Hundreds of low islands afloat on the clearest turquoise water.
The Bahamas stretches across hundreds of islands and cays, from busy Nassau and Paradise Island to the quiet Out Islands. The Exumas are a chain of sandbars and shallows, where the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay draw day-trippers; Harbour Island has pink sand, Andros has blue holes and a long barrier reef, and Eleuthera is lined with near-empty beaches.
Conch in every form, from fritters to fresh salad, is the taste of the islands, best at the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay in Nassau. Junkanoo parades fill the streets on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Island-hopping means small planes, ferries or mail boats. December to April is dry and pleasant; hurricane risk peaks in September and October.
Best time to visit Bahamas
January, February, March, April, December.
Places to visit in Bahamas
Nassau: The Bahamas' capital on New Providence, with pink colonial buildings, the Paradise Island resorts and the sands of Cable Beach.
The Exumas: A chain of over 360 cays set in astonishingly clear water, famous for swimming pigs and sandbars at low tide.
Eleuthera: A long, slender island of quiet beaches, with the pink sands and pastel cottages of Harbour Island just offshore.
Essentials
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
Language: English; Bahamian Creole widely spoken
Plugs: Type A / B, 120 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC−5
Tipping: A 15% gratuity is often added; check the bill
Getting around: Jitney buses and taxis in Nassau; small planes and ferries between islands
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking