Not one destination but several — Nassau for polished resorts, Harbour Island for pink-sand glamour, the Exumas for surreal water and boating, the Out Islands for Caribbean quiet. The defining asset is the water: clearer and more impossible-looking than almost anywhere else.
Quick Picks: Best Hotels in The Bahamas
Best Boutique / Unique Stay
Best Overall
Best for Families
Best Value
Best Luxury
The easiest entry point to the Bahamas — direct flights from most East Coast cities, Baha Mar's complex of three luxury hotels, Atlantis on Paradise Island, and the Four Seasons Ocean Club for a calmer alternative. Nassau itself has an interesting historic core: pastel colonial architecture, the Queen's Staircase, and Graycliff restaurant in an 18th-century mansion. Best for first-time visitors, families, and anyone who wants a full-service resort with guaranteed beach access and flight options.
The most glamorous small island in the Bahamas — three miles of pink-sand beach on the Atlantic side, a colonial village of pastel cottages, and the finest boutique hotel scene in the country. Golf carts are the only transport; the island takes 20 minutes to walk end to end. Pink Sands and Dunmore Beach Club are the leading addresses. Best for romance, repeat Caribbean travelers, and anyone who prefers Harbour Island intimacy over a resort.
The Exumas are a 130-mile chain of 365 cays with some of the most otherworldly water on Earth — colors that don't look real from the air and are somehow even better at water level. This is primarily a boating destination: charter a yacht or fly into Staniel Cay, and spend days island-hopping between Thunderball Grotto, the swimming pigs at Pig Beach, and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Not a beach-resort trip; a water and exploration trip.
A long, narrow island — 110 miles long and sometimes barely a mile wide — with dramatic ocean-to-Caribbean light changes and the finest waves in the Bahamas at Surfer's Beach. Governor's Harbor is the main town; the Glass Window Bridge, where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet in sharply contrasting blues, is the single most photographed spot on the island. Best for independent travelers who want to drive a beautiful island, beach-hop, and avoid crowds.
The Abacos have a distinctly different character — settled by British Loyalists after the American Revolution, with white-clapboard colonial villages at Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay that feel more New England than Caribbean. Sailing is the primary draw: the Abaco chain produces the strongest sailing conditions in the northern Bahamas. The islands are still recovering from Hurricane Dorian in 2019 — Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay have rebuilt substantially and are welcoming visitors.
Getaway Unpacked may earn a commission when you book through selected links, at no additional cost to you. Recommendations remain independently curated.
Cable Beach, Nassau — 5-Star — 237 Rooms
Nassau's most polished full-service resort — three pools, a water park, a casino, a 40-acre private beach, and Rosewood's residential service. The luxury family choice on Cable Beach.
From $750 / night
Paradise Island — 5-Star — 107 Rooms
The Bahamas' most refined resort — 11 acres on Paradise Island's Versailles Gardens, a mile-long beach, three pools, and an unhurried pace that suits families with older children.
From $900 / night
Harbour Island — Boutique — 25 Cottages
Twenty-five private garden cottages across three acres, directly above Harbour Island's legendary pink sand. A beloved boutique address for decades.
From $650 / night
Paradise Island — Aquaventure Water Park — 11 Pools — Iconic Caribbean Resort
The Caribbean's definitive family resort — Aquaventure Water Park, 11 pools, a mile-long beach, 4.9 million gallons of marine habitat, and 21 restaurants on Paradise Island. The benchmark for scale and activity.
From $350 / night
Andros · Private Island · 22 Rooms · Only Overwater Spa in the Bahamas · T+L 500 Best Hotels
A private 96-acre island near the Andros Barrier Reef — the world's third-largest — with 22 bungalows and beach houses, the only overwater spa in the Bahamas, a daily breakfast wicker basket delivered to your villa, and no TVs, phones, or Wi-Fi. Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian honeymooned here. T+L 500 Best Hotels.
From $595 / night
The Exumas · Private Island · 6 Villas · Personal Powerboats · All-Inclusive · Forbes & T+L Best Private Island
The top private island resort in the Exumas — 6 waterfront villas on 50 acres, each with a personal powerboat and unlimited fuel to explore the 365-island Exuma chain, fully stocked pantries, personal butlers, and Hill House restaurant included. Forbes and T+L both name it the Best Private Island Resort in the Bahamas.
From $17,700 / week all-inclusive
Eleuthera · 29 Villas · Hilltop Infinity Pool · Two Private Beaches · Forbes Best Pools
The finest luxury boutique on Eleuthera — 29 villas and suites tucked between two coves near Glass Window Bridge, with the best infinity pool in the Bahamas (hilltop, blue-on-blue ocean views), two private beaches, complimentary water sports, and the only sushi bar on Eleuthera. Forbes Best Pools in the Bahamas.
