Nassau and Paradise Island

Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas on New Providence Island, is the bustling heart of the archipelago, a colourful harbour city blending colonial history with modern resort glamour. Its centre holds pastel-painted colonial buildings, the pink Government House, old British forts like Fort Fincastle, the Queen's Staircase and a lively straw market of crafts. Across the bridge lies Paradise Island, home to the enormous Atlantis resort with its water parks and aquariums, while fine beaches and turquoise water lie all around.

What you actually see

• The colonial centre - the pastel buildings, forts and Queen's Staircase.
• The straw market - the bustling craft and souvenir market.
• Atlantis, Paradise Island - the vast resort, water park and aquarium.
• The beaches - Cable Beach and the island's turquoise shores.

When to go

December to May, the dry season, for the best weather; the city is busiest when cruise ships are in port, so time visits to the historic sites and beaches around them. The summer is hotter and wetter with a hurricane risk from June to November.

Honest expectations

Nassau is heavily geared to cruise-ship crowds and can feel crowded, commercial and hustly around the port and straw market, so it is less tranquil than the out islands; the sprawling Atlantis resort is a world of its own and pricey. As a convenient, lively base with history, beaches and easy access, though, it is a fine introduction before escaping to the quieter, more beautiful cays.

Nearby

Paradise Island, the beaches of New Providence and the out islands are close.