Nassau Bahamas. Cruise port Nassau, Bahamas. Cuisine and restaurants

The Bimini Road consists of two parallel tracks paved with stone slabs, located under water. Some of these slabs reach six meters in length.

The Bimini road is located at a depth of three to nine meters, but thanks to the perfectly clear water it is perfectly visible from the surface of the sea. Its length is 500 meters and its width is 90. Not far from it stretches a J-shaped sleeve, which is lined with the same material. In the same area, many other strange structures were discovered underwater - concentric circles and platforms.

Historic center of Nassau

The historic center of Nassau, with its beautifully preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, is spread out around Rawson Square.

The city was founded in 1650 by the British and was named Charles Town. In 1695 it was renamed Nassau in honor of the fort of the same name.

Rawson Square is adjacent to two of Nassau's most famous streets, Bay Street and Prince George's Wharf, which form the crossroads of the old city. Now it is a lively place - musicians, bankers, hawkers, sailors and tourists gather here. Bay Street is home to many shops, restaurants and cafes. It is one of the main centers of tourist trade and recreation.

Prince George's Wharf also houses shops and cafes that attract sailors and tourists visiting the port of Nassau. The annual Christmas carnival also takes place here.

A little south of Rawson Square is Parliament Square, where administrative buildings were erected in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here is the Parliament, the Colonial Administration building, the House of Assembly and Supreme Court. One of the square's attractions is also the statue of Queen Victoria.

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Alice Town Historic Center

Alice Town is a center of fishing clubs and resorts.

Here is also the most famous club, which witnessed the “birth” of Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel “To Have and Have Not” - Complete-Engler. Tourists find themselves in a historical monument, where unique photographs of the author and his personal belongings are on display for everyone to see.

Local legends also glorify the famous “Bimini Road,” which invites modern people to admire the wonders of pristine nature: lush flora and breathtaking panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bahamas are islands where holidays are possible in any season of the year. It's stable here all year round good weather and plenty of sun. And the local beaches undoubtedly offer luxurious conditions for an idle holiday.

Cable Beach, named after the first telegraph in the Bahamas, is super popular place in the vicinity of the capital Nassau, it is often called the Bahamian Riviera. Like a magnet, it attracted all the most famous Bahamian hotels to itself. This means that it is always lively here and among tourists - not only lovers of passive recreation. The beach is bordered by a long row of restaurants and hotels, where all the traditional resort entertainment, including casinos and discos.

Palm trees, the cozy splash of waves, the gentle sea and the lazily and widely spread sandy beach will provide a comfortable and leisurely holiday. Excitement and drive can be found next door, on the line of luxury hotels.

Royal staircase

The Royal Staircase in Nassau is the city's most visited attraction.

At the end of the 18th century, construction began on a staircase in honor of Queen Victoria, who spent 65 years on the throne. The staircase is carved right into one of the hills of the island. More than five hundred slaves took part in the construction of the Royal Staircase. Construction lasted 16 years, because the work was difficult, the hard limestone did not give in. However, the staircase was never completed due to the enactment of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834. No one decided to continue construction.

The staircase has 65 steps - one for each year of Queen Victoria's reign. And the purpose of the Royal Staircase is to connect Fincastle Fort and Princess Margaret Hospital.

If you climb the stairs, you will find yourself at the top of the mountain, overlooking the city and surrounding areas.

Graycliff Restaurant

Graycliff is a famous restaurant at the Graycliff Hotel, located in Nassau. The interior of the establishment reflects the colonial style of architecture, and rare wines are stored in the restaurant's premises.

Nassau has many other cafes and restaurants boasting architectural details, but few are as grand as Graycliff. The cuisine in the establishment is European, catering to every taste. The Graycliff Restaurant has professional and English-speaking staff, ready to serve even the most demanding customer. Prices at Graycliff are incomparable to establishments of this rank - luxury is highly valued here.

The Graycliff Restaurant is a worthy establishment in Nassau that can surprise not only with the beauty of its interior, but also with its unique dishes.

Parliament Building of the Bahamas

The Bahamas Parliament building is located in the center of Nassau on Parliament Square, being the center of the city's main square.

A small two-story building in the city center was erected in the early 19th century specifically for meetings of the colonial government. The first British officials appeared on the islands in the middle of the 17th century, but even today the Bahamas feels direct influence from London, since formally the head of Parliament is the Queen of Great Britain.

The Parliament is housed in a beautiful building with an antique portico decorated with four columns. The building, like all the buildings on the square, is painted sunny pink, which looks especially beautiful in the evening.

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Compass Point Restaurant

Compass Point is a restaurant-bar with the same name resort complex, which also includes a beach and a hotel. The restaurant serves international and Caribbean cuisine and is open all day. The restaurant hall is decorated in a festive red, white and black color scheme and, like the bar, is equipped with a large flat-screen TV broadcasting various programs. However, the main view opens outside the panoramic windows - the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The restaurant's bar serves drinks and light snacks. In addition to the bar and the main hall, the restaurant has two open terraces for those who want to dine in the fresh air.

The most popular attractions in Nassau with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places in Nassau on our website.

Individual and group

More attractions of Nassau

: 25°04′00″ n. w. /  77°20′00″w. d.25.06667° N. w. 77.33333° W d. / 25.06667; -77.33333

(G) (I) Center height Population Telephone code

Official site New Providence Airport on was closed in 1999, the runway was dismantled and integrated into the island's resort network.

Water transport

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Excerpt characterizing Nassau (Bahamas)

Kutuzov did not answer. He seemed to have already forgotten what he had said and sat thoughtful. Five minutes later, smoothly rocking on the soft springs of the stroller, Kutuzov turned to Prince Andrei. There was no trace of excitement on his face. With subtle mockery, he asked Prince Andrei about the details of his meeting with the emperor, about the reviews he had heard at court about the Kremlin affair, and about some common women he knew.

