Top 10 Things to Do in the Bahamas
Every island in the Bahamas has its own idea of a perfect day, which makes a top ten list feel almost unfair. But after several trips I have collected the experiences that simply cannot be missed. Whether you stay put or hop between islands, these are the best things to do in the Bahamas.
1. Swim With the Pigs in the Exumas
The swimming pigs of Big Major Cay have become the famous face of the Bahamas, and for good reason. A boat trip from Great Exuma takes you out to the sandbar where the pigs paddle out to greet visitors. Feeding them a carrot while you bob in impossibly clear water is as delightful as travel gets.
2. Walk the Pink Sands of Harbour Island
Harbour Island’s east coast glows soft pink, the result of crushed coral mixed with the sand. It is a three mile stretch where the color deepens at the waterline. I walked it at sunrise once and have never seen anything quite like it, quiet enough that you only share the beach with a few early birds and the sound of the tide.
3. Snorkel Thunderball Grotto
A limestone cave in the Exumas made famous by James Bond movies hides an underwater world of colorful fish and shafts of light through the roof. A short swim from the boat delivers you into a cathedral of clear water. Even non snorkelers should not skip it, because the light show is worth the effort.
4. Explore the Queen’s Staircase in Nassau
Carved by enslaved people in the 1790s, these 66 steps climb through the limestone hillside of Fort Fincastle. Climbing it takes minutes but tells a story of hard labor and history that gives Nassau real depth. The surrounding gardens are a peaceful break from the busy streets of the old town.
5. Cruise the Exuma Cays by Boat
Some of the world’s clearest water surrounds these cays, and the only true way to see them is from the deck of a small boat. Day trips visit sandbars, iguanas, and abandoned outposts, with no other boats in sight. It is the Bahamas at its most raw and beautiful, and the color of the water alone is worth the fare.
6. Dive Dean’s Blue Hole
On Long Island you will find the world’s deepest known blue hole, plunging more than two hundred meters. You can swim the turquoise ring from the beach or join divers who descend into the dark. Even a leisurely snorkel around the rim is unforgettable, with the drop off appearing to have no bottom at all.
7. Swim With Nurse Sharks at Compass Cay
Compass Cay is one of the few places you can stand in clear shallows while nurse sharks glide around your legs. They are gentle and used to visitors, and the thrill of being so close to these creatures is safe and memorable. Its location near swimming pigs makes a combined day trip easy.
8. Enjoy the Nassau Fish Fry
Nassau’s Arawak Cay fish fry is a row of colorful wooden shacks serving conch salad, fried fish, and cold beer. It is where the local energy lives at night, with music spilling onto the tables. Skip one fancy restaurant and eat here instead, because the food and the atmosphere outshine anything behind a hotel wall.
9. Visit the Straw Market
In Nassau’s Straw Market, though it is flashy and touristy, you will find handwoven bags, carved wood, and the bargaining energy of the islands. Come prepared to haggle with a smile and walk away with a story. It is a classic introduction to Bahamian craft and a rare place to buy something made by hand.
10. Sip a Kalik on a Quiet Sandbar
Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. Grab a Kalik, the local beer, and claim a patch of beach no one else has reached. The islands excel at long, lazy afternoons, and the perfect afternoon is the one you let happen rather than schedule.
How to Build Your Own List
The best way to use a list like this is as a starting point. Pick two or three anchors that fit how you travel, then leave room for whatever a local suggests. Some of my favorite Bahamian moments, a sunset conch salad, a quiet ferry ride, a small island regatta, never made any list at all. The islands reward swimmers, walkers, and people who ask questions.
Whichever island you call home, a little planning makes every stop easier. Book your boat trips a day or two ahead in the busy season, bring reef safe sunscreen for the whole family, and keep a refillable bottle in your bag. Most of all, leave time for the unplanned moments, because the Bahamas does its best work when you are not looking.
The Bahamas rewards being outside and a little curious. Mix a few of these with your own discoveries and you will leave with a version of the islands that belongs to you.
