Culture, history and things to do in the Bahamas
Explore Nassau’s forts, art and landmarks, then discover Bahamian food and Lucayan archaeological sites.
These picks bring together Nassau landmarks, Bahamian art and food, and a Grand Bahama park with archaeological significance. They offer several ways to connect a visit with the islands’ history and culture.
Arawak Cay Fish Fry
Food & Drink, New Providence
Arawak Cay brings together seafood restaurants and cook shacks where vendors prepare conch salad, cracked conch and other Bahamian dishes. It offers a taste of local food culture just west of downtown Nassau.
Fort Charlotte
Things to do, New Providence
Built in 1789, Fort Charlotte has a waterless moat, dungeons and underground passages. Guides lead visitors through its tunnels, while the hilltop ramparts look over Nassau harbour and Paradise Island.
Graycliff Hotel
Accommodation, New Providence
This stone mansion in old Nassau dates to the 1740s and now operates as a heritage hotel. Visitors can watch cigars being hand-rolled or tour the on-site chocolate workshop.
Lucayan National Park
Parks & Nature, Grand Bahama
Lucayan National Park protects two caves reached by short paths, and remains of the island’s original Lucayan inhabitants were discovered in one of them. Boardwalks also cross pine forest and mangrove creek on the way to Gold Rock Beach.
National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
Things to do, New Providence
Housed in a restored 19th-century colonial mansion, the National Art Gallery presents rotating exhibitions by Bahamian and wider Caribbean artists alongside its permanent national collection.
Queen's Staircase
Things to do, New Providence
These 65 limestone steps were carved by enslaved workers in the 1790s and later named for Queen Victoria. The fern-draped route links downtown Nassau with the Fort Fincastle ridge, where local guides share its history.