white boat on sea under blue sky during daytime

Nassau

Nassau is the Bahamas' capital, with a colonial downtown on Bay Street, a hotel strip at Cable Beach and the Junkanoo parade.

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Nassau is the Bahamas' capital and biggest city, on New Providence island. It is the center of the country's commerce, education, law, administration and media. Lynden Pindling International Airport lies about 16 km west of the center, with daily flights to Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and the United States. British settlers founded the town in 1670. In the early 1700s it became a pirate haven until Woodes Rogers, royal governor from 1718, cleared the pirates out.

Three areas cover most visits. Bay Street and the Woodes Rogers Walk, across from the port, hold the busiest shops, restaurants and sights downtown. Cable Beach, to the west, has five hotels along its strip, two of them all-inclusive. Ferries leave the city for Paradise Island, where the Atlantis resort draws more visitors than any other hotel in Nassau. Junkanoo, the city's chief festival, is a street parade of costumed dancers with cowbells, drums and whistles. The dry season runs from November through April, with daytime temperatures of 25 to 27 °C (77 to 81 °F). The wet season, from May through October, brings daytime highs of 30 to 32 °C (86 to 90 °F).

Nassau in five

Carry small US or Bahamian dollarsThe Bahamian dollar is pegged one to one with the US dollar and both are accepted. Jitney buses take cash only.
Ride the jitneys for short hopsMinibuses called jitneys run from downtown along the main roads to Cable Beach and other districts during the day.
See downtown when cruise ships are fewBay Street and the Straw Market fill when several ships are in port. Walk up to the Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle early.
Drive on the leftTraffic in The Bahamas keeps left, though many rental cars are left-hand drive. Take care on roundabouts.

Things to do in Nassau

See all attractions in Nassau

Beach · NassauLove Beach

Historic site · NassauJohn Watling's DistilleryGo on a weekday if you want a better chance of seeing the rum-making process in action.

Museum · NassauPirates of NassauGo earlier in the day for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NassauPut the places you like in Nassau on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Lynden Pindling International (NAS), about 25–30 min to downtown
Getting there: Direct flights from the US, Canada and the UK; cruise port
Getting around: Jitneys, taxis and water taxis to Paradise Island
Best base: Cable Beach for resorts, downtown for history
Time needed: 2–4 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low22°Dry, mild
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low22°Dry, busy
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low22°Dry, warm
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh26°Low24°Warm, dry
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Hot, showers
JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Hurricane season
JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low28°Hot, humid
AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low28°Hurricane risk
SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low28°Peak hurricanes
OctoberRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°Hurricane risk
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low24°Drier
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low23°Dry, holidays

Average daily high and low in Nassau, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Nassau

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 27°
Humidity: 81%
Wind: 26 km/h
Chance of rain: 55%

Nassau

03:06 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today26°24°55%Monday: Rain. High 26°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 55%.
Tue27°24°52%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 52%.
Wed27°26°43%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 43%.
Thu27°26°25%Thursday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 25%.
Fri26°26°23%Friday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 23%.
Sat26°26°5%Saturday: Clear. High 26°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sun26°26°22%Sunday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 22%.

Updated 01:10 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1 BSD

Amount

Converted to

BSD · Bahamian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Harbour Islandabout 2 hours by fast ferryPink sand beach and golf-cart streets on Eleuthera's doorstep.Read the guide
The Exumasa long day by fast boat or planeCays, sandbars and the swimming pigs.Read the guide
Rose Islandabout 30 min by boatA nearby cay for beaches and snorkeling.

Before you go to Nassau

Rose Island and Exuma day tripsBoat days from the harborCompare day trips

Cable Beach and downtown staysResort strip or colonial centerCheck availability

eSIM for NassauSkip roaming charges from the airportRead the guide

Insurance for NassauCruise-port delays and storm seasonRead the guide

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Rules for Nassau, checked

Check entry requirements on the official government portal before you book.Source
The Bahamas drives on the left, and many cars here were imported from the US and are left-hand drive.
Dial 919 or 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Bahamas.
Many restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill for one before you add a tip.

Plan around Nassau

All of The Bahamas

Islands, flights, entry rules and money

Read the guide Eleuthera

Pink sand and Harbour Island, 2 hours by fast ferry

Read the guide The Exumas

Cays, sandbars and boat days by plane or boat

Read the guide Miami

Florida departure point for flights to Nassau

Read the guide Hurricane-season insurance

Cancellation terms to check

Read the guide Money and cards

Cash habits in the islands

Read the guide

Nassau FAQ

Is Nassau worth visiting or should I go to the Out Islands?

Nassau is worth two or three days for downtown, the beaches and good flight links. For quieter beaches and clear water, add the Exumas or Eleuthera.

Can I use US dollars in Nassau?

Yes. The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar at one to one and both are accepted; change may come in either.

When is the best time to visit Nassau?

December to April is dry and mild. June to November is hurricane season, and August to October carry the highest risk.

How many days do you need in Nassau?

Two or three days cover downtown, Fort Fincastle, a Cable Beach or Paradise Island day and a boat trip. Add more if Nassau is the base for a ferry or flight to the Out Islands.

Is Nassau safe for tourists?

Resort areas and downtown in daylight are the usual tourist beat. Take normal city care at night, use licensed taxis, and read your government's current travel advice before you book.