Highlights
Nassau, on New Providence Island, is the lively hub — colonial forts, the pastel-pink Parliament, the bustling Straw Market, and, across the bridge, Paradise Island's colossal Atlantis resort with its water park and marine habitats. Nearby, day trips reach the famous swimming pigs of the Exuma Cays.
The Exumas are the dream island chain — a 100-mile string of uninhabited cays, sandbars and the bluest water imaginable, home to the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay, iguanas, and the Thunderball Grotto (of James Bond fame). Yacht and boat charters here are legendary.
The 'Out Islands' offer barefoot escape — Harbour Island's famous pink-sand beach, the diving and bonefishing of Andros (fringed by the world's third-largest barrier reef and mysterious blue holes), the pineapple farms and settlements of Eleuthera, and the serene Abacos for sailing. World-class scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing define the whole archipelago.
When to go
Mid-December to April (the dry season) is the best time — sunny, warm, low-humidity days ideal for the beaches and boating, and outside the hurricane season.
Summer and autumn (June to November) are hotter, more humid and include the Atlantic hurricane season (peak August-October), though the sea is warmest and prices lower. The Bahamas is warm and sunny most of the year, cooled by trade winds. For the finest beach and diving weather and to avoid storms, aim for the December-to-April season, which is also peak for prices and crowds — book ahead.
Visa & entry
Many nationalities (including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia) can enter the Bahamas visa-free for tourist stays (commonly up to 90 days), with a passport valid for your stay, proof of onward travel and accommodation required. An online travel/health declaration may be needed before arrival.
Confirm the current visa-free allowance and any pre-arrival form requirements for your nationality on the Bahamas' official immigration portal before you travel, as details can change.
Health & safety
The Bahamas is generally safe for tourists, especially on the resort islands and Out Islands, which are very relaxed. However, parts of Nassau (particularly the 'Over the Hill' area away from the tourist districts) have higher crime, so stay in the well-populated tourist zones, avoid isolated areas and beaches after dark, use hotel-arranged or licensed taxis, and secure valuables.
The genuine risks are natural — strong currents at some beaches, sun, boating safety and the hurricane season (summer-autumn). Water sports should be booked with reputable operators. Check your government's current travel advisory before departure, and follow local guidance in Nassau.
Getting around
Getting around the islands is by boat and plane. Domestic flights and the mailboat/ferry services (including fast Bahamas Ferries) connect Nassau to the Out Islands, essential given the archipelago's spread. On New Providence and the bigger islands, taxis (fixed-rate, agree before riding) and hotel transfers are the main way around; buses ('jitneys') serve Nassau cheaply.
Many smaller islands are explored by golf cart, bicycle or boat charter, with no need for a car. Nassau and Paradise Island are walkable in parts. For island-hopping, plan flights or ferries in advance, and consider a boat charter for the Exumas.
Money
The Bahamian Dollar is pegged one-to-one with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted everywhere interchangeably — extremely convenient, with no need to exchange if arriving with dollars. Cards are widely accepted at resorts, restaurants and shops, and ATMs are available on the main islands, but carry cash for taxis, small vendors, the Out Islands and tips, where card acceptance thins out.
The Bahamas is an expensive destination. Tipping is customary — around 15% in restaurants (a service charge is often already added, so check), plus small tips for taxi drivers, porters, guides and hotel staff.
Bahamas