Kutuzov, through his spy, received news on November 1 that put the army he commanded in an almost hopeless situation. The scout reported that the French in huge numbers, having crossed the Vienna bridge, headed towards Kutuzov’s route of communication with the troops coming from Russia. If Kutuzov had decided to remain in Krems, then Napoleon’s army of one and a half hundred thousand would have cut him off from all communications, surrounded his exhausted army of forty thousand, and he would have been in Mack’s position near Ulm. If Kutuzov had decided to leave the road that led to communications with troops from Russia, then he would have had to enter without a road into the unknown lands of the Bohemian
mountains, defending themselves from superior enemy forces, and abandoning all hope of communication with Buxhoeveden. If Kutuzov had decided to retreat along the road from Krems to Olmutz to join forces from Russia, then he risked being warned on this road by the French who had crossed the bridge in Vienna, and thus being forced to accept battle on the march, with all the burdens and convoys, and dealing with an enemy three times his size and surrounding him on both sides.
Kutuzov chose this last exit.
The French, as the spy reported, having crossed the bridge in Vienna, were marching in an intensified march towards Znaim, which lay on Kutuzov’s retreat route, more than a hundred miles ahead of him. To reach Znaim before the French meant to have great hope of saving the army; to allow the French to warn themselves in Znaim would probably mean exposing the entire army to a disgrace similar to that of Ulm, or to general destruction. But it was impossible to warn the French with their entire army. The French road from Vienna to Znaim was shorter and better than the Russian road from Krems to Znaim.
On the night of receiving the news, Kutuzov sent Bagration’s four-thousand-strong vanguard to the right over the mountains from the Kremlin-Znaim road to the Vienna-Znaim road. Bagration had to go through this transition without rest, stop facing Vienna and back to Znaim, and if he managed to warn the French, he had to delay them as long as he could. Kutuzov himself, with all his hardships, set out for Znaim.
Having walked with hungry, shoeless soldiers, without a road, through the mountains, on a stormy night forty-five miles, having lost a third of the stragglers, Bagration went to Gollabrun on the Vienna Znaim road several hours before the French approached Gollabrun from Vienna. Kutuzov had to walk another whole day with his convoys to reach Znaim, and therefore, in order to save the army, Bagration, with four thousand hungry, exhausted soldiers, had to hold off for a day the entire enemy army that met him in Gollabrun, which was obvious , impossible. But a strange fate made the impossible possible. The success of that deception, which gave the Vienna bridge into the hands of the French without a fight, prompted Murat to try to deceive Kutuzov in the same way. Murat, having met Bagration’s weak detachment on the Tsnaim road, thought that it was the entire army of Kutuzov. In order to undoubtedly crush this army, he waited for the troops that had fallen behind on the road from Vienna and for this purpose proposed a truce for three days, with the condition that both troops would not change their positions and would not move. Murat insisted that negotiations for peace were already underway and that, therefore, avoiding useless shedding of blood, he was offering a truce. The Austrian general Count Nostitz, who was stationed at the outposts, believed the words of the envoy Murat and retreated, revealing Bagration’s detachment. Another envoy went to the Russian chain to announce the same news about peace negotiations and offer a truce to the Russian troops for three days. Bagration replied that he could not accept or not accept a truce, and with a report of the proposal made to him, he sent his adjutant to Kutuzov.
The truce for Kutuzov was the only way to gain time, give Bagration’s exhausted detachment a rest and allow convoys and loads to pass through (the movement of which was hidden from the French), although there was one extra march to Znaim. The offer of a truce provided the only and unexpected opportunity to save the army. Having received this news, Kutuzov immediately sent Adjutant General Wintzingerode, who was with him, to the enemy camp. Winzengerode had to not only accept the truce, but also offer terms of surrender, and meanwhile Kutuzov sent his adjutants back to hurry as much as possible the movement of the entire army's convoys along the Kremlin-Znaim road. The exhausted, hungry detachment of Bagration alone had to, covering this movement of the convoys and the entire army, remain motionless in front of an enemy eight times stronger.
Kutuzov's expectations came true both regarding the fact that the non-binding offers of surrender could give time for some of the convoys to pass through, and regarding the fact that Murat's mistake was to be revealed very soon. As soon as Bonaparte, who was in Schönbrunn, 25 versts from Gollabrun, received Murat’s report and the draft truce and capitulation, he saw the deception and wrote the following letter to Murat:
Au prince Murat. Schoenbrunn, 25 brumaire en 1805 a huit heures du matin.
“II m"est impossible de trouver des termes pour vous exprimer mon mecontentement. Vous ne commandez que mon avant garde et vous n"avez pas le droit de faire d"armistice sans mon ordre. Vous me faites perdre le fruit d"une campagne . Rompez l"armistice sur le champ et Mariechez a l"ennemi. Vous lui ferez declarer, que le general qui a signe cette capitulation, n"avait pas le droit de le faire, qu"il n"y a que l"Empereur de Russie qui ait ce droit.
“Toutes les fois cependant que l"Empereur de Russie ratifierait la dite convention, je la ratifierai; mais ce n"est qu"une ruse. Mariechez, detruisez l"armee russe... vous etes en position de prendre son bagage et son artiller.
"L"aide de camp de l"Empereur de Russie est un... Les officiers ne sont rien quand ils n"ont pas de pouvoirs: celui ci n"en avait point... Les Autrichiens se sont laisse jouer pour le passage du pont de Vienne , vous vous laissez jouer par un aide de camp de l"Empereur. Napoleon."
[To Prince Murat. Schönbrunn, 25 Brumaire 1805 8 am.
I can't find words to express my displeasure to you. You command only my vanguard and have no right to make a truce without my order. You are making me lose the fruits of an entire campaign. Immediately break the truce and go against the enemy. You will tell him that the general who signed this surrender did not have the right to do so, and no one has the right to do so, with the exception of the Russian emperor.
However, if the Russian emperor agrees to the mentioned condition, I will also agree; but this is nothing more than a trick. Go, destroy the Russian army... You can take its convoys and its artillery.
The adjutant general of the Russian emperor is a deceiver... Officers mean nothing when they do not have authority; he also does not have it... The Austrians allowed themselves to be deceived when crossing the Vienna bridge, and you allow yourself to be deceived by the emperor’s adjutants.
Napoleon.]
Bonaparte's adjutant galloped at full speed with this menacing letter to Murat. Bonaparte himself, not trusting his generals, moved with the entire guard to the battlefield, fearing to miss the ready victim, and Bagration’s 4,000-strong detachment, cheerfully laying fires, dried, warmed up, cooked porridge for the first time after three days, and none of the people in the detachment knew and did not think about what lay ahead of him.

At four o'clock in the evening, Prince Andrei, having insisted on his request from Kutuzov, arrived in Grunt and appeared to Bagration.
Bonaparte's adjutant had not yet arrived at Murat's detachment, and the battle had not yet begun. Bagration’s detachment knew nothing about the general course of affairs; they talked about peace, but did not believe in its possibility. They talked about the battle and also did not believe that the battle was close. Bagration, knowing Bolkonsky to be a beloved and trusted adjutant, received him with special superiority and condescension, explained to him that there would probably be a battle today or tomorrow, and gave him complete freedom to be with him during the battle or in the rearguard to observe the retreat order , “which was also very important.”

Nassau is located on an island New Providence. Here is the Parliament and the Supreme Court building.

In the distant past the city was called Charlestown. It was burned to the ground by the Spanish in 1684, after which it was rebuilt and renamed Nassau in 1695 in honor of the English and Scottish king William III of Orange, or Willem van Oranje-Nassau.

The capital of the Bahamas attracts wealthy tourists from around the world, thanks in part to the mega-resort employing more than 6,000 Bahamians.

Climate and weather

Nassau's climate is tropical, with relatively constant temperatures throughout the year. The temperature in summer reaches +32 °C, and in winter it stays within +21…+26 °C. Precipitation in the form of rain falls from May to October. Since the climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream, tropical hurricanes are common here. Due to the fact that the temperature does not make sharp changes in one direction or another, you can relax in Nassau throughout the year. The warmest time in Nassau is from June to October, and the coldest is from December to March.

Nature

The highlight of Nassau's flora and fauna, characteristic of the Bahamas, is the Botanical Gardens and Zoo "Adastra Gardens"

More than 300 different animals are collected here, ranging from capuchin monkeys, jaguars and lemurs to the real kings of this place - not lions, but amazing pink flamingos. By the way, in "Adastra Gardens" visitors can experience an unforgettable flamingo show that shows these sophisticated birds in all their glory.

Concerning flora, then here it is especially impressive. The Nassau Botanical Garden shows its guests the most unusual exotic plants and shrubs, amazing colors and aromas.

Attractions

The most popular place in Nassau is the water tower, which overlooks beautiful view to the city. You can also admire panoramic views of the bay by climbing the 66 steps of the Royal Staircase, carved into the rock.

In the central square of the city there are the buildings of Parliament, the Colonial Administration and the Supreme Court, built at the beginning of the 19th century. In the center of the square stands a statue of Queen Victoria.

Almost in the very heart of the city there is a Fort Charlotte- the largest fortress in the Bahamas, built in 1788. In addition, other forts and fortifications that protected the British from the enemy remained on the territory of Nassau. The oldest of them is the fort Montagu, founded in 1741.

The underwater aquarium and nature reserve cannot be ignored either. "Retreat Gardens" and the Pirate Museum, which displays various episodes of pirate life and features recreated cabins and decks of pirate ships.

Nutrition

There are many places for gourmets in Nassau, the total number of restaurants, bars and cafes exceeds 120, but the most gastronomic establishments are located on Bay Street and island Paradise Island, located near New Providence. There is also a Japanese restaurant of the world famous chain Nobu, and a snack bar Humidor Churrascaria with Brazilian dishes, and a unique restaurant Dune, which harmoniously combines French, Asian and local cuisine, and the famous Martinique, which was once mentioned in one of the episodes "Bondians".

In short, establishments of different formats, cuisines and price categories - for every taste. National Bahamian dishes can be tasted on Saturdays in the restaurant Portofino, which is located on the ground floor of the hotel British Colonial Hilton and offers its guests a magnificent view of the sea.

Accommodation

Hotel "Atlantis" hosts more guests than any other hotel in the Bahamas. You can often meet world celebrities here.

