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New Providence

What New Providence lacks in size, it more than makes up for in energy, attitude and devil-may-care spirit. In fact, this 34km-long powerhouse of an island is a perfect fit for the extroverted tourist with money to burn. Plummet down a 15m waterslide, puff on a hand-rolled stogie, place your bets on a high-stakes hand and carouse like a pirate into the wee hours – it’s all there for the grabbing.

But all is not lost for quieter types, who can escape the beach-bar and cruise-ship scene with minimal effort. Behind Nassau's eager touristic facade are engaging museums, historic buildings and locally owned restaurants that are crowd-free and full of personality. The western end of the island is set aside as a handsome heritage park, and there are some good snorkeling and diving sites a little way offshore.

Explore New Providence

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout New Providence.

  • National Park

    Clifton Heritage National Park

    The scrub forest, wetlands, beaches and historic relics of Clifton Heritage National Park narrowly avoided being bulldozed to make space for new tourist…

  • Factory

    Graycliff Cigar Co

    Wandering into this cigar factory is like falling into 1920s Cuba. In a narrow, smoke-yellowed room with old-fashioned mosaic floors, torcedores (cigar…

  • Museum

    National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

    Anchoring the West Hill St tourist enclave, the National Art Gallery is a welcome oasis inside the stately 1860s-era Villa Doyle and one of the gems in…

  • Distillery

    John Watling's Distillery

    Watling's, relatively new to the Bahamian rum-distilling game, has found a home in the beautifully restored 18th-century Buena Vista Estate, its extensive…

  • Beach

    Junkanoo Beach

    Between downtown Nassau and Arawak Cay, Junkanoo is popular with locals and visitors alike, with beach-shack bars, volleyball nets, sky-juice vendors and…

  • Aquarium

    Discover Atlantis Tour

    Strolling through a glass tunnel while sharks glide overhead is, simply put, awesome. This thrill is found in the Predator’s Lagoon, one of the exhibits…

  • Museum

    Pirates of Nassau

    It's hard to ignore the pirate pacing outside and posing for selfies on the pedestrianized strip off George St. The walk-through exhibition space trades…

  • Fort

    Fort Fincastle & the Queen’s Staircase

    Set on a small hill just south of downtown Nassau, this small fort was built by Lord Dunmore in 1793 to guard the harbor against invaders. Never used, it…

  • Notable Building

    Government House

    This splendid Georgian mansion, residence of the governor-general, surmounts Mount Fitzwilliam (central Nassau's low hill) like a festive pink cake…

  • Beach

    Cable Beach

    New Providence’s biggest and most popular beach is five curving kilometers of white sand and sparkling turquoise sea, just west of downtown Nassau. Named…

  • Factory

    Graycliff Chocolatier

    Completing the Graycliff's Heritage Village trifecta (wine, chocolate and cigars), this boutique chocolate factory uses Caribbean cacao to produce a wide…

  • Gallery

    Doongalik Studios

    Offering an eclectic window into modern Bahamian art, Doongalik runs exhibitions on solo artists' work, and everything from quilts to straw crafts and…

  • Beach

    Cabbage Beach

    While the west end of this stretch of sand – one of the more popular in New Providence – is obscured by the Atlantis resort, there is public access to the…

  • Museum

    Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation

    Located in the Vendue House – a queen-conch-pink building from the 1760s in which slave auctions were once held – this one-room museum features…

  • Museum

    Heritage Museum of the Bahamas

    Mostly comprising a substantial private collection of antiques and artifacts relating to the history of the Bahamas, this small museum covers a lot of…

  • Beach

    Jaws Beach

    Jaws Beach – so named for its role in a climactic scene in the eponymous movie franchise – is part of the Clifton Heritage Park area, and thus protected,…

  • Winery

    Bahama Barrels

    The Bahamas' first winery, in the former Sisters of Charity chapel, is the latest Graycliff venture. You can sample wines for free and chat with the…

  • Beach

    Delaporte Beach

    Delaporte is a little quieter than the resort-backed, vendor-strewn Cable Beach to the east, with the same sand and the same sea.

  • Gardens

    Versailles Gardens

    This hushed, symmetrical formal garden is the last thing you expect to find on bling-lovin’ Paradise Island, but here it is. The terraced landscape is…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in New Providence.

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