Quick Trip to Nassau & Paradise Island
The ultimate Bahamas travel guide: where to stay, eat and explore.
By Ann Ruppenstein
With powder-soft beaches and impossibly turquoise waters, Nassau and Paradise Island deliver the Bahamas most travellers imagine—but there’s far more here than a stretch of sand. Snorkel through an underwater sculpture garden, follow in the footsteps of James Bond, linger over long dinners in historic dining rooms, then retreat to one of the island’s landmark resorts or secluded villas. With new nonstop flights from Montreal and Toronto on Porter Airlines, alongside expanded service from Air Canada and WestJet, the capital of The Bahamas now sits firmly within long-weekend reach.
WHAT TO DO
Snorkel right off the shore at Clifton Heritage National Park, located on the western end of New Providence, to come face-to-face with a captivating underwater coral reef sculpture garden. The standout is Ocean Atlas, believed to be the world’s largest underwater sculpture, weighing 60 tons and rising 18 feet from the seabed. Movie buffs will also want to see the remnants of an old prop plane used in the filming of Jaws: The Revenge. Back on land, don’t miss Sacred Space, a powerful series of wooden sculptures dedicated to enslaved African women. The installation was created by Bahamian artist and sculptor Antonius Roberts and Tyrone Ferguson.
If you can’t make it for Junkanoo, the vibrant cultural festival that hits the streets of downtown Nassau in the wee hours of Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, the Educulture Junkanoo Museum provides deeper context. Founder Arlene Nash Ferguson shares the history, craftsmanship and community spirit behind the elaborate, handmade costumes.
WHERE TO STAY
Landmark resorts like Atlantis and Baha Mar continue to garner attention, but for a more tranquil escape, check into The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. Spanning 35 acres on Paradise Island, the idyllic luxury property served as a prime filming spot for Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. At the Martini Bar, order the Passionfruit Chili or a Vesper—shaken, not stirred—where longtime bartender Keith Cash has held court for more than three decades.
Book an indulgent spa service in one of eight Balinese-style villa treatment areas that come complete with a daybed, shower and outdoor jacuzzi tub. The soothing and skin-nourishing Coconut Poultice Massage features a heated coconut compress rich in vitamins E and K that’s applied to pressure points to release tension.
The resort’s 107 accommodations range from spacious rooms and suites to two-bedroom plunge-pool bungalows and private beachfront villas. Multiple pools, a long stretch of white sand and the Versailles Gardens, home to a 12th-century French cloister, lend the property a sense of scale and history. Artwork throughout includes large-scale abstract and contemporary pieces by mother and son Canadian artists Jane and Jonah Waterous.
WHERE TO DINE
Overlooking the Atlantic, DUNE by Jean-Georges features a menu by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten that moves from yellowfin tuna tartare to red snapper crusted with nuts and seeds. The banana cake with praline crunch and ice cream is a standout, so save room for dessert.
Outside the resort, head to Graycliff Restaurant for a fine-dining experience with nightly entertainment in a longstanding family-run establishment that has served the likes of Billy Joel, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and the late Sean Connery. For a romantic evening, request a spot in the garden under the stars surrounded by a canopy of foliage and string lights. The most coveted reservation is the private table inside its wine cellar, home to more than 250,000 bottles. From the fresh lobster ravioli to the rack of lamb with focaccia crumbs, garlic and parsley crust, the hardest decision will be narrowing down what to order.