Entertainment and relaxation

People go to the Bahamas for a beach holiday, as there are a large number of beaches concentrated here. The best beach in Nassau is the West Esplanade near downtown. Close to Cable Beach there is another beach called Goodman's Bay. There is infrastructure for children here, and sports fans can use the beach area for jogging and warming up. On the beach Saunders Beach, located to the west Cable Beach, not only tourists love to visit, but also local residents. Myself Cable Beach is an area of ​​fashionable hotels, restaurants, casinos and nightclubs. There is also a golf club here.

The bridge connects Nassau with a small island Paradise, which also has wonderful spacious beaches, restaurants, bars, sports complexes and a dolphinarium.

Restaurants will delight tourists with various dishes of local, American, and British cuisine. You can visit the restaurant « Blue Lagoon», The menu contains mainly seafood dishes. A famous restaurant is suitable for a romantic dinner "Chaz Willie" located on Bay Street. While enjoying restaurant food, you can see the owner of the restaurant here Willie Armstrong.

If you are in Nassau for Christmas or New Year, then you will be lucky enough to see a colorful festival "Jonkonu" comparable to the carnival in Rio.

Purchases

Shopaholics in Nassau need to look for the Straw Market and the city's main street - Bay Street, This is where the largest variety of shops are collected. Here you can buy souvenirs woven from straw, wood or shells self made, rum and cigars (it’s better not to buy them from your hands), as well as all kinds of goods from the category luxury. Alcohol can also be purchased in downtown Nassau, at the company store Bacardi, or in supermarkets.

You can pay in local stores in both local currency and American dollars.

Transport

In Nassau, as elsewhere in the Bahamas, cars, bicycles and motorcycles are common. To rent a car, a tourist only needs to have an international driving license and be over 21 years old.

The seaport of Nassau is located in a convenient harbor, protected from winds and waves, and can receive large ships, and 16 kilometers east of the city, flights from around the world are warmly welcomed international Airport name Lindel Pindling.

Runs to Nassau minibus, called "ginty". It departs from stops when it is completely filled with passengers. Payment is made at the exit. A trip to the Jinty costs $1.25, the driver does not give change, so it is better to pay in small change. After 18:00 “jinti” do not run; moving around the city at this time is only possible by taxi. It is important to note that although taxis are equipped with a meter, drivers do not use it, so it is better to agree on the cost of the trip in advance.

Connection

To communicate in the capital, you can use payphones, which are located on almost every corner. You can make calls abroad from them; calls are paid with a calling card. You can also purchase a mobile phone in Nassau from a local operator or make calls from your hotel room, but this will be 10-15% more expensive.

Internet access is available free of charge via Wi-Fi in restaurants and hotels.

Safety

The area, located on a hill south of the city, is extremely deprived and should be avoided by tourists. In addition, it is better for girls or women not to walk around the city alone after dark. When moving, especially in dark time day, for your safety, use the services of a licensed taxi, which is distinguished by the presence of yellow license plates.

Local residents may offer you to buy drugs or cigars from them. In order not to get yourself into trouble, it is better to politely refuse and pass by. Otherwise, your holiday in the Bahamian capital should leave you with only pleasant impressions.

Real estate

A studio apartment in Nassau can be purchased for $150,000, but there are more serious and more expensive properties here. IN Treasure Cove, near Nassau, a house with a pool and three bedrooms will cost $520,000.

A week's rent for a good two-bedroom apartment in this city starts from $700.

Fans of films about Agent 007 can visit the beach where scenes from the film were filmed. The place is located on an island Paradise, near the hotel One& Only Ocean Club. This beach is considered one of the best in the world.

When vacationing in Nassau, you should remember to tip maids, porters, and doormen in the amount of $1-2 per day. Many hotel bills are subject to a government tax of 10% or more.

Mail ships are constantly sent from Nassau to other islands of the archipelago. If necessary, you can take a trip on such a ship, but keep in mind that there are no amenities and the fare is $58.

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. The city is on the coast Caribbean Sea. The city's population is 215 thousand people.

Attractions

The city has plenty of interesting sights.

There are real legends about Nassau's restaurants; there are a lot of them here.

Olives Meze Grill Restaurant – popular among tourists. This is a Greek restaurant and the food here is Greek. The restaurant is built in Mediterranean style. There are many seafood dishes here.

Brussels Bistro Restaurant is a Belgian restaurant. The restaurant has a real Belgian atmosphere, with wooden decorations. Cuisine – Belgian and French. There are many types of Belgian beer here.

Mesa Grill Restaurant– this restaurant specializes in American and national cuisine. The restaurant is decorated in a tropical style.

Graycliff Restaurant- Another one interesting restaurant. The restaurant's interior is designed in colonial style. The staff here speaks English. A visit to this restaurant is not a cheap pleasure, but it will be remembered for a long time.

Luciano's of Chicago Restaurant is a typical Italian restaurant. Italian cuisine predominates here, serving dishes that are considered traditional in the south of Italy. You can also try many types of wine in this restaurant.

Restaurant Van Breugels- Dutch restaurant. Here is traditional Dutch cuisine. The restaurant specializes in seafood dishes. This restaurant is relatively inexpensive.

Frankie Gone Bananas Restaurant – specializes in national cuisine. There are always a lot of visitors here. There are inexpensive prices and excellent quality food.

Compass Point Restaurant – a typical Caribbean restaurant. Here you can taste all the dishes of traditional Caribbean cuisine.

Seafront Sushi Restaurant - Japanese restaurant. The restaurant is decorated in a traditional Japanese style, with mats and tatami mats. It serves traditional Japanese cuisine.
In addition to restaurants, Nassau has other interesting attractions.

Bay Shopping Street - Nassau's main shopping street. There are many cafes, small retail outlets and craft shops, which are always crowded with tourists.

Cable Beach– one of the most popular beaches in the Bahamas, located near Nassau. Along the beach there are coastal restaurants, casinos, and discos. Palm trees grow along the coast. Everything is done here for an interesting holiday.

Delaporte Point Beach - Twin brother of Cable Beach. There are also plenty of entertainment venues here, and this beach is also popular among tourists.

Cafe Matisse– located in the center of Nassau. Italian pizza and seafood dishes are served here.

Rawson Square- Nassau's central square. On the square there is a house where Winston Churchill stayed when visiting the Bahamas. In the open air nearby there is another attraction - a large aquarium. There are also many street musicians and vendors in the square.

Public library – located in a former prison building. Entrance to the library is free.

Royal staircase – another interesting attraction of Nassau. It was built in honor of Queen Victoria of England, who ruled the British Empire for 65 years.

Parliament Square is the unofficial center of Nassau. Here is the building of the Parliament of the Bahamas and a cozy park. The square is decorated beautiful monument Queen Victoria.

Fort Charlotte- one of the symbols of Nassau. Built in 1787 to protect the city from attacks by Caribbean pirates.

Entertainment complex "Atlantis" - located on Paradise Island near Nassau. There's a lot here water attractions, at its core, is a typical water park. There is a restaurant and casino inside the complex.

Water tower - It has observation deck, which overlooks Nassau. The tower was built in 1928 with funds from the US government.

Underwater sculpture of Atlanta – installed underwater off the coast near Nassau. The height of the sculpture is 5.5 meters, and its weight reaches 60 tons. The statue depicts a seated girl with her head bowed. This is the female version of the titan from ancient Greek myths.

Paradise Island– are located near Nassau. The main attraction of this island is the Atlantis entertainment complex, which has already been discussed in this article.

From other attractions Bahamian capital you can see:

— Supreme Court building ;
— Graycliff Mansion ;
— zoo;
— Queen Victoria Hotel ;
— Fort Fincastle;
— Fort Montague;
— Winton's gun battery ;
— Arku Gregory;
— Collins house;
— place where slaves were once sold (auction) ;
— governor's summer residence ;
— Anglican Church Rector's House ;
— Lord Dunmore's house ;

Museums

Nassau has interesting museums.

National Museum of the Bahamas - the main museum of the country. The history of the Bahamas is described here, there are many interesting exhibits - clothing of the islanders, household items, musical instruments, interesting photographs and historical documents.

