Nassau is definitely my most favorite port stop on our Carnival Cruise in the Bahamas. Half Moon Cay was a nice beach day but Nassau was everything a lover of cultural travel could hope for!
We experienced the sights and taste of the Bahamas in Nassau. It was also a really cool stop because we met up for the first time with my good blogger pal, Sherice from the blog, She So Major. Sherice is from The Bahamas and offered to show us around when we arrived to the port.
Hang out with one of the coolest Instagram friends ever and get a local’s perspective on the island? Yes please!
Bonus:
Have you seen our Nassau video yet? Take a look!
Government House
We headed into downtown Nassau on foot from the port and our first stop was Government House. This colonial style pink and white building is the official residence of the Governor General. Access inside is restricted but you can walk around the grounds.
One of my favorite things is the black and white staircase. It’s a nice accent to Government House’s pink building.
You will also notice a statue of Christopher Columbus resting in the middle of the stairs. It was imported from London in 1830.
Old Nassau (West Hill Street)
We took a peek inside the elegant 5-star Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant and it looked amazing! It was built in 1740 (almost 300 years old!) Its architecture reminds me so much of the homes I’ve seen in New Orleans.
If you are looking for “Instagrammable” spots in Nassau, a stroll on this street will easily fill up your storage card. Just don’t make the mistake of accidentally formatting the card after taking dozens of photos (true story – Meshach!)
John Watling’s Distillery
If you want a taste of the best rum in the world – take a free tour of John Watling’s Distillery on Delancy Street.
We learned about the distillery’s history, production process and were able to taste a few of their rums in their signature cocktails. I wish we could’ve bought a hundred bottles to take home!
A Scenic Drive
There is nothing cooler than taking a scenic drive in a new city. Walking will only allow you to see so much to an extent, but a drive in Nassau allowed us to see life outside of the tourist spots.
We made a couple of stops for photo ops (so many beautiful beaches along the way!), we drove around the popular resort Atlantis, saw homes and neighborhoods that celebrities frequently visit. It was nice to just take in all the scenery.
Nassau is even more beautiful outside of the tourist area. You’ve got to see it for yourself!
Lunch at Twin Brothers
For lunch, we went to Twin Brothers and yes we tried their “World Famous Daiquiris” – it was so good! We also ordered Sky Juice (cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut water and rum), conch fritters and conch salad.
We had never eaten conch before and now I wish it were sold at our local grocery store because I miss those conch fritters – so addictive!
Queen’s Staircase
The Queen’s Staircase is such an incredible sight to see. It felt like we stepped into another world.
One thing we will not forget is the massive tree we saw with its roots exposed. Surprisingly, it’s still alive! You will see it on the left side of the wall before you get to the actual staircase.
While Queen’s Staircase does look “Wanderlust Worthy” it also has a big historical significance. Did you know this large limestone rock was carved into the island by slaves between 1793-1794 to create a direct route from Fort Fincastle to Nassau?
It was known as “The 66 Steps” and officially named “The Queen’s Staircase” in honor of the reign of Queen Victoria who abolished slavery.
Bay Street
If you love shopping, then check out Bay Street. It’s Nassau’s shopping district lined with many different stores from luxury retailers to budget friendly. We just bought a few tiny souvenirs and also walked through the famous Straw Market where we found tons of Bahamian crafts.
Junkanoo Beach
We didn’t go to Junkanoo Beach, but if you do choose to visit, you can easily find it next to the cruise port. It’s about a 5-minute walk to get there. Once you leave the ship, turn right on the first street (Bay Street) and walk along the shore until you hit the beach.
Instead, Tristan thoroughly enjoyed playing in the pop up water fountains in Pompey Square!
We’d absolutely love to return to Nassau for a longer visit and maybe visit The Exumas as well (on our bucket list!)
If you want to see more of our trip, check out our Bahamas mini-movie here.
Have you ever been to Nassau? Do you have any tips for staying more than a day? Comment below and share this post!