From $1,950 / night
South Andros · 18 Suites + 5 Villas · Beachfront · Dive Center · T+L It List 2021 · Forbes Best Beachfront
The leading adventure boutique in the Bahamas — 18 suites and 5 villas on a pristine South Andros beach, with an on-site dive center for exploring the Andros Barrier Reef and ancient blue holes, guided mangrove tours, pickleball, and the award-winning Lusca restaurant. The first hotel on South Andros in nearly 20 years. T+L It List 2021.
From $450 / night
Harbour Island — Boutique — 19 Cottages
The quieter, traditional alternative to Pink Sands — 19 well-appointed cottages on Harbour Island's pink sand. A loyal, long-tenured clientele and an easier rhythm on the same magnificent beach.
From $350 / night
Staniel Cay, Exumas · 9 Cottages · Boat Access Only
The base for any serious Exumas trip — the Staniel Cay Yacht Club is not a luxury hotel but a well-run marina resort in the heart of the Exuma cays, within boat distance of Thunderball Grotto, Pig Beach, and the national park. Bring your own boat or charter one here.
From $280 / night
Nassau · 20 Rooms · Historic Manor · Third-Largest Wine Cellar in the World · Cigar Factory · Forbes Best Boutique
Nassau's finest boutique — a 20-room 18th-century manor house reputedly built by pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith, with the third-largest wine cellar in the world (~$20 million), a five-star restaurant, on-site cigar factory, chocolatier, and culinary academy. Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, and Mariah Carey are regulars. Forbes Best Boutique in the Bahamas.
From $320 / night
Nassau · Cable Beach · 1,800 Rooms · Caribbean's Largest Casino · 6 Pools · Forbes Best Amenities
The amenity powerhouse of Baha Mar — 1,800 rooms on Cable Beach with the Caribbean's largest casino (100,000 sq ft), six pools including a Dean's Blue Hole replica with a 15-foot cliff jump, a 22-room spa, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf, tennis, and access to all 40+ Baha Mar dining venues. Forbes Best Amenities in the Bahamas.
From $380 / night
Cable Beach · 299 Rooms · Design · Baha Mar Complex
The design-forward anchor of the Baha Mar complex on Cable Beach — 299 rooms with a strong food and beverage program (including Katsuya and Fi'lia), multiple pools, and a social energy that distinguishes it from the more conventional Grand Hyatt and Rosewood properties in the same development.
From ~$400 / night
Nassau Downtown · Historic · 294 Rooms
The top value and most historic hotel in downtown Nassau — a 1920s landmark on Bay Street with a private beach, a pool, and walking distance to the ferry dock, the Queen's Staircase, and Graycliff. The right base for guests who want to explore Nassau properly without paying resort prices.
From $180 / night
Cat Island — 15 Villas — Remote
The Out Islands' most authentic family experience — a family-run eco-resort on Cat Island with a private beach, kayaks, snorkeling, and a pace that makes children put down their phones.
From $250 / night (meals included)
Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Caribbean outpost at the Four Seasons Ocean Club — the finest formal restaurant in the Bahamas, with a terrace above the water and a menu that brings global technique to local ingredients.
Learn MoreThe top lunch spot in the Bahamas — a colorful cliffside shack on Harbour Island serving the conch salad and lobster that define what beach lunch in the Bahamas should taste like. No reservations; arrive by noon.
Learn MoreNassau's most historic restaurant — set in an 18th-century Georgian mansion with one of the finest wine cellars in the Caribbean (250,000 bottles) and a kitchen that takes traditional Bahamian cooking seriously. The cigar factory in the house is a curiosity worth visiting.
Learn MoreA local Nassau favorite near the waterfront — fresh, light cooking in a casual setting, the best unhurried lunch option in Nassau outside the main resort corridor.
Learn MoreNobu Matsuhisa's Bahamian outpost at Atlantis — the full Japanese-Peruvian menu in the most complete resort setting in the Bahamas. Ideal for a polished dinner when staying at Atlantis or Baha Mar.
Learn MoreA historic house near Parliament Square in Nassau with one of the finest menus in the Bahamas, combining Italian technique with Caribbean ingredients. The fresh grouper, the conch pasta, and the guava tart are the signatures. The top fine dining experience in Nassau.
Learn MoreThe local fish fry area west of the Nassau cruise terminal, where a row of brightly colored shacks serves fried snapper, conch salad, cracked conch, and peas and rice to Nassau residents and knowing visitors. The best street food experience in the Bahamas and the truest expression of Bahamian cooking culture.