Pirate Museum- Very interesting museum which talks about Caribbean pirates. The museum's exposition is interactive; there are weapons and household items of pirates, as well as the interiors of the cabins of pirate ships.

Bahamas Hermitage - This is museum summer residence English Lord Dunmore. The building was built in 1797. Currently, it is the residence of the Catholic Archbishop.

Junkanoo Museum — dedicated to the annual Junkan carnival, which takes place in the capital of the Bahamas. This carnival originates from slave times. According to the then-existing tradition, slaves were given three days off once a year. And they had a carnival. This museum contains festive costumes of slaves.

Map

Story

A little about the history of Nassau.
Nassau was founded by the British in the mid-seventeenth century. The original name of the city was Charlestown.
In 1695 the city was renamed Nassau, in honor of William III of Orange-Nassau.
Throughout the eighteenth century, the city was the main base of Caribbean pirates.
In 1776, the city was captured by the Americans.
In 1782, the Spaniards took the city from the Americans.
In 1786, the British regain control of Nassau.
In 1973, after the Bahamas declared its independence, Nassau became the capital of the new independent state.

Religious buildings

Nassau has several churches of different faiths:
— Church of the Annunciation (Russian Orthodox Church);
— Catholic Cathedral of Nassau;
— St. Matthew's Lutheran Church;
— Presbytarian Church;
— Trinity Church;
- Church of St. Francis Xavier.

Monuments

There are several in the city famous monuments:
- monument to Queen Victoria;
— monument to Christopher Columbus;
- Monument to Sir Milo Butler, the first Governor-General of the Bahamas.

Stations

There is no train station in Nassau. There is an international airport.

Parks

Nassau has some great parks.

Royal Victoria Gardens - it's huge Botanical Garden, where trees from the entire tropical zone of the Northern and South America. There are benches for rest and walking paths.

Adastra Gardens – famous for being home to the Nassau Zoo. This zoo houses about 300 animals.

Markets

Nassau has unusual market – Straw Market . Straw hats are sold here. This market always attracts tourists.

Climate

The climate of Nassau is subequatorial. It's warm all year round. During the calendar summer months the city is very hot and stuffy, and during the calendar months the temperature drops slightly. It never gets cold here. In the Caribbean Sea, people swim here all year round.

I have always associated the city of Nassau in the Bahamas with pirates: strong rum, sailing ships under a black flag - one might say that the island of New Providence was once a second Tortuga for sea robbers. By the way, Nassau is one of the locations of the famous computer game Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. The illustration below is a screenshot from the game. This is probably exactly how I, like many others, imagined it Bahamas: azure waters, palm trees, wooden boats and absolutely wild nature...

My real introduction to this famous tropical city began when the cruise ship docked at the port of Nassau and I disembarked. Of course, the real Nassau of the 21st century has very little in common with how it looked (or could have looked) three centuries ago: instead of wooden pirate ships in the port there are huge cruise ships, instead of shacks and shacks there are colonial-style houses with fresh paint on the walls . A neat embankment stretches along the coastline, and tall bridges lead to the neighboring island.

This was the last stop of my ship, and I wanted to take one last breath of excitement at the end of the trip. It seems to me that a great way to spend time in Nassau is to simply walk around the city and immerse yourself in its everyday life: enjoy the views of the colonial buildings and beautiful colorful houses, admire the tropical trees and manicured gardens, go to the local Catholic churches - even if they are not so ornate , like Orthodox, but very authentic.

And, of course, Nassau has stunning beaches with palm trees, white sand, alluring turquoise and azure water and beautiful underwater world.

By the way, in my article I will often talk about Caribbean cruises that stop in Nassau, because it is a very popular port - every day thousands of tourists come to Nassau for one day on huge beautiful ships.

How to get there

The Bahamas is an entire archipelago, stretching for hundreds of kilometers from north to south and from west to east. New Providence, on which Nassau is located, is just one of 700 islands. Therefore, the main routes to Nassau are by water and air.

By plane

It must be said that there are no direct flights from Russia to Nassau. Therefore, when flying to the Bahamas you will have to make at least one transfer. The routes that are optimal in price and duration run through Miami and. But even the fastest flights can be a challenge for some. If you have the time and inclination, I advise you to consider stopping in one of these cities for a day or two, so as not to kill the whole day on flights and at least take a little breath. By the way, on our website there are excellent articles about both. And you can always compare air ticket prices for your dates in order to choose the best flight in terms of price and duration.

From Moscow

Flights from Moscow are operated by Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo Airport. The flight itself to Miami lasts on average 11.5–12.5 hours, in - 10. But if you want to fly non-stop, then transfers between flights will take quite a lot of time.

Via New York:

• The cheapest flight from Moscow to Nassau via New York will take 24.5 hours and cost from 345 USD (20,000 RUB). A serious disadvantage is that you will have to spend the whole night at the airport. But this flight option is the cheapest and includes only one transfer.
• There is an option to fly with two transfers: in New York and in the Florida city of Fort Lauderdale. This option will cost from 420 USD (24,500 RUB), and will take only 19.5 hours: the connection time is short in both cases.
• You can fly in 22.5 hours and 465 USD (27,000 RUB) with transfers in New York and Orlando - another city in Florida, where, by the way, Disneyland is located.

You can read about the flight to Miami, which I have already linked to above. And there is a detailed flight schedule from Miami to Nassau, with which you will certainly be able to choose the right option. The flight from Florida to the Bahamas lasts only an hour and is quite cheap: from 65-70 USD (4000 RUB).

From St. Petersburg

To get from northern capital to or Miami and from there fly to Nassau, first you need to be in Moscow. This has been written in detail. Depending on the chosen type of transport, the trip will cost from 13.5 USD (800 RUB).

From Nassau Airport to City Center

Nassau airport is quite small, but there are queues customs control very long. One thing is good: while you are standing in line, you can listen to national music performed by colorful musicians.

Nassau Linden Pindling International Airport is some distance from the city center and port, although quite close to some resort areas.

On average, a taxi ride to the city center or Paradise Island will cost 25–30 USD and will take about half an hour. I saw information somewhere that inexpensive buses run from the airport to the center, the fare for which will cost only 5-7 USD, but, firstly, it is quite difficult to find a stop, and secondly, buses to Nassau are very expensive. unpleasant - they greatly exceed the speed and make rather sharp maneuvers. If you are still willing to take the risk, then bus stop It's worth asking at the airport. If not, a whole line of taxis stretches right at the exit.

By ferry

Despite the fact that Nassau is located on an island practically in the middle of the ocean, getting to it by water from neighboring Florida or, even more so, from Russia will be quite problematic, but there are options. And in any case, you will have to fly - the most logical thing, of course, is to Florida. And from there you can move to the Bahamas by water. There are three main cities from which you can get to Nassau by water transport:

• Miami;
• Fort Lauderdale;
• Orlando.

There appears to be no direct service between Florida and Nassau, but there is an option to take a cruise there. Thus, the famous company Carnival offers a four-day sea voyage to the Bahamas from:

• The first day is boarding the plane and the start of the journey.
• The second day is sea day (trust me, there is a lot to do on the ship).
• Third day - stop at one of the Bahamas islands (Little Sun or Princess Cays).
• Day four - stop in Nassau.
• Fifth day - arrival in Miami.

The price of such pleasure will be from 189 USD per person, excluding taxes. But in reality it will cost much more, even if you take the most basic interior cabin without windows. Firstly, taxes, secondly, mandatory tips, thirdly, port fees. In short, a cruise for two will cost from 675 USD, taking into account all those items that are American travel companies they like to lower it like that, waving signs with attractive prices. If you like to relax in luxury, then you will probably be more satisfied with a deluxe room. In this case, the cruise will cost from 1350 USD for two. If you are traveling as a group of three, then the stay of a third person will cost less - a fixed 260 USD (with taxes and other amenities) in either an inside cabin or a suite.

