Once you have landed in the Nassau area, you have various options to get around the town and island. New Providence Island is fairly straightforward to navigate, and several modes of transportation make it easy to get from place to place. It is very easy getting around Nassau, Bahamas.
Rental Cars, Motorcycles, and Scooters
Once you have landed in the Nassau area, you have various options to get around the town and island. New Providence Island is fairly straightforward to navigate, and several modes of transportation make it easy to get from place to place.
Rental Cars, Motorcycles, and Scooters
A number of rental car companies have offices in the Nassau International Airport, and you can hire a motorcycle or scooter from rental agencies around town. People drive on the left in The Bahamas, and main roads are usually well-maintained. Make sure you ask about the condition of offshoots from the main thoroughfares as they can sometimes be in disrepair. Renting a car is not a necessity in Nassau, but it can provide easier access to more remote areas of New Providence Island.
Taxi
Taxi is by far the most popular way to get around Nassau. Many taxis wait outside of important terminals, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs and can transport you all over New Providence Island. Some have meters, but others often charge rates fixed by the Bahamian government. It helps to establish a price with the driver before you leave for your destination because rates can go up with additional people and increased distances. All taxis are licensed and can be hailed from the street or called from your hotel.
Bus
The local bus system consists of private minibuses called jitneys. They are an inexpensive option for traveling to and from downtown Nassau. The jitneys follow standard routes and often wait to leave once the bus is full. Jitneys can transport you to surrounding beaches and other places of interest. Just ask the driver or locals which bus to take. These buses usually stop running in the late afternoon or early evening, so you must rely on taxis to get around at night.
Ferry
Frequent ferries leave from the downtown dock and transport visitors from Nassau to Paradise Island. These can be especially nice as the trip offers people a panoramic view of Nassau Harbour and the crew will often pass on interesting facts about the island. Ferries also connect Nassau with its more isolated neighbors in the Bahamas, but these services are sporadic.
Private Boat
Travelers arriving by private boat must check in with customs at the initial port of entry. There are several marinas in the Nassau area, and it is recommended that you reserve a slip in advance to ensure availability. Because transportation from island to island is not regular, private boats afford you more choice and flexibility while visiting Nassau and other islands in the Bahamas. You can also charter boats from agencies in the Nassau area.
Taxi
Taxi is by far the most popular way to get around Nassau. Many taxis wait outside of important terminals, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs and can transport you all over New Providence Island. Some have meters, but others often charge rates fixed by the Bahamian government. It helps to establish a price with the driver before you leave for your destination because rates can go up with additional people and increased distances. All taxis are licensed and can be hailed from the street or called from your hotel.
Bus
The local bus system consists of private minibuses called jitneys. They are an inexpensive option for traveling to and from downtown Nassau. The jitneys follow standard routes and often wait to leave once the bus is full. Jitneys can transport you to surrounding beaches and other places of interest. Just ask the driver or locals which bus to take. These buses usually stop running in the late afternoon or early evening, so you must rely on taxis to get around at night.
Ferry
Frequent ferries leave from the downtown dock and transport visitors from Nassau to Paradise Island. These can be especially nice as the trip offers people a panoramic view of Nassau Harbour and the crew will often pass on interesting facts about the island. Ferries also connect Nassau with its more isolated neighbors in the Bahamas, but these services are sporadic.
Private Boat
Travelers arriving by private boat must check in with customs at the initial port of entry. There are several marinas in the Nassau area, and it is recommended that you reserve a slip in advance to ensure availability. Because transportation from island to island is not regular, private boats afford you more choice and flexibility while visiting Nassau and other islands in the Bahamas. You can also charter boats from agencies in the Nassau area.