New Providence (Nassau): an island that is both modern and colonial To see, to do in New Providence Photo gallery
New Providence, with its capital Nassau, is the most famous destination in the Bahamas for vacationers looking for exoticism. It is the economic center of the archipelago, a modern and lively island, but which has managed to preserve a bit of its history through its architecture or its customs, which offers many activities and very beautiful white sand beaches.
Photo credit above: Jerry and Roy Klotz – BY-SA 3.0
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The different pages of our guide to the Bahamas:
– Visit the Bahamas: complete and free guide to the archipelago – The 10 most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas – The 10 must-see sites to visit – Paradise Island – Grand Bahama – Abacos – Biminis – Exumas – Six Bahamian islands belonging to cruise lines
Stroll through the heart of Nassau
Nassau is largely made up of modern buildings, however the heart of the city has managed to preserve beautiful colonial buildings dating from the 17th and 19th centuries such as Government House or Parliament House, superb Georgian or colonial villas such as Jacaranda House. Bay Street, the shopping artery, is lined with pretty little colorful Bahamian wooden houses. Do not hesitate to move away from the main roads to stroll through the small streets and discover pretty gardens such as Rawson Square, Parliament Square, Pompey Square. Visiting the city is very easy on foot, but there is also the horse-drawn carriage option!
New Providence Nassau – Parliament Square (Photo credit: © Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism)New Providence Nassau – The Supreme Court Building – Parliament Square (Photo credit: Roger W – CC BY-SA 2.0) Bahamas Nassau – downtown (Photo credit: © Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism)Discover the history of the island
If you like history, explore the various forts of Nassau like Fort Montagu, Fort Charlotte, Forts Stanley and D'Arcy. A little away from the city center, Fort Fincastle and the Water Tower are also worth a detour. Climb the 65 steps of the Queen's Staircase and you have a magnificent panorama of the whole city! On the museum side, you have Pompey Museum, devoted to slavery and the emancipation of the Bahamian people, and Heritage Museum, which traces the country's various influences. More playful, Pirates of Nassau, is an interactive museum built on the model of the famous ship Revenge and in which visitors enter to explore the mysterious world of piracy. Otherwise, the Junkano is a very nice museum on Bahamian culture and traditions. The Nassau Public Library is also very interesting because it is both a library and a small museum located in one of the oldest buildings in the Bahamas, and which was the first prison of the archipelago.
New Providence Nassau – Fort Fincastle (Photo credit: dancingnomad3 – CC BY-ND 2.0)New Providence Nassau – Queen's Staircase (Photo credit: arctic_whirlwind – CC BY-ND 2.0)Pirates John Rackam, Charles Vane and Anne Bonny at the time of the “Republic of Nassau” (Black Sails series)Meet dolphins, rays
To see some iconic marine mammals up close, you have to go to Blue Lagoon Island. It is a private island located 5 km northeast of Nassau that is home to the Dolphin Encounters marine center and offers swimming with dolphins or sea lions in a saltwater lagoon. you at Stingray City Park, a set of shallow sandbars where stingrays congregate. The excursions allow you to touch and feed the rays!
New Providence Nassau – Turtle and diver (Photo credit: © Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism)Bahamas – Dolphins (Photo credit: © Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism)New Providence – Stingray City Park (Photo credit: Kfulgham84 – CC BY-SA 3.0)Exploring the fauna and flora
If you like nature, several superb parks are at your disposal. On more than 4 hectares of lush tropical gardens, Ardastra Gardens and Zoo is home to more than 200 animals of 60 different species in a natural setting. The National Clifton Heritage Park highlights the historical and cultural heritage of the Lucayans tribe (first inhabitants of the archipelago) through the fauna and flora. And if you want to see the largest collection of palm trees in the world, go to the National Retreat Garden.
Enjoy heavenly beaches
On the beach side, the island offers different more or less calm and festive atmospheres. Downtown, Junkanoo Beach is the most popular. With its small bars, its fruit juice sellers, its volleyball nets, it is very popular with locals and tourists. Quieter, ideal for swimming, diving or kayaking, Cable Beach is also one of the most beautiful with its white sand, coconut palms and emerald-colored ocean. The road that leads to the western tip of the island runs along a succession of small peaceful beaches like Love Beach, 6 km of white sand with translucent turquoise waters.
Taste local specialties
First stop, John Watling's distillery where rum has been made the traditional way since 1789. Tours are offered with the added bonus of a little Piña Colada tasting! If you're more of a sweet tooth, drop by the Graycliff Chocolate Factory which offers tours on how chocolates are made. To eat local, you have to go to Potter's Cay, a small typical market where you can eat cheap Bahamian conch snacks in colorful little stalls. It is the most authentic place in the capital!
New Providence – Graycliff chocolatier (Photo credit: Graycliff)New Providence – Potter's Cay (Photo credit: Steve Elgersma CC BY-SA 2.0)Go shopping
If you are looking for souvenirs, you have to go to the Straw Market, a market or rather a bazaar, where local crafts (carved wood, wicker bags, shells) and various trinkets (sometimes very kitsch!) mix. It's the only place on the island where you can haggle. Otherwise, on Bay Street you can find T-shirts, rum or cigars, many luxury boutiques and jewelry stores. If you're in the mood for more handcrafted things, the Bahama Handprints store is ideal. She has been making prints on fabrics for 50 years, then transforming them into bags, placemats, dresses, it's fresh, colorful and rather pretty!
New Providence Nassau – Bay Street (Photo credit: Roger W – CC BY-SA 2.0)New Providence Nassau – Straw Market (Photo credit: Laila Goubran – CC BY 2.0)New Providence Nassau – Straw Market (Photo credit: Blue Skyz Miami – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The other pages of our guide to the Bahamas:
– Visit the Bahamas: complete and free guide to the archipelago
– Bahamas: the 10 most beautiful beaches of the archipelago
– Archipelago of the Bahamas: 10 must-see sites to visit
– New Providence (Nassau): an island that is both modern and colonial
– Paradise Island: pleasures, luxury and excess in the Bahamas
– Grand Bahama: preferred destination for cruises in the Bahamas
– The Abacos: a natural and authentic archipelago in the Bahamas
– The Exumas: a paradise archipelago in the Bahamas
– The Biminis: the Bahamas archipelago close to Florida
– Six Bahamian islands owned by cruise lines
See as well :
– Florida Guide
– Guide to Miami
– Guide to Fort Lauderdale
– Guide to the United States
– Guide to Cuba
– Guide to Haiti
– Guide to Yucatan (Mexico)
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