There are other interesting options sea ​​travel which includes a visit to Nassau. Equally renowned, Norwegian Cruise Line offers seven-night Caribbean cruises, some of which include a day in Nassau. A 3-day cruise with two stops in the Bahamas starts at $490 per person (again, not including taxes and fees).

All cruise ships arrive at Prince George Wharf. It is located on the other side of the island from the airport - in the center of Nassau. From the pier you can walk almost anywhere in the area, but if you need to travel a fairly long distance, it is worth taking the bus (stop at the exit of the port) for 4 USD or catching a taxi - I will tell you about the tariffs below.

Clue:

Nassau - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 7

Kazan 7

Samara 8

Ekaterinburg 9

Novosibirsk 11

Vladivostok 14

When is the season? When is the best time to go

The Bahamas have a very mild, pleasant climate for relaxation. The main difference between "season" and "off-season" is the amount of precipitation. If the period from December to April is dry, then the rainy season lasts from approximately May to November.

Tropical rains on the Caribbean islands are quite a sight!

As for the number of tourists, it, of course, is directly dependent on weather conditions, but there are always people who want to relax on a paradise island. Moreover, we can say that there are always tourists on the island: as long as there is a large sea ​​port, huge cruise ships with thousands of passengers on board will arrive there almost every day.

Prices vary between months, but not too much. Therefore, you should choose a time for rest based on what air and water temperatures are comfortable for you.

Nassau in summer

Those who like comfortable temperatures and ideal weather probably shouldn’t go to Nassau in the summer - unless you are traveling on a cruise ship and your route includes a stop in the Bahamas.

The air temperature reaches +30-32 °C, so it is very difficult to be outside. In addition, summer is the peak rainy season. Showers can last more than an hour and are usually accompanied by hurricane-force winds.

On the other hand, at this time there are much fewer tourists in the Bahamas, and prices for accommodation are much lower. Most of the travelers come from America, especially from nearby states. Not the largest number of vacationers on the islands is explained by the fact that at this time and it is warm enough not to leave anywhere. But don’t delude yourself! In popular hotels in July-August there is a queue for check-in, so you need to book a room in advance in any case. And it cannot be said that there are no tourists at all. The sea water warms up to +28-30 °C, which is a very pleasant temperature for swimming.

In general, if low prices and the warm sea beckons you, and the showers and heat don’t scare you at all, then you can go to Nassau in the summer.

Nassau in autumn

In October the rainy period comes to an end, and in November the high season begins tourist season, when residents of the nearby States seek refuge from the cold under the warm Bahamian sun and spreading palm branches.

The air temperature from September to October is still “summer” (around +28-29 °C), but in November it gradually drops to a comfortable 26 °C. I can give approximately the same numbers when talking about the water temperature in these months.

Nassau in spring

The time from March to April is the high tourist season. The air temperature at this time is almost comfortable and reaches +26-28 °C. The water is not nearly as warm as in summer: +24-25 °C. Although personally, such temperatures in the sea have never bothered me! Still, this is not a jacuzzi in which you can soak forever without moving, but unlimited space for movement.

In May, the season subsides, the air heats up to +28-29 °C, and the water - up to +27 °C. We can say that this is a favorable time for a trip - apart from the fact that the rainy season is gaining strength again.

Nassau in winter

Throughout all three winter months average temperature air fluctuates around +25-26 °C, and water stays at +24-25 °C. Obviously, the high tourist season lasts all winter. Although I remember my trip there in February - no, the streets were not that crowded, except perhaps in the port area.

One way or another, you need to book accommodation in advance at any time of the year, but this is especially true winter period. The fact is that in Nassau there are popular and simply incredible cool hotels(which I will definitely talk about below), and if you want to have your place in the sun, then you need to take care of this in advance - at least 3 weeks before departure.

Nassau - weather by month

Clue:

Nassau - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

As for where it is better to live in Nassau, I cannot give a definite answer. Accommodation options vary in location, price and recreational features. On the map below I have tried to indicate the main areas in which hotels are located.

• In the orange circle (well, almost a circle...) are the most budget options- for the most part, apartments, the price of accommodation in which will be from 120 to 350 USD. There are a couple of houses near the coast - they are rented out for 250-500 USD per day.
• The blue circle includes an area where you can rent a villa or townhouse. I must say that this part of the island, in my opinion, is not so interesting for tourists and is more suitable for those seeking solitude. Prices range from 120 to 180 USD.

I do not recommend settling in the central part of the island. Not only is the sea far away, it’s also dangerous and simply not very beautiful. Outside beautiful beaches And luxury hotels lie the poverty line, and beyond it begin slums and not the most pleasant places. The deeper you go into the island, the more dilapidated and abandoned houses you come across. My impression was further aggravated by the fact that huge dry palm leaves and branches of other trees were scattered everywhere: apparently, a hurricane had recently raged on the island. In general, take care of yourself and your mood during your vacation - it is better to settle in safe areas that are well inhabited by tourists.

But, of course, where to stay on vacation is a matter of taste. I recommend booking hotels on. If you prefer to rent a home, you can look at the options.

What are the prices for holidays?

You can relax in Nassau on a budget or on a grand scale. Although if you have already forked out money for a flight here, it hardly makes sense to save significantly on housing. But if you are going to rent a beach house or other similar housing, then the golden rule applies here: long term rental is much cheaper than short-term, if you count the daily payment.

I described above the prices for accommodation in different parts of the island. You can also compare prices.

The currency in the Bahamas is, logically, Bahamian dollars, BSD. Since the rate is pegged to US dollars in a 1:1 ratio, you don’t have to bother with the exchange. USD is accepted everywhere easily, I have never been refused. So its own currency is almost fictitious.

Travel on local minibuses costs 4 USD per person. Taxi prices vary from 8 to 32 USD depending on the distance - I will tell you more below.

Food prices depend on the location, of course. But I didn’t notice that food prices were any different, for example, from. A 0.5 bottle of water can cost 0.6–1.5 USD, that is, quite common price for countries North America. By the way, our tip below contains prices in restaurants and cafes.

If you don’t live in Atlantis, but want to spend a day or two on the territory, get ready for big expenses: various types of activities, which I will discuss below, cost from 130 to 265 USD per person. A visit to the aquarium costs 40 USВ.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

Nassau does not have world-class attractions like Chichen Itza or Eiffel Tower, but it seems to me that for a real traveler this is not the most important thing. Another thing is important: to get to know at least a little local culture, look where tourists don’t go, and communicate with locals. Nassau is a treasure trove of impressions of local color.

History has left a noticeable imprint on the face and character of this amazing Caribbean city. Founded in the mid-17th century by the British as Charlestown, half a century later it became Nassau, and over the next century it served as a haven for pirates, including the legendary Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. Hence the love for pirate themes, expressed in souvenirs and museums.

During the American War of Independence (1775-1783), whoever captured Nassau: pirates, loyalists (Americans loyal to the British crown), Spaniards, loyalists again. Ultimately, the island of New Providence ceded to Britain and remained its colony for almost two centuries. Consequences - English language, colonial style of architecture. Fun fact: the one Bahamian dollar bill (and the three Bahamian dollar bill) depict Queen Elizabeth II in her youth, while the hundred dollar bill (like the 10 BSD) depicts her in old age.

Top 5

My top will not be completely standard, because I included in it those attractions that personally impressed me the most. That is, it is unlikely that this list will completely coincide with what other sites offer, but here the role is played by the strength of impressions, and not by an objective set beautiful churches and important museums.

Beaches. Which ones are better

Although I'm not a fan of beach holidays, sometimes I want to bask in the sun and rock on the waves! Many beaches have water activities: kayaking, jet skis, banana boats.

On the map I have marked the best beaches of Nassau, which I will talk about in more detail below. I build my list starting with the most worthy places. But keep in mind that Nassau's beaches certainly don't end there: the length coastline New Providence, by my conservative estimates, is about 120 km².

• Cabbage Beach New Providence Airport Paradise Island very good: White sand, endless water surface, tall palm trees... Goes straight into Atlantic Ocean, which, however, makes it a little less safe, because this is no longer a lagoon. In addition, there are no showers or changing rooms. If you live in Nassau, then it will take quite a long time to get there: by taxi or minibus and then on foot. The length of the coastline is large, therefore, even if there are no people on the beach best years, you can still find a place for yourself. Sun loungers cost 10 USD, umbrellas - 20 USD.

