Guide to the Bahamas: Nassau and Freeport
To escape the harsh winters of the Midwest, I drove down to Florida with a friend for a Carnival cruise to the beautiful, sunny Bahamas. Before the trip, I didn’t do much research and had very little idea of what to expect from our two port cities. To be fair, I only spent about a day in each, so I can’t give a super in-depth take on what Nassau and Freeport can offer. My time on the islands was short, but for anyone making a pitstop in either city, here’s my guide to the Bahamas.
Freeport
I heard mixed reviews about Freeport, but I would definitely say that Freeport is a lot less developed than Nassau. It’s the port that never got rebuilt after a hurricane. We hit up Taino beach, which is private. Be warned that between the cab ride and entrance to the beach, it’s going to cost you about $20 per person.
Recommendations: If you feel like sitting on the beach and maybe paddle boarding or kayaking, then head to Taino Beach. If not, try an excursion at this port and save the tourist stuff for Nassau.
Nassau
This is definitely the nicer of the two islands. Start off your day with a snorkeling excursion or sail by the beautiful homes on a catamaran. I highly recommend taking a snorkeling trip because the water was crystal clear and full of fish.
Historical Places
Queen’s Staircase – If you’re up for some stairs, you can walk just under a mile from the port and reach the Queen’s staircase, which is a long set of stairs carved into the rock with waterfalls next to it. It’s like walking into a shady, tropical oasis for a few minutes.
Parliament – We found this on Pinterest and decided to check it out. Coming from the U.S., it’s pretty funny to think about a court house being bubble gum pink. But hey, I guess everything in the Bahamas is a little more colorful.
Shopping
Unlike in Freeport, there are tons of shops all around the Nassau port area. Looking for a souvenir? They’ve got you covered. Want to get some of your high end shopping done? They’ve got tons of that too. There is pretty much a store for anything you could want (and probably any price point too).
Food & Drink
A standout party spot on the beach is Señor Frogs. The music is loud, the drinks are good and if you’re feeling up for a lot of fun, the “party patrol” is walking around ready to pour shots down your throat.
If you’re feeling like some authentic cuisine, you can try one of the many seafood dishes they offer along the island too.
I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into the Bahamas, but I’d say it definitely met them. The people are friendly (although beware of people trying to sell you things) and the islands are beautiful. Freeport is a little underwhelming, but Nassau’s clear waters are a highlight. If you’re looking for a short trip to somewhere tropical, I’d highly recommend a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas – a year round paradise.
