Nassau - capital city of Bahamas

Nassau is the capital city of Bahamas and resides on New Providence Island, neighbor to Paradise Island. This island pair maintains a distinct blend of international glamour and tropical way of life, giving travelers freedom to do everything or nothing at all.
The capital city conjures up images of shinning sand beaches, deep turquoise water, outdoor straw markets, and numerous historic sights. This city, which blends old world charm with modern comfort, has also emerged as a center for business and commerce. Luxury resorts, a thriving nightlife, and a tropical year-round climate attract a large number of vacationers each year.
Area attractions include the fourteenth century French stone Cloisters, the multi-entertainment complex and resort, Atlantis, the sprawling Crystal Palace Casino, and the award-winning Cable Beach Golf Club. Another major site is the eighteenth century Fort Charlotte, which once guarded Nassau Harbor. Paradise Island lies across the bridge and boasts big resorts, world-class golf courses, and high-dollar entertainment.
Nassau is certainly for lovers. Maybe it's guilty the tropical warm or the Caribbean breezes. Or perhaps the beautiful sandy beaches and blue clear waters. Whatever the case, Nassau is the ideal romantic getaway. In fact, it has become one of the most popular honeymoon destination on the Atlantic seaboard!

Paradise Island & Cable Beach

If Downtown Bay Street is known for its shopping, Cable Beach is the recognized hotel district. Five large hotels are located on this strip. The area is also known for its dining options, the magnificent Crystal Palace Casino, and of course the white sands of Cable Beach itself. People frequent this place during the daytime hours, relaxing at hotel pools or on the beach.
On Paradise Island, nobody can be prepared for the sight of the Atlantis, a big complex modeled after the legendary sunken city. The rest of Paradise Island isn't at all shabby either. In fact, it is a veritable oasis, built over what used to be a lackluster patch of ground known as Hog Island. Golfers should check out the Clarion South Ocean Resort and Golf Club.
Shopping on Paradise Island is either very expensive! Fine dining is everywhere, most notably at the Blue Lagoon and at Fathoms. Choosing a daytime activity is easy: the beach is everywhere, and it's magnificent. Many aquatic excursions depart from the Paradise Island Port instead of Nassau Harbor.
With so many attractions a tourist could remain in the main districts of Nassau for the entire vacation without ever getting bored!

Tourist attractions

Nassau is often called the "Little Switzerland" due to its number of offshore banks that lie beyond the jurisdiction of United States claims courts. At one time, the number of internationally based banks exceeded 400. In the recent years Bahamas have passed laws to limit the secrecy and privacy of these banks in an effort to deter money laundering.
The ghosts of pirates still "fly" over New Providence Island and none is more visible than the specter of Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard. Thanks to myth and legend, fiction often gets confused with fact. One such example is Blackbeard's Tower on Eastern Road, which is said to have been built by the notorious pirate as a lookout. Historians have since proved that the tower was built long after Blackbeard's death, but the legend go one!
Nassau brings to mind many things to many people. To some, it is the fine sand that ribbons the coast - so pure that it makes some think of baby powder, how smooth and white it is. To others, gambling comes to the fore, as the Bahamas are known for their world-class casinos. Others dream of their retirement in a colonial island paradise whose government increasingly recognizes that its inherent beauty is its economic strength.
Downtown is the hub of activity in Nassau. Thousands of people visit it daily, to shop, dine, sightsee and enjoy the bustling atmosphere of this area. While the busiest part of Downtown is the Bay Street, located across the street from the port and parallel to Bay, the area actually extends for several blocks in each direction. A few hotels and restaurants are located in West Bay. The next landmark is the British Colonial Hotel, which marks the beginning of Bay Street proper. Pirates of Nassau museum is just across from the British Colonial Hilton. Across the museum lies the duty free shopper's heaven. The next few blocks of Bay Street are wall-to-wall boutiques, with a few restaurants and clubs interspersed throughout the retailers. Although the tourist part of Downtown peters out after about seven blocks, smaller, more local stores are found all the way down Bay Street, to the foot of the Paradise Island Bridge. At this point, Bay Street becomes East Bay. There used to be nothing here, but recently an enclave of decent restaurants has sprung up. This place is perfect for recreational shoppers, sightseers and first-time visitors.