One Day Itinerary In Nassau, Bahamas
Hi, travelers!
Welcome to the North American section of our blog! This page is going to be dedicated to our travels in North America excluding the United States. Being based in Detroit will definitely come in handy because we plan on traveling to Canada and giving you all some amazing ideas for your next trip there, however, we won’t be talking hockey and maple syrup today. Today, we are going to talk about the Bahamas! I had the most amazing opportunity to go on a cruise in the Bahamas in 2024 and one of the stops was in Nassau. When exploring a port on a cruise, sometimes travelers book planned excursions through the cruise itself, however, I want to be transparent: we did not book any excursions through the cruise. All of the activities below are what we did by ourselves!
Also, all of the photos are linked to our Pinterest, so make sure to click the photos throughout the post for more exciting moments and photo inspirations!
FORT FINCASTLE
Nassau is rich with history and was one of the central points in the Caribbean for British rule, so you will see a theme throughout this post of sites that were once used by the British during their time in the Bahamas. One of the main attractions we did was visit Fort Fincastle, a construction from 1793 made of limestone in the shape of a ship. A British Army base, it was manned by the first West India Regiment who was the only all Black troop. We thought that was a really cool historical fact! When you walk through Fort Fincastle, you will see several sights like castle gates, cannons, and a jail cell. Another great aspect of this attraction is the amazing views of the city and the port from the top level. Be on the lookout for placards and videos with information scattered throughout!
We opted for a self-guided tour, however there was a guided tour going on near us so we got to hear some history facts from the guide. For the self-guided tour, they asked for a donation for admission and it was around $3-5 USD.
Accessibility notice: This is a very old building, that means there aren’t any elevators, only stairs. Please be aware of this if you are traveling with a mobility assistance device.
QUEEN’S STAIRCASE
The Queen’s Staircase was built in 1793-1794 and was carved into a piece of limestone. This 66-step staircase was constructed by and for slaves to have a direct walkway to Fort Fincastle.
Rich greenery surrounds the narrow passageway to reinforce that you are in a tropical climate.
The landmark also has extensive history behind it, with the site named in honor of Queen Victoria who abolished slavery in British-ruled countries when she took the throne in 1837. Although it only has 66 steps, due to the narrowness and steepness of them, it is a lot more strenuous than it looks. Having some accessibility issues myself, I was only able to make it a little way up the stairs to get a photo, but I did not make the trek up all 66. This impressive feat of human work is one to look at, take in the beauty, and reflect on the history that made these stairs possible for you to walk up.
Accessibility notice: This is a very steep and narrow staircase made of limestone. This attraction requires walking down a steep path and is about a mile away from port. As said above, it was difficult for me to make it up all the steps, please be aware when traveling here.
JUNKANOO BEACH
I know you are probably wondering: Ryan, you were at the Bahamas . . . did you go to a beach? I did! After a long day of walking and exploring the historical landmarks of Nassau, I walked over to Junkanoo Beach to grab a drink and relax. It was fairly busy there, so we went to an outdoor bar called The Salty Crab and had the best time. The bartender was very funny and genuine and asked where I was traveling from while he was making the drinks. They had a deal going on four house drinks for $20, so you know I had to take them up on that offer! Afterwards, I sat in one of the wooden benches and adirondack chairs that they have available near the bar. Be aware that there are companies that rent chairs and umbrellas, so not all seating areas are free! I very much enjoyed taking in the sun, dipping my toes in the ocean, and simply relaxing. I will say that the drinks were pretty strong, so drink responsibly! Luckily I was traveling with someone, so we shared. Is Junkanoo touristy? Yes. However, it is a great spot to just relax, take in the beach, and chill out. It can get a little crowded, especially at peak times, so plan accordingly.
STRAW MARKET
The Nassau Straw Market is just outside the gates of the cruise ship port. It is about halfway between the port and Junkanoo Beach, so if you were planning to relax oceanside, I recommend stopping at the market on your way over. This covered market is where you can find all of your souvenir treasures. It is full of merchandise . . . like, really full, with booths and vendors everywhere. I will say that if you are not comfortable with narrow walkways and lots of people calling at you to buy items, this might not be for you. It was pretty overwhelming stepping into the market, but I love a deal, so I was determined to get one.
If you enjoy a friendly haggle, please visit this location. I, for one, love the art of haggling. Does a generic magnet that says “Nassau” on it really cost $10? No! You have to work them down to your price! Don’t be afraid to walk away, sometimes, that’s what makes them bring it down. Please remember to always be aware of your surroundings and make sure that you are haggling and purchasing safely. It is also important to note that this market was pretty much cash only, as I did not see any vendors that took credit cards, so if you are visiting, make sure you bring some extra smaller notes like fives and singles!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really hope that if you are planning on visiting Nassau, whether on a cruise or just on vacation, that you check out these spots. This city has a lot of history that is worth exploring, but if anything stood out to me the most while visiting Nassau, it was the kindness of the locals. As an American, it can be pretty obvious that we are traveling; we are loud, smiling, and very indiscreet about being tourists. Every single Nassau native that I encountered openly embraced and welcomed our energy and matched it. I got to know one of the local vendors at the port pretty well and we are still friends on Facebook to this day! We even got to meet her little sister and her family!
If you take one thing from this post I hope you know that you should always talk to locals and really get to know them because they truly made my trip memorable.
Happy travels,