One thing I can say for sure: the taste and color of the sand on the beaches is different, so don’t be afraid to experiment and look for something new. You can hail a taxi and ask them to take you to the most best beach, and it is quite possible that you will be lucky to find a place in the sun.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Protestant movements (Baptism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism and others), as well as Catholicism, are widely represented in Nassau. This, in turn, determines the appearance of the temples: noticeable, majestic, they are practically devoid of decoration, except perhaps for stained glass windows. Many churches in Nassau have modest but modern interiors and even good technical equipment.

• Cathedral Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral. The oldest Catholic church in the entire Bahamas, but the building is quite new.

Museums and other attractions. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are not many museums in Nassau, but here I would like to describe the most interesting ones. In addition to museums, I will also tell you about some other attractions.

Pirates of Nassau Musem

The Pirate Museum, which I already mentioned above, is one of the most popular and visited. And no wonder: who wouldn’t be interested in the life of a pirate, embodied in bright installations and interiors, wax figures oh in authentic costumes! And at the exit there is a souvenir shop with pirate paraphernalia, which will delight children and some adults like me. In general, I won’t tell you more - you’ll see everything for yourself! ;)

Even if you are not a fan of wax figures, you may be drawn here willy-nilly while walking around the city, because the museum is located next to the Hilton. And if you find yourself here between 9 and 10 am, then you can pass the time in the museum until the Straw Market opens.

Opening hours and visits. Tickets cost 13 USD per adult and 6.50 USD per child. From Monday to Saturday the museum is open from 09:00–18:00, on Sunday - only until 12:30.

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas

The gallery is located in a charmingly beautiful historical building. And I think you won’t be at all surprised if I say again that this place is located not far from Hilton.

The main theme of the works exhibited here is liberation from slavery and the individual’s struggle for inner freedom. This is due to the history of the Bahamian population: slavery in the British colonies was only finally abolished in the 1830s.

The exhibition is constantly changing and temporary exhibitions are held. What I especially liked about it (besides the fact that it is beautiful and convenient) is the question in the FAQ section: “How do I display my work in the Gallery?” Museum curators look at artists' works and decide whether they are worth exhibiting. I think it's great: everyone can show their work if it turns out to be worthy.

Opening hours and visits. Tickets cost 10 USD per adult, 5 USD for students and people over 65 years old, and admission is free for children under 12 years old. From Tuesday to Saturday the museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00, on Sunday from 12:00, closed on Monday. The gallery has its own store, which sells, among other things, handmade souvenirs. Works of art exhibited in the gallery are usually not for sale, but you can contact the artist directly and make arrangements.

The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas

A small museum with a large collection of interesting artifacts and antiques - from prehistoric times to the present day. You can even touch some exhibits.

The museum has a gallery with works by local schoolchildren.

Opening hours and visits. Admission ticket will cost 10 USD, there is an audio guide for an additional fee. In general, a visit will cost up to 20 USD per person if you take a guide. Open Monday to Friday 09:00–17:00.

Fincastle Fort and Queen's Staircase

The fort was erected in 1793 by order of colonial governor John Murray, who at one time led an active struggle against supporters of the independence of the United States. Once upon a time he was the most high point New Providence Island, and therefore served not only as a defensive structure with cannons, but also as a lighthouse - until the lighthouse was built on Paradise Island. However, a good panorama still opens from the fort.

Amazing fact: The limestone rock from which the Queen's Staircase was carved was used to build the fort. So the fort and the staircase are really one in a sense. And from above the fort looks like the paddle wheel of a steamship.

They say visiting the fort is not worth your time, but I cannot agree. Yes, a fort is too strong a word for such a tiny structure, but if you love history and are interested in such places, then why not? Once upon a time, the territory of this fortress was much larger, and the government seems to have plans to restore the fort and clear the area around it.

Life hack: the most convenient way to visit the fort is to go up the road and then go down the stairs. No one likes to climb 66 steps, right? :)

Opening hours and visits. Entry to the fort costs 1 USD and is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00. You can look at the stairs at any time - for free, of course.

Paradise Island

I think it's time to explain why people spend time and money to visit Paradise Island and the Atlantis Hotel located on it. By the way, Atlantis has a twin brother of the same name in Dubai. Arabian luxury hotel located on Palm Jumeirah. You can see it in the photo. Is not it, Arabian tale?

Bahamian Atlantis is also good. This is not only a luxury hotel, but also an entire entertainment complex. On its territory are located:

• aquarium;
• big water complex with pools, slides, fountains, waterfalls, lagoons... you name it.

Without being a hotel guest, you can’t go anywhere: there is strict control here, security checks the bracelets worn by guests at the entrance to certain areas. Although, by the way, I almost walked along with the crowd, only my conscience did not allow me to pretend that I did not hear the “Excuse me, lady?” addressed to me. :).

Opening hours and visits. The ticket office and swimming pool open from 09:00. The water slides start operating at 10:00. The water park closes after sunset along with the pools.

Prices for visiting the water park:

• Cruise ships are a separate issue, because you can purchase excursions directly on board. In one of cruise companies half a day in Atlantis costs from 145 USD per adult, another - from 195 USD. There, a combined visit to the water park, swimming with dolphins and lunch will cost about 350 USD. In fact, buying an excursion on a ship in this case is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is still quite expensive. On the other hand, your excursion includes a round-trip transfer from the pier to Atlantis, as well as an absolute guarantee that in the event of any force majeure, the ship will be waiting for you, despite being late, and will not sail to the next port. But if you calculate the time correctly, then perhaps it’s worth taking a trip to Atlantis yourself. On foot this road takes 40 minutes from the pier to the entrance, so this route is suitable for lovers of walks. By local shuttle buses you can get there in 8-10 minutes. Ask the bus drivers parked at the shipyard where you can find a minibus to Atlantis. You need to return to the ship at least an hour before departure, check with the crew.

The price of any ticket includes unlimited descents from all 18 slides, swimming in 11 pools, use of towels (you can change them as often as you like) and sun loungers, and a visit to the aquarium. A separate visit to the aquarium costs about 45 USD per adult per day. Lunch is included in the price of any ticket, except the simplest one (the one for 130 USD); There will be 6 eateries on site at your disposal. You can book your visit in advance.

Tourist streets

In Nassau, among all the intricacies of streets, there are two that stand out for their beauty and quite worthy titles tourist

The long pink stripe on the main part of Nassau is Bay Street, and the purple misunderstanding on Paradise Island is Paradise Island Drive as part of Marina Village.

Bay Street

In general, Bay Street stretches along the entire northern part of the island, and its length is about 23.5 kilometers. There are hotels, restaurants, shops along the street. If you have the desire and time, you can devote it to a forced march from West Bay Street to East Bay Street or vice versa, or break this marathon into a couple of days. Or you can ride a bike there.

But most tourists will be more interested in the busiest part of this street - Bay Street, which stretches from Hilton to the bridges to Paradise Island. This is where passengers arrive from Prince George Wharf cruise ships, recommended tourist routes start from here. There are many souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, shops. They sell clothes, diamonds (you can pay attention to the Caribbean company Diamonds International), and interior decorations. Locals stop shuttle buses. It is very beautiful, neat and safe here.

You can safely turn into the alleys that lead towards the sea, because there are also bars and shops there.

Bay Street faces Parliament, a beautiful colonial-style building.

Marina Village

Marina Village is a tourist village located on the shores of the yacht marina on Paradise Island. And Paradise Island Drive (pictured) is a doll-like street with almost toy houses and many souvenir shops and cafes.

In my opinion, this place is more intended for tourists than for travelers. It is very beautiful, nice and pleasant here, but, on the other hand, being here does not give you an idea of ​​the local color, of Nassau. Marina Village with all its colorful houses can be taken and moved almost anywhere globe(more or less suitable at least for climatic conditions) without any loss to the atmosphere of the place. Prices here, it seemed to me, are somewhat higher than in Nassau itself, especially for souvenirs and food.

