Overview

Nassau, the capital of New Providence island, was a cosmopolitan jet-set playground long before the first jet ever flew. It was a getaway for wealthy Europeans and royalty in the years leading up to World War II, and it hasn't slowed down since.

Today as many as ten cruise ships a day dock at Nassau (as most people call the island), and the Bahamas as a whole play host to more than three million visitors a year. Those looking for peace and quiet, deserted beaches, and world-famous fishing and sailing head to the Out Islands. But those who want action come to Nassau. They flock to Cable Beach and the beaches of Paradise Island for water sports and a lively surfside scene. They hit famed Bay Street for hopping nightlife and luxe duty-free shopping. And they may fit in a stroll among the city's pastel colonial buildings, and perhaps play a round or two of golf.

The culture here is not West Indian but distinctly Bahamian; after all, the island chain lies off Florida in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean. It's a culture with its own cuisine, its own music, and a festival, Junkanoo, that celebrates the unique traditions of these islands.

 Plan Your Trip

DIVING

You can play James Bond while descending to the wreck of the Tears of Allah, a freighter that served as a movie prop for a scene in which the intrepid 007 escaped from a tiger shark in Never Say Never Again. Located off Nassau's south shore, it's one of a slew of shipwrecks that surround New Providence island.

CULTURE

As Christmas approaches, the island pulses with rolling rhythms pounded on goatskin drums and reflecting the uniquely Bahamian blend of African and European musical traditions. Things really get going during Junkanoo. For this end-of-year Carnival-like festival, revelers don costumes and masks to take part in musical parades down Bay Street on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day. If you can't make it to the parades, visit the Junkanoo Expo, located at a downtown wharf, to see some of the colorful costumes and floats.

SHOPPING

Think of some nightlife that Nassau doesn't have and you'd probably win a moonlight dinner cruise (which is available here, too). You'll find casinos, Las Vegas-style shows complete with comedy and magic acts, and lots of clubs and discos. But gambling is the biggest attraction; the Caribbean's largest casino - at Atlantis, on Paradise Island - covers all the numbers, with 10 roulette wheels, 46 blackjack tables, and nearly 1,000 slot machines.

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