Bahamas: Destinations, Sights, Activities

January 1, 2025, 5:45 am | Read time: 7 minutes

The Bahamas is an archipelago of around 700 islands, about 30 of which are inhabited. In this overview, TRAVELBOOK provides tips and information for a vacation in the Bahamas, including destinations, sights, climate, and more.

The Caribbean archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, which lies northeast of Cuba and southeast of Florida, owes its name to Christopher Columbus. He called the islands, which are surrounded by coral reefs, “Baja Mar” (meaning “shallow sea”)—over time, this became “Bahamas”. The size of the islands in the Bahamas ranges from eight square kilometers (Harbour Island near Eleuthera) to nearly 6,000 square kilometers (Andros), with populations varying from about 44 (Ragged Island) to nearly 297,000 in New Providence, home to the capital city of Nassau. Together with Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Eleuthera, the latter is one of the main islands of the Caribbean state.

New Providence is particularly lively. There are a number of sights to discover in the capital, such as the Bahamas Historical Society Museum or the Pompey Museum, which is dedicated to the topic of slavery. Also worth seeing are Forts Montagu and Charlotte, as well as the remains of French monasteries on Paradise Island. If you like, you can play golf, visit the huge Atlantis water landscape, or marvel at the picturesque houses with pastel-colored facades in the historic heart of Nassau. Grand Bahama offers plenty of tourist infrastructure, as well as quiet stretches of beach and fascinating underwater caves.

In general, the various islands of the archipelago have everything a tropical heart could desire: white and pink sandy beaches with clear, bathtub-warm water, palm trees, mangroves, rainforests, and reefs. And so much of everything that there are now 22 national parks covering 260,000 hectares in the Bahamas. The uninhabited island of Little Inagua is completely protected. Rare sea turtles inhabit the island. On Great Inagua, on the other hand, up to 60,000 West Indian flamingos can be observed at times. Many are also familiar with the swimming pigs, which, although not native to the region, have become one of the iconic symbols of the Bahamas. They can be found on the uninhabited Big Major Cay—and there on the beach with the evocative name Pig Beach.

Culturally, the Bahamas are influenced by African, British and American cultures. The official language is English, which greatly simplifies travel for European and American visitors. However, many inhabitants of the Bahamas also speak the local dialect, Bahamian. Welcome to the Bahamas.

Overview

Profile
The Top 10 Travel Destinations in the Bahamas
The Top 10 Sights in the Bahamas
The Top 10 Activities in the Bahamas
Bahamas Map
Weather and Climate

Profile

Region	Caribbean, Central America
Capital city	Nassau
Time difference	-6 hours; UTC-5
Area	13,940 km²
Population	412.623
Language	English
Currencies	Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
Visa & entry	German nationals do not require a visa for entry and tourist stays of up to 90 days.

Source: Federal Foreign Office, United Nations, Factbook, Zeitverschiebung.net, Visumcentrale

The Top 10 Travel Destinations in the Bahamas

With around 700 islands, the Bahamas offer plenty of destinations to suit every taste. For example, travelers can choose between lively islands and places, such as the capital Nassau or Grand Bahama, as well as small, idyllic islands without human inhabitants but with pigs, turtles, and lots of nature. Explore our photo gallery featuring the top 10 travel destinations in the Bahamas.

1. Nassau: The capital of the Bahamas is situated on the island of New Providence and is connected to the neighboring Paradise Island by bridges

2. Paradise Island: The almost 3-square-kilometer island off the North Coast of New Providence is home to the iconic Atlantis Hotel

3. Grand Bahama: The island is one of the main tourist islands; in addition to hotels, casinos, beaches, and the like, it is home to the underwater caves in Lucayan National Park

4. Andros: The largest island group in the Bahamas attracts visitors with special natural beauties such as a huge reef, large rainforests, and marshland full of orchids

5. Eleuthera: The island is known for its pink beaches (on neighboring Harbour Island) and its “Ocean Hole”, a saltwater lake that moves with the tides

6. Bimini: The group of islands located around 80 kilometers east of Miami Beach is a popular fishing spot

7. Freeport: The largest city on Grand Bahama is a free trade zone, not far from Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach in Florida

8. Pig Beach: The beach on Big Major Cay in Exuma is renowned for its swimming pigs

9. Little San Salvador Island or Half Moon Cay: The island between Eleuthera and Cat Island is popular for its almost untouched idyll of crystal-clear water and powder beaches

10. Green Turtle Cay: The small, quaint island lies off the coast of Great Abaco

The Top 10 Sights in the Bahamas

Iconic hotels, pirate stories, and dream beaches—there are attractions for every taste in the Bahamas. Click through our picture gallery with the top 10 sights in the Bahamas.

1. Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas: The iconic resort hotel on Paradise Island is a popular attraction in the Bahamas

2. The Queen’s Staircase: The 18th-century limestone stairway with their 66 steps is located in Nassau and a landmark of the capital city

3. Pink Sands Beach: The beach with the pink sand is located on Harbour Island and is open to the public and free of charge

4. Junkanoo Beach: The lively public beach is located in Nassau

5. Cabbage Beach: The popular, long beach is located on Paradise Island

6. Fort Charlotte: The fortress from the British colonial era is located on a hill in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas

7. Pirates of Nassau: The pirate museum is located in Nassau and takes visitors back into the history of Caribbean pirates

8. Marine Habitat At Atlantis: The aquarium at the Atlantis resort is home to sharks, rays, turtles, as well as many other underwater creatures

9. Cable Beach: The popular, approximately 4-kilometer-long beach is located on the north coast of the island of New Providence

10. Inagua National Park: The 220,000-hectare national park on the island of the same name in the Bahamas is home to numerous West Indian flamingos, as well as many other bird species

The Top 10 Activities in the Bahamas

The most popular activities in the Bahamas include snorkeling, diving, as well as swimming. And you can do this in the Caribbean state with pigs, sharks, in holes, as well as among corals. Click through our picture gallery with the top 10 activities in the Bahamas.

1. Discover the impressive marine world off the Bahamas while snorkeling—and discover fish, corals, and more

2. … And perhaps even dive with sharks and dolphins

3. Get to know a number of small and large islands in the Bahamas while island hopping

4. Relax and savor the stunning powdery white and pink beaches

5. Take a swim with the famous pigs at Pig Beach

6. Immerse yourself in Bahamian culture at the traditional Junkanoo street parade

7. Swim or dive in blue holes

8. Enjoy Bahamian cuisine with its seafood, including the conch (pictured)

9. Wreck diving at the remains of the SS Sapona near Bimini

10. Go on location scouting for various “James Bond” movies (pictured: Roger Moore in “On a Deadly Mission”, 1981)

Bahamas Map

Overview Guadeloupe: The Most Beautiful Destinations and Best Tips

The Morne Trois Pitons National Park on Dominica

Overview Dominica: The Most Beautiful Destinations and Best Tips

Ninh Thuan province is also one of Vietnam's most popular vacation destinations because of its beaches

Hidden gem included 9 of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam

Weather and Climate

The Bahamas enjoy a temperate subtropical climate with warm summer-like temperatures throughout the year, though the northern islands are slightly cooler than their southern counterparts. It is coolest in January and February with an average of 25 degrees, and warmest in July and August with around 32 degrees. Hurricane season is between June and November. During this time, you should expect tropical storms as well as heavy rain. Most rain falls between June and October, although it can also rain in the remaining months of the year. The best time to visit is between December and April.

(Text contribution: Silke Böttcher)

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.