A Budget Traveler's Guide to the Bahamas

This beach is located on the northwestern side of Paradise Island and stretches for over a mile. It is well known for its white sand and extremely clear and warm water. This beach is great for sunbathing, swimming, and a variety of motorized Jet skiing and parasailing and non-motorized water sports like snorkeling. In fact, snorkeling tours give you the chance to explore underwater wonders like underwater caves and wrecks. Access to the beach is free of charge, however motorized water sports or snorkeling tours will come at a fee.

Junkanoo is a street music festival of West African origin, which is held every Boxing Day (December 26), New Years Day, and a summer festival that will be held May 4-6. If you are not visiting during these times you can still experience a sample Junkanoo experience on Saturday evenings at 9:30 p.m. at Marina Village within the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Ticket prices vary from $16-$100 depending on the bleacher location, making it very affordable for visitors.

This is a public park located on the eastern end of Paradise Island. These gardens consist of a collection of statues and artworks from Europe, making it a great spot for those fascinated by art, history, and architecture. It is well known for its beautiful plants, flowers, pools, and beautiful sunset view overlooking Nassau Harbour. It is also a popular destination for wedding pictures and any other celebration requiring good scenery. This park is open both day and night to the public.

Queen’s Staircase, otherwise known as the 66 steps, is a historical landmark located at Fort Fincastle. Queen’s staircase is a tribute to the colonial history of the Bahama when it was under the British Empire. It was created out of limestone rock by slaves between 1793 and 1794 and was later named in honor of Queen Victoria. This complex is open to the public and completely free of charge.