Favorite Things to Do in Nassau (without excursions)

[jessmarieislove]

I'm not a big "tourist-y" person. I really like to explore the places I visit. What are some of your favorite things to do in Nassau? I went on my first cruise last year, and I found a quiet spot down Junkanoo Beach, went to the Ardastra Gardens, and just did some walking. Since my next cruise will be an overnight in Nassau and this trip will be adults only, I'll have a lot more time to explore. I'm interested in what others have discovered. Thank you!

[Cruisegirl6]

Go over to the Baha Mar hotel.

[CruisinCrow]

For a non-excursion, we enjoyed eating lunch at the Fish Fry and getting drinks at John Watling's distillery.

[cruiseapril]

We walked over to the British Colonial Hilton and had brunch.

[KI Cruiser]

Took a jittney bus (for like $2 per person) with the locals way down to the end of the Island to the Sheraton - got a beach and pool day pass...very inexpensive (around $40 per person).  Spent the day there; had lunch.  Nice beach, lounge chairs, towels all included. (Food was extra).  Then, walked to the (huge) casino next door.  Took the bus back to town (very scenic drive). Upon return, walked around town shopping.  Only caution is to make sure you stay alert.  My hubby is a big man...so I felt safe.  I hear it can be unsafe to do the bus sometimes now (pick pocketing and robberies of tourists).

Edited September 13, 2019 by KI Cruiser

[scubagirrl]

The Sheraton doesn't exist anymore.  Neither does the Crystal Palace Casino. 

Now you can get a day pass at the Melia, and use the Bahamar Casino nearby.  The Melia sells a day pass (all inclusive) for around $100 pp.  No problem taking the Jitney.  They are transportation for the workers on the island, but welcome tourist as well. 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2019 by scubagirrl

[Loucat]

We walked to the Fish Fry area. There are so many choices of places to eat. I would not go there at night as it is a hike and uneven pavement. If interested, use a search engine and try to choose a great place to eat.

We have been to Nassau 15 times; we have done our own walking tours; talked a taxi driver to do an island tour (they seem to want to do short runs); been to Atlantis and the casino (short taxi drive); shopped on the main street (rinse and repeat); visited the straw market ( no need to go there). I would try a hotel with a beach such as the British Colonial and explore the Nassau website to see if  you could get transportation to another closeby island.

I know you can take a bus to lovely beaches but that is not something we do. We live in Florida so interested in anything not sun and water focused

[marshhawk]

DH and I walked to the pirate museum, which was great, and then over to the beautiful church with stain glass windows. Got caught in a huge rainstorm, and hung out at Starbucks for a while.

[dbrown84]

For those who mentioned the fish fry area, is there a place there that makes conch salad, civeche style?

[CruisinCrow]

3 hours ago, dbrown84 said:

For those who mentioned the fish fry area, is there a place there that makes conch salad, civeche style?

 

I think they all do.  We've had it a Goldies and Twin Brothers.

[Sunshine3601]

We were recently at this cruise port and when we came back from day at blue lagoon we walked over to the main street.   I did not like the "vibe" nothing like other Caribbean islands.    I walked into corner souvenir shop for a new tank top while my DH wanted to check out fat Tuesdays bar as his son used to work at fat Tuesday back at home.     When I walked out of the shop I was approached by 2 police officers who asked if I was alone I said No my husband is just down the block they told to Do Not walk alone, either go back to cruise terminal or find him immediately and stay with him.    They really scared me so I found him immediately and he didn't like hearing that so we went back to the ship.     We have future cruises that will be stopping here.   I will either remain on the ship or do another excursion to Blue Lagoon as that beach and island with all the sealife is beautiful!      

[Domino D]

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

No my husband is just down the block they told to Do Not walk alone, either go back to cruise terminal or find him immediately and stay with him.

Wow, if you were within a block of Fat Tuesday I'm surprised they were that concerned.  You were in the middle of the tourist area, like 2 blocks from the cruise terminal.  That area is usually really crowded, and pretty well patrolled by police.

 

If wander outside the normal tourist center, it can be more intimidating, but I would not have thought that about a block from the terminal. 

 

I agree about Blue Lagoon, we live it there. 

[Domino D]

We have called there twice without booking an excursion.  Once we got off, spent some time in the straw market and walked down to Junkanoo Beach, browsed the shops, and then got back on for lunch, and hung out in Solarium.  

