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Planning Nassau with a baby or a toddler? Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence, and it is a quick direct flight from Toronto, which makes it an easy Caribbean trip with a little one. I spent 3 days in Nassau with my daughter when she was a toddler. It was just her and me, and we did it without staying at an all inclusive resort. Here is our itinerary, where we stayed, what made it easy, and more things to do in Nassau with kids if you have more time.
Flying to Nassau with a baby
We flew Air Canada, a quick direct flight from Toronto, and I booked it for free using Aeroplan points. Here is how I fly and stay at hotels for free. When we landed, we took a taxi from the airport to the hotel.
If it is your first time flying alone with your kids, here is how to travel alone with your kids.
Where to stay in Nassau with a baby
We stayed at the Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach, which I also booked on Marriott Bonvoy points. It is right by Junkanoo Beach, everything is walkable, and the views are amazing. Here are my tips to score a free stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
Most families choose between 3 areas. Downtown Nassau, where we stayed, puts you close to Junkanoo Beach, Bay Street and the cruise port. Cable Beach is about 6 miles west of downtown, with a long stretch of white sand and calmer, less crowded water. Paradise Island is just across the harbour and is home to Atlantis.
If you are looking for a hotel, you can search hotels in Nassau on Booking.com or compare hotels in Nassau and Paradise Island on Hotels.com.
Our 3 day Nassau itinerary with a baby
Day 1: arrival and the beach
After the direct flight, we took a taxi to the hotel, unpacked, and went straight to Junkanoo Beach and then the pool. For dinner, we went to Arawak Cay for local food by the water.
Arawak Cay is known locally as the Fish Fry. It is a strip of casual restaurants and beach shacks serving Bahamian food, and it is where to try conch fritters and conch salad. It is relaxed, so it works well with kids.
Day 2: Atlantis on Paradise Island
We started with a slow morning. Then we walked to the cruise pier and took a speedboat across to Atlantis on Paradise Island.
We bought a day pass, which gave us the aquarium, the beach, the pools and the water park. Food is extra with the day pass, so plan for lunch and snacks. At the end of the day, we took a taxi back to the hotel.
Here is the approximate day pass pricing I shared on Instagram: $170 to $195 USD for adults, $95 to $130 USD for kids aged 4 to 12, and usually free for children under 4. Prices change, so check the price for your dates on the official Atlantis site before you go. Day passes are sold on a limited availability basis, and the marine habitats include The Dig aquarium and the Predator Tunnel. If your little one is too small for the slides, the aquarium is a calm way to spend part of the day.
If you want to compare Atlantis passes, boat trips and other tours, you can look for Nassau tours and activities on Viator.
Day 3: downtown Nassau, the market and exploring
On our last day, we walked around downtown Nassau and went to the Nassau Straw Market, where we got some souvenirs. We saw Parliament Square, and then we stopped at Graycliff Chocolatier and the local rum cake shops. We had lunch at a local food spot, and then it was back to the hotel for the pool and packing.
The Straw Market is an open air market on Bay Street, close to the cruise port, where local artisans sell straw bags, baskets and souvenirs. Vendors generally expect you to bargain, and the market hours change with the season, so check before you go. Bay Street is lined with pastel coloured buildings, and Parliament Square is one of its highlights.
More things to do in Nassau with kids
We kept our trip to 3 days, but if you have more time, these are the places other families love in Nassau and Paradise Island.
Cable Beach
Cable Beach is about 6 miles west of downtown. The sand is wide and white, the water is calm, and it is usually less crowded than Junkanoo Beach, which makes it a good beach day with little ones.
Junkanoo Beach
Junkanoo Beach is the beach closest to the cruise terminal, so it gets busy, especially on cruise days and in high season. It has beach shacks and a lively feel, and you can rent chairs and umbrellas.
The Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle
The Queen’s Staircase, also called the 66 Steps, was carved out of solid limestone by enslaved people, and it leads up to Fort Fincastle. The bottom step is now under the paved road, so you can count 65. The fort was built in 1793 to protect the city from pirates, and from the top of the hill you get a view over the harbour. It is a short outing, which suits young kids, but plan to carry a baby up the steps rather than the stroller.
Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre
Ardastra Gardens is known for its marching flamingos, the national bird of the Bahamas, with trainers leading them around their arena during the flamingo show. There is also a petting zoo and a garden. Check the show times before you go, because they can change.
Blue Lagoon Island
Blue Lagoon Island is a private island a few miles from Nassau that you can only reach by boat. Families go for a beach day, and there are dolphin and sea lion encounters at an extra cost. Each encounter has its own minimum age, so check the age rules before you book with a baby or a toddler.
Learn about pirates
Nassau was once a pirate hangout, and the Pirates of Nassau Museum downtown tells that story.
Getting around Nassau with kids
We walked everywhere downtown, took the speedboat from the cruise pier to Atlantis, and used taxis from the airport and back from Paradise Island.
- Taxis: they wait outside hotels and at the airport, and fares are set by zone. Agree on the fare before you get in, and ask first if you want to pay by card.
- Uber and Lyft: they are not available in Nassau, so plan on taxis.
- Jitneys: these are the local buses between downtown and Cable Beach. You pay with exact change when you get off, and they do not go to Paradise Island.
- Water taxis: they cross the harbour between Nassau and Paradise Island in about 10 minutes.
- Driving: they drive on the left in the Bahamas, so think twice before renting a car with a baby seat for a short stay.
If you want data on your phone as soon as you land, you can get an eSIM for the Bahamas on Airalo before you leave.
Best time to visit Nassau with a baby
Hurricane season in the Bahamas runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity usually from August to early October. Mid December to mid April is the most popular time, with drier, cooler weather and lower humidity, which is easier with a baby. Late summer and fall are usually the cheapest months. If you travel during hurricane season, check the forecast before you go and read the hotel and airline change policies when you book.
How many days do you need in Nassau with kids?
We did Nassau in 3 days: 1 day for the beach and the pool, 1 day for Atlantis and 1 day for downtown and the Straw Market. That pace still gave us naps in the room and time at the hotel pool. If you have 4 or 5 days, add a beach day at Cable Beach, a morning at Ardastra Gardens or the Queen’s Staircase, and a boat trip to Blue Lagoon Island.
What made Nassau easy with a baby
- Our Babyzen YoYo stroller and an Ergobaby carrier. Here is how I decide between a stroller or a baby carrier for travel.
- Lots of snacks.
- Naps in the room and on the go.
- Lowering my expectations and going with the flow.
A few more things help in Nassau with a baby. The sun is strong, so pack a sun hat, a swimsuit with sleeves and baby sunscreen, and plan the beach for the morning or late afternoon. Bring swim diapers, since you will be in the water every day, and keep a refillable water bottle in the stroller.
Is Nassau a good Caribbean trip with kids?
Nassau is one of my Caribbean picks for families. In the Caribbean, you go for the setup: the beach, the pool, space for the kids and everything close by. I find Nassau works best for shorter stays, and it is easy to reach from Canada. If you are still deciding, here is how I choose between Europe or the Caribbean with kids, and here are my excursions from Caribbean resorts for families with young kids.
What I pack for trips like this
The things I actually use are in my Amazon store: my packing essentials list and my electronic must-haves for travel list.
If you are planning Nassau, my pre-travel checklist is the list I run before every trip, and it is free. You can get it here.
Planning Nassau with your kids? Send me a message on Instagram and tell me when you are going.