Jan

10

Nassau Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

A trip to Nassau
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, offers fantastic long beaches and colonial architecture. Second to these draws are the many duty-free shopping options for travellers coming from the United States, with most visitors having to purchase an extra suitcase for the return journey.

Flights to Nassau
The Bahamas are a much loved winter holiday spot not only for Americans and Canadians, but for many European who make the cross-Atlantic pilgrimage to spend their vacations in the consistent sun here. The main arrival point for international passengers is Nassau International Airport, located eight miles (13kms) west of the city centre. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Nassau try Expedia.

Arriving visitors can use taxis or shuttle buses to get from the airport to the city, and ferries dock close to Rawson square. Most people that come here are fairly well-to-do and find car hire is the best way to get around the island. Car hire is available at the airport and at various points in the city.

Nassau

Sightseeing in Nassau
Nassau is well known for its shopping options, with the main areas to spend your money centered around Rawson square and Bay street, with the Nassau International Bazaar close by as well. Art lovers should get straight over to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, where regional artists of past and present have their work on display. The Caribbean’s pirating history can be felt from the lookout at Blackbeard’s Tower and Fort Charlotte, one of the island’s three major fortifications that stand as a reminder of Nassau’s past.

Descendents of the former slave population still live here, and the heart of Bahamian/African culture thrives in the area surrounding the Greycliff Hotel. The Village Road Retreat with its lush gardens is a good place to unwind after a day spent in the city.

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Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
The most colourful area for nightlife is the Greycliff Hotel area, where the city’s African roots bring the streets alive with characteristic joy and spirit. Adjoining the Prince George Dock is Festival place, which by night becomes a district dedicated to fine dining and nightlife. Bars and discos abound for those wishing to cut a rug into the early hours and the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts provides theatre for those seeking refinement.

Many visitors to Nassau are here for a more glamoruous experience. The place to hit the glitz is Paradise Island, a separate landmass connected to Nassau by a bridge, where the beaches are complimented by casinos and entertainment venues.

Fun by day – shopping and activities
If shopping’s you bag, Nassau will not disappoint, though your driver may have to make extra room in the trunk. The duty free shopping here is one of the main reasons many Americans save up to come to the Bahamas for a splurge, and they get what they come for. If your credit card’s burning a hole in your britches, head for Bay street and Rawson square to seek relief through multiple magnetic swipes.

For the more adventurous, there are some small islands lying just off the north eastern coast of New Providence, where sun bunnies and diving enthusiasts will easily kill a weekend doing what they do best.


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