 

The other time we walked to Graycliff Hotel.  Took some pictures and checked out the Chocolate, Cigar, and Watch making areas.  Then we took the tour of John Wattlings Rum distillery.  Then just did a slow walk back to the ship.

[mskaufman]

Any thoughts about taking the bus to the zoo (in December)?

[CruisinCrow]

1 hour ago, mskaufman said:

Any thoughts about taking the bus to the zoo (in December)?

 

We've done it.  You get off at the Fish Fry stop and then it's a short walk uphill to the zoo.  We really enjoyed the lorry parrot feeding.  It's a small zoo and doesn't take long to visit.

[mets123]

Don't forget the marching flamingos if you are at the zoo.

[luckyinpa]

ill be in nassau on christmas eve and probably doing just walking around down so i appreciate the suggestions and am looking for more

[mskaufman]

18 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

ill be in nassau on christmas eve and probably doing just walking around down so i appreciate the suggestions and am looking for more

We'll be there on the same day.  DW says she might not even get off the boat.  I was thinking about the zoo (see earlier post) but will probably end up just taking a walk.  I don't think we get there until after lunch.

[luckyinpa]

we have 9 to 6 and i told my gf since she hasnt been there she has to experience the joy of the straw market. i made it through 2 aisles and watched my friend get braids then we called on a black ops team to extract us with a helicopter. id rather shop for used cars i think. the zoo sounds walkable so ill put that on the list. 

[mskaufman]

There is also a bus to the zoo that takes American cash.  We've gone to the straw market a couple of times, just to buy baseball caps.  Last time we went we collected the jewelry coupons for free trinkets and brought them back for my five year old granddaughter.

 

 

[OnTheJourney]

On 8/26/2019 at 3:20 PM, CruisinCrow said:

For a non-excursion, we enjoyed eating lunch at the Fish Fry and getting drinks at John Watling's distillery.

 

Assume you're referring to Junkanoo Beach? We were just reading that it's considered a not-to-safe place to be (probably depending on when you're there). We have a cruise going to Nassau in March and so am looking for ideas. The one excursion includes Junkanoo. 

[luckyinpa]

im continuing to peruse for things within walking distance but wondering now how far to go. i dont know if it's true or not but on another cruise forum i just read that 15 people from the Pride were just robbed. maybe they were in risky places. no clue. but it does have me a bit worried. farthest ive gone is straw market then shirley st then back to the ship. 

 

is something like graycliff or the staircase going too far? 

 

maybe its just that you hear about these things that you worry. but with my gf and her mom with me i dont wanna lead them into trouble. plan would be just take cruise card and one credit card so theres not much to steal. 

[CruisinCrow]

20 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

 

Assume you're referring to Junkanoo Beach? We were just reading that it's considered a not-to-safe place to be (probably depending on when you're there). We have a cruise going to Nassau in March and so am looking for ideas. The one excursion includes Junkanoo. 

 

No, neither the Fish Fry nor John Watling's are on Junkanoo Beach.  The Fish Fry is an area of local restaurants about mile and a half from port.  John Watling's is a rum distillery.  Haven't heard anything about Junkanoo being unsafe.  It's close to the port and hundreds of cruise passengers go there every day.

[CruisinCrow]

6 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

im continuing to peruse for things within walking distance but wondering now how far to go. i dont know if it's true or not but on another cruise forum i just read that 15 people from the Pride were just robbed. maybe they were in risky places. no clue. but it does have me a bit worried. farthest ive gone is straw market then shirley st then back to the ship. 

 

is something like graycliff or the staircase going too far? 

 

 

Where are you seeing this about a robbery?  Can you share a link?

 

We were just in Nassau last week.  We felt very safe walking to Graycliff and John Watling's.  Your main concern should be getting hit by a car because the sidewalks are really narrow and broken in some places.

[mskaufman]

12 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

im continuing to peruse for things within walking distance but wondering now how far to go. i dont know if it's true or not but on another cruise forum i just read that 15 people from the Pride were just robbed. maybe they were in risky places. no clue. but it does have me a bit worried. farthest ive gone is straw market then shirley st then back to the ship. 

 

is something like graycliff or the staircase going too far? 

 

maybe its just that you hear about these things that you worry. but with my gf and her mom with me i dont wanna lead them into trouble. plan would be just take cruise card and one credit card so theres not much to steal. 

 

Where did you see this.  We will be there in the next month and would like to know if there is a place to avoid.