Nassau Introduction

Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. It is the commercial and cultural centre of the Bahamas, and with a population of 180,000, its largest city.

Located on New Providence island at 25°4'N 77°20'W, Nassau has an attractive harbour and a busy port. The tropical climate and natural beauty of the Bahamas has made Nassau a popular tourist destination, with a reputation for relaxing days and an exciting nightlife.

Nassau exudes a special charm lent by a blend of Old World architecture and contemporary vitality. Modern Nassau is a far cry from the rowdy village that was once full of pirates, prostitutes and ragamuffins. The city is steeped in modern US ways which blend well with the quasi-Caribbean flavour.

Nassau Weather

Nassau is a veritable endorphin factory, averaging 7 hours of sunlight a day. The rainy season - characterised by short heavy showers and late-afternoon thunder - starts around May and ends by November. August and September are peak months for hurricanes. All year round, temperatures in both air and sea are basking-warm.

Nassau Attractions

Pirates of Nassau This world-class interactive museum offers walk-through entertainment, with realistic recreations of pirate life including a twilit quayside replete with all the sounds of the era, and a cutaway of the pirate ship Revenge. You can sup at the Pirate's Bar, and there's a well-stocked gift store. Government House This conch-pink Georgian structure atop Mt Fitzwilliam is the official residence of the Bahamas governor-general. Visitors can walk the grounds, but for a close look at the building but you'll need permission and accompaniment from the guards. Twice a month, you can take tea with the governor-general's wife or watch the changing of the guard. The site has been in government hands since 1799 although governors lived there prior to that time. The original home was built in 1737 by Governor Fitzwilliam (1733-38). A new structure was built in 1806. Additional wings were added during the 20th century, but the entire house was destroyed by a hurricane in 1929. The current building was completed in 1932. The lavish decorations date from 1940, when the Duke of Windsor (the former King Edward VIII) arrived as governor. Pompey Museum This small museum in Vendue House was once a slave-auction site, and is named in memory of a slave who led a rebellion in 1830 on Exuma. The exhibits include artifacts, straw-work, historical documents, drawings of events from the Lucayan period to the bootlegging era and a permanent exhibit of naive paintings by noted Bahaman artist Amos Ferguson. Nassau Bahamians look for any excuse to stage a Junkanoo festival and Emancipation Day is the best excuse of all. The celebrations are mainly concentrated in Fox Hill village, Nassau - a former slave…

Nassau History

Nassau was founded by the British in the mid-17th century as Charles Towne, but it was renamed to Nassau after William III of Orange-Nassau in 1695. During the 18th century, it was a popular hideaway for pirates of the Caribbean, notably Blackbeard. Nassau was subjected to numerous attempted invasions by the Spanish during the late 18th century, and in 1776 it was captured and briefly held by American revolutionaries.

Nassau International Airport, the major airport for the Bahamas, is located in Nassau, and has daily flights to major cities in the USA, Canada, the UK, and the Caribbean.