One way or another, it is worth a walk here, both during the day, when the sunlight highlights the bright colors in which the houses are painted, and in the evening, under the cozy lighting of the lanterns.

What to see in 1 day

A section that is especially relevant for cruise ship passengers who want to do everything in time. I remember my ship docked at Nassau at dawn, so the day started early for me.

Active plan:

• 08:30–10:00 - walking from the pier to the Hilton. I marked one of the possible routes on the map. Almost immediately you will see the Parliament building and pass the library. On your way you will meet the Presbyterian Church, the Government House with a monument to Columbus. Along the way, you can taxi to the pirate museum.
• 10:00–10:30 - Straw market. I wouldn’t walk here for a long time, even with all my love for souvenirs and handmade goods. One way or another, I will tell you more about it in the “Souvenirs” section.
• 10:30–11:30 - you can walk along Bay Street towards the bridges to Paradise Island and spend some time shopping, which I will also talk about below.
• 11:30–12:00 - after walking and shopping, you can move on foot to Atlantis. Moreover, if you followed my cunning plan, you have probably already come to the bridges leading to Paradise Island. Another 5-10 minutes - and you are on the other side.
• 12:00-13:00 - walk around Marina Village. Perhaps you are already hungry - you can have a snack in one of the cafes here.
• 13:00–14:00 - go to Atlantis, admire the sculptures made of Murano glass, get caught up in the hordes slot machines, look into brand stores. Inspect the territory of the water complex, where you cannot get without a ticket, take a breath and move on - for example, towards the restaurant on the main island.
• 15:30 - most likely, you have already arrived back to New Providence and eaten a hearty meal. You have time to buy souvenirs and generally do whatever your heart desires. If you are not sailing away from the island, you can easily walk to the National Art Museum, it is not far away.
• 17:00 - take a walk around the old fort, go down the Queen's Staircase.

An option for those who love water activities and don’t want to spend half a day walking in an unknown place: immediately catch a taxi or minibus towards Atlantis, buy a ticket there for the whole day and enjoy life.

Cruise ship passengers do not need to rack their brains, because they are offered the following excursions:

• glass bottom boat (1.5 hours);
• snorkeling (2.5 hours);
• sightseeing tour and rum tasting (3 hours);
• beach day;
• excursion to Atlantis (various variations);
• diving.

Another option, the least expensive in terms of money and effort: get in a taxi and ask to be taken to the best beach, where you can spend the whole day the way you want.

Nearby Islands

Not only is the Bahamas an entire archipelago, New Providence itself is surrounded by several oblong-shaped landmass. One of them - Paradise Island - is so close and is such an integral part of Nassau that it could not be mentioned here.

However, it is still worth noting the old lighthouse on the western tip of the island - Hog Island Lighthouse. Yes, Paradise Island was once called differently. By the way, the lighthouse is one of the brightest symbols of the island, embodied in souvenirs.

Food. What to try

When living on an island, you should not miss the opportunity to eat fresh seafood. Although I don't really like them, I liked everything here.

Separately, I want to tell you about one thing national dish. A popular dish here is conch salad - or simply conch. It also captured the surrounding regions - neighboring islands like Jamaica, and also in Florida. What is it and why is it so popular?

Large beautiful shells, like in the photo, you have probably seen more than once in souvenir shops in different countries. Most likely, you even have one of these at home, or even more than one. So, tropical mollusks (scientific name - giant strombus) live in such shells, carefully growing their houses for a long time. To get it out of its cozy hiding place, locals take a hammer and, with a precise blow, punch a hole in a strong shield, from where they pull out the defenseless mollusk. Since you're on an island in the middle of the ocean, the freshness of the seafood is practically guaranteed - the shellfish is cut without any processing into a salad that also includes diced fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers. All this is topped with lime juice and sprinkled with pepper and salt to taste. The dish turns out to be quite spicy, sour and at the same time refreshing. You can ask to leave out the jalapeño so it's not as spicy. I think you should try this at least once in your life - and below I will tell you exactly where to do it!

There are other ways to prepare strombus: boil soup, make a roast, deep-fry - whatever your imagination suggests. On every Caribbean island have their own recipes.

Here I will write about only one place - about where I return when I come to Nassau again, and about which my parents dream when planning a trip there. We are talking about Señor Frog's - an excellent restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere.

As I already said, a lot of this article will be somewhere close to either Atlantis or Hilton. So, Señor Frog's restaurant is located right in the Hilton building, only on the outside, and not inside the hotel. You need to approach from Bay Street.

The establishment stands out primarily for its interior. For example - the ceiling :).

The bar is not far behind in originality.

But what’s even more original here is the presentation of the same conch salad that I described above. They will roll a mobile table to your place and right before your eyes they will prepare the dish from start to finish: they will break the shell, take out the clam, chop it along with the vegetables, mix it - voila! The dish is ready, you can eat. Along the way, during the process you will be asked questions about whether to add this or that ingredient, or whether to make it spicier. Guacamole is also prepared interactively. This type of serving is indicated in the menu as served tableside, and such a dish costs 12-20 USD.

What else do you need to know about Señor Frog's - this is a great party place! Every day people gather here, loud music plays, fun competitions are held. Discos until the morning, soap parties, laser shows, musical chairs are not everything. If you are looking in Nassau nightlife, this is the place for you.

By the way, there are many branches of this restaurant in Mexico and the Caribbean. But for some reason it seems to me that this particular one is special.

Budget

1. Tiki Bikini Hut;
2. Daiquiri Shack;
3. McKenzie's Fresh Fish and Conch;
4. Nirvana Beach Bar;
5. Gregory's Mediterranean Delights.

Mid-level

1. Pirate Republic Brewing;
2. Lukka Kairi Restaurant and Bar;
3. Athena Cafe & Bar;
4. Oh Andros;
5. Blue Sail.

Expensive

1. Cafe Matisse;
2. Sapodilla;
3. Graycliff Restaurant;
4. Nobu;
5. Luciano's of Chicago.

Holidays

Holidays in Nassau and in the Bahamas in general can be divided into two groups: national and religious. Speaking of the latter, everything is pretty clear here. Bahamian history and culture is closely related to Western countries, so here, as expected, Christmas is considered one of the most important holidays, more important than the New Year. But it has its own characteristics.

There are many other holidays that are celebrated in the Bahamas and Nassau specifically. Local festivals can be held in hotels (for example, Atlantis) and restaurants (the same Señor Frog's). If you gather in Nassau, it is quite possible that you will be greeted by one or another holiday that you did not even suspect - from Independence Day Bahamas on July 10th until the Shell Festival in October.

Safety. What to watch out for

Exotic is exotic, but safety is also worth thinking about. Of course, this is not where the police go even in resort and tourist towns in large groups, armed with machine guns. But I have already said that Nassau is a city of contrasts, it can even be compared to a chessboard: the line between the white and black fields is obvious. And if you feel that you are approaching the line, it may not be worth going further - at least not alone, with a large amount of money and valuables, with a child, as a girl, and so on. I remember that I somehow ended up just across the street from my parents, we were separated by a stream of cars. In your hands - a camera for 600 bucks, in your bag - another 300 green. Then I felt very vulnerable.

Unless you consider yourself a pro-must-see-everything traveler, I don't recommend you go beyond the tourist area. It includes the entire Bay Road with the adjacent streets and beach, Paradise Island and hotel areas. In fact, the safest area is the strip from Hilton to the bridges and Paradise Island. This is where most of the attractions are concentrated.

To the south and above Bay Road is Shirley Street - also quite a civilized street. Even higher is the Government House, or Government House, which I marked on the map; it is on a hill.

So, behind the hill there is an area with the appropriate name - Over the Hill. Historically, the poor, that is, slaves with their families, settled here. Just 40 years ago there was no water or electricity here. Here's what one blogger writes about this area:

I was amazed at how deep the poverty was here. Wooden houses, rusty, leaky roofs, rickety shacks. We walked along a snaking sidewalk among a half-rural, half-urban wasteland, a dump of shoddily put together huts and rusty car bodies. Here and there are massive black SUVs and Hummers with tinted windows.

