love to know.