The beachfront restaurant at the Four Seasons Ocean Club on Paradise Island, with white tablecloths on the sand and a menu that combines French technique with Bahamian produce. Jean-Georges Vongerichten designed the original concept. The premier beach dining experience in the Bahamas.
Learn MoreThe defining animal encounter in the Caribbean — a colony of wild pigs who have lived on a deserted Exuma beach for decades and swim out to greet arriving boats. A bucket-list Bahamas experience.
Learn MoreA spectacular sea cave on Staniel Cay that served as a filming location for two James Bond films — swim through the underwater entrance into a cathedral cavern lit by shafts of light, surrounded by colorful reef fish.
Learn MoreThe world's second deepest underwater sinkhole — a 202-meter deep blue hole on Long Island, Bahamas, used for free diving world records and surrounded by one of the finest cove beaches in the islands.
The Bahamas' signature street festival — a carnival of music, elaborate costumes, and Goombay drumming held in Nassau at midnight on Boxing Day (Dec 26) and New Year's Day, one of the great cultural spectacles in the Caribbean.
The first land and sea park in the world — 176 square miles of protected Bahamian waters and cays with no fishing allowed, creating the richest and most fish-dense snorkeling and diving in the entire archipelago.
Learn MoreNassau's premier dive experience — Stuart Cove's professional shark dive puts certified divers in the water with Caribbean reef sharks in a controlled feed setting, one of the original shark dives in the world.
Learn MoreBest Time
December–April for dry weather, the clearest water, and the full Out Islands season. January–March is peak: all properties open, rates highest, advance booking required for Harbour Island and the Out Islands. May–July for better value with good weather. August–November is hurricane season; September–October carry the highest risk.
Language
English (official). Bahamian dialect widely spoken — a distinct Caribbean English with its own vocabulary and cadence.
Currency
Bahamian Dollar (BSD), fixed 1:1 with USD — US dollars accepted everywhere. The Bahamas is moderately to expensively priced: Nassau and Paradise Island range from budget to ultra-luxury; the Out Islands (Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Exumas) are more exclusively upscale.
Getting Around
Nassau: taxis and rideshares for the main island; a day rental car for exploring. Paradise Island: walkable from most resorts. Out Islands (Harbour Island, Exumas, Eleuthera): rental golf carts or jeeps are the preferred transport — most Out Island airports are near the accommodation.
Visa
No visa required for US, UK, EU, and Canadian citizens — passport required, plus proof of accommodation and return flight.
Getting There
~3h from New York · ~2.5h from Miami · ~4.5h from Chicago to Nassau (NAS). Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) handles all major US routes. For the Out Islands: fly via NAS and connect on Flamingo Air, Western Air, or LeAir — most Bahamian island airstrips are served by small aircraft. Fast ferries connect Nassau to select Out Islands seasonally.
Time Zone
Eastern Time (ET) — EST (UTC−5) in winter, EDT (UTC−4) in summer. The Bahamas observes daylight saving time.
FAQ
Nassau and Paradise Island for a first trip — direct flights, major resorts, full service. Harbour Island for romance and boutique luxury — Pink Sands, the pink sand beach, golf carts. The Exumas for boating and remote-water travel — this trip requires a charter or Staniel Cay as base. Eleuthera for independent travelers who want a beautiful island without a resort. Each is a different trip.
Yes — especially on Harbour Island and in the Exumas. Pink Sands and Dunmore Beach Club start at $350–650+/night. Staniel Cay is more affordable but remote. Nassau has the widest range: Four Seasons and Rosewood from $750–900, British Colonial from $180, and Atlantis packages that vary widely. Fernandez Bay Village is the best value Out Island option, with meals included.
Depends entirely on the island. Harbour Island is fully walkable (or golf-cart-able) within 20 minutes end to end. Nassau's historic center is walkable; the resort strip requires taxis. The Exumas, Eleuthera, and the outer islands require a car or boat. Plan around a single base rather than expecting to move around easily.
Four Seasons Ocean Club for old-school elegance — a mile of private beach, a Versailles garden, and the most refined atmosphere in Nassau. Rosewood Baha Mar for more modern, urban luxury and the full Baha Mar amenity package. Pink Sands for the Harbour Island boutique luxury experience — a completely different kind of trip from Nassau.
Pink Sands Resort on Harbour Island — the iconic Bahamas boutique, with cottage-style rooms above the pink sand beach and the most celebrated garden in the country. Dunmore Beach Club is the quieter alternative on the same island. Fernandez Bay Village is the best Out Island boutique for guests who want total seclusion.
British Colonial by Hilton in downtown Nassau — a 1920s landmark hotel with a private beach, walking distance to the historic core, and rates from $180/night. The most practical and most characterful budget option in Nassau. Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island includes meals and offers genuine value for the Out Islands.
Continue Planning
Explore More