When I first saw this place, the word “slum” came to mind, although it is not entirely accurate. In any case, if you see something similar to what is described above, abandoned houses, deserted streets, it’s better to turn back to the colorful colonial houses.

Okay, we've discussed the "where" question, now the only question left is "when" - when is it safer? From 9-10 in the morning until 3-5 in the afternoon, when most of the shops and museums are open. My parents once went outside at 6 pm to walk along Bay Road, and a policeman stopped them and told them to go back to the hotel, because at that time there was no point in hanging out on the streets just like that. On the other hand, if you see that the street is crowded, then why not take a walk, it’s not that bad. I'm not even talking about Paradise Island.

A bit more general information. The crime rate in the Bahamas is high, but tourists rarely find themselves in the position of a victim - and then we are talking primarily about pickpocketing. You should not take risks by visiting nightclubs and casinos (except in Atlantis, where it is really absolutely safe), because drugs can be added to alcohol. Cross the road very carefully because the driving here is unpredictable. Girls should not walk around Nassau alone outside the tourist area.

Things to do

Besides beach holidays and sightseeing, you can find other things to do.

• Rum tasting - this excursion costs 70 USD per person and includes a short sightseeing tour, an introduction to the history of buccaneering (this is not the same as piracy) and local delicacies. This tour can be easily found on the Internet and booked online.

Shopping and shops

Nassau is a good place for shopping if you know the places. Just keep in mind that the shops, since they are mainly aimed at tourists from ships, close at 5 o’clock, or even at 3 if it’s a day off. It is better to plan shopping for the first half of the day.

BAHARI Bahamas

Walking along Bay Street towards Hilton, I came across an excellent luxury clothing store. Local brand, called BAHARI Bahamas. I literally fell in love with her: you rarely see such cool things! They sell men's and women's clothes, elegant dresses and T-shirts, and accessories. Prices range from 35 to 95 USD.

• At the intersection of Bay Street and Marlborough, right next to the Hilton. Not on the website exact address, but if you walk down Bay Street, you'll probably find a store.
• #49 Rosetta Street West. If you're not going to the center of the island, you're unlikely to get there.

Diamonds International

Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, topazes, tanzanites - there is jewelry with various precious stones here. Prices vary from the quite earthly 50 USD per ring to the sky-high 20,000 USD - also per ring.

If you love unusual silver rings with bright accents, check out MarahLago jewelry with beautiful blue larimars. This stone will always remind you of the sea.

The store is located on Bay Street near the pier exit - you won't miss it.

Paradise Island

The Atlantis Hotel - in the part where mere mortals can go without paying an entrance fee - has a number of branded stores. Off the top of my head I can remember my favorite Michael Kors, Gucci, Versace. The prices here are American, that is, high, but still much lower than in Russia.

Bars. Where to go

In addition to the wonderful Señor Frog's, I can name at least one more wonderful establishment, which you will probably remember for its lamp-ness and cool inscriptions on the walls.

By the way, you can also check in there if you find any marker. The place is called The Bearded Clam, and I'll mark it on the map just in case so you don't get lost :)

Located in a narrow alley between Bay Street and the cruise port. There are also other establishments and souvenir shops there.

Clubs and nightlife

Spending the night in one of Nassau's clubs doesn't seem like a good idea to me simply because it's not very safe. But I can name two reliable places:

• Wonderful Señor Frog's at Hilton.
• Aura Nightclub at the Atlantis Hotel. Entrance prices for hotel guests: women - free, men - 25 USD. For guests: women - 25 USD, men - 40 USD. During holidays and special events the price will be higher.

Extreme sports and other activities

The island offers such entertainment as riding a motor boat, catamaran, glass-bottom boat, jet ski; parasailing, snorkeling and diving. Did the last one grab you? Then I'll tell you one cool place - James Bond Wreck.

It was here that real ships were sunk, especially for the filming of such Bond films as “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again,” which are overgrown with coral and algae in today’s ship. Here you can also see large turtles and stingrays. This is a medium depth dive and requires a diver certificate and proof that you have dived at least once in the last 12 months. Behind the ships the bottom drops sharply down, it’s really deep there!

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

On Bay Street there are many souvenir shops where you can buy magnets, T-shirts in national colors, swimsuits and other Chinese delights. You can also purchase souvenirs on Paradise Island in Marina Village.

Those who find themselves in Nassau somewhere around the New Year (at least from November to February) will probably be able to find one interesting souvenir- Christmas decorations in the form of shells. Real exotic!

But, having seen the prices, I decided that for 10-16 USD I myself could glue a cute bow to the shell :).

You can also buy rum, but I’m not your advisor here.

To be honest, I wandered around all sorts of shops for a long time and could not find anything special for myself. By a funny coincidence, two places that I still liked turned out to be 15 meters from each other.

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor

A nice two-story building, again opposite the Hilton, is an ice cream cafe and a gift shop, and I was most attracted to the latter. Here you can buy, in addition to the obvious souvenirs:

• When I saw these two cuties, I literally squealed: I finally found a suitable souvenir for myself. I don’t remember how much they cost, I can only guess that it was 20-30 USD for each.

Straw Market

One of the main attractions, the Straw Market (still near the Hilton) produces the same dual impression as the generally contrasting Nassau. Under a high roof in a large dark room there are many rows of benches. On the one hand, there are a lot, a lot of goods here, on the other - it’s dark, gloomy, many sellers are sick with something, they call you all the time, and quite persistently. All this impressed me as a Cherkizon.

Still, this place is worth seeing, because this is where you can see folk art and handicrafts. First of all, these are, of course, straw products: hats, bags, wallets, baskets, embroidered with bright ribbons.

On the street, as well as in some places indoors, there are shops selling wooden figurines of various animals and creatures. Some of the works are impressive in size and detail!

In general, advice - it’s better not to touch anything again. Just to be safe, not to break it and not to show too much interest.

The market is open from 9 (at 10 everyone has already settled down and laid out their goods) until 5.

How to get around the city

Since you are in the Bahamas, your movements will most likely be limited to the necessary minimum: from bed to beach and back. If you want to see something other than sand, you'll still need your feet, because many interesting places tend to be within walking distance of hotels, especially if you're staying near the pier or on Paradise Island. Wheeled transport can also come in handy.

Visit bahamas.com to arrange a private trip to neighboring islands.

Buses

Shuttle buses, or Jitneys, travel throughout the island. This is the simplest and most cheap way get from point A to point B: costs only 1.25 USD (at long route- up to 2.50 USD). And it works like a simple minibus: it stops, fills up, and goes. These buses run with enviable regularity; there really are a lot of them.

There is only one blank spot: the route map of these buses. It’s easier to ask the driver or locals how to get to this or that place and whether this minibus goes there. I can definitely say that at the eastern exit of Atlantis there is a bus that goes directly to the pier and back.

The buses are more or less comfortable, more or less modern. Drivers tend to drive quite quickly and harshly.

Transport rental

One of the most striking impressions of Nassau is the local driving style. They drive fast, accelerate sharply, brake sharply, or do not brake at all. Crossing the road is simply scary: you don’t know which way to look, so it’s better to go right, and left, and up, and down.

Cars are both left-hand drive and right-hand drive. This expanse is explained either by the legacy of the British Empire, or by the fact that many roads here are one-way. Moreover, the traffic here is so one-way that New Providence and Paradise Island are connected by two bridges at once: one leading to it, the other from it. Considering how many times in different countries it let me down Google Maps as a navigator, I simply don’t even advise you to get involved in this Brownian movement. But if you think your reaction is good enough, and your desire to travel by your own transport is too great, you can look for cars at local rentals or upon arrival at the airport. Prices start from 50 USD per day for a simple small car with an automatic transmission.

Nassau - holidays with children

Holidays with children in Nassau? Why not! Especially if you follow the simple precautions and recommendations I described above in the “Safety” section. Living on Paradise Island, you don’t have to think about how to entertain your child, because there is a huge water complex, an aquarium and whatnot.

There are other things to do in New Providence for kids.

 

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