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Nassau - Bahamas Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. It is the commercial and cultural centre of the Bahamas, and with a population of 180,000, its largest city Located on New Providence island at 25°4′N 77°20′W, Nassau has an attractive harbour and a busy port. The tropical climate and natural beauty of the Bahamas has made Nassau a popular tourist destination, with a reputation for relaxing days and an exciting nightlife. Nassau was founded by the British in the mid-17th century as Charles Towne, but it was renamed to Nassau after William III of Orange-Nassau in 1695. During the 18th century, it was a popular hideaway for pirates of the Caribbean, notably Blackbeard. Nassau was subjected to numerous attempted invasions by the Spanish during the late 18th century, and in 1776 it was captured and briefly held by American revolutionaries. Nassau International Airport, the major airport for the Bahamas, is located in Nassau, and has daily flights to major cities in the USA, Canada, the UK, and the Caribbean. Nassau's beautiful harbour lies on the 21-mile-long island of New Providence. Tiny Paradise Island protects Nassau harbour for a three-mile stretch. This sheltered harbour has attracted settlers since the early days. When the British colonists discovered the harbour in the late 1600s, some left the Bahamian island of Eleuthera to live on New Providence. In 1670, King Charles II of England granted The Islands of the Bahamas to six British noblemen called the Proprietors. These men brought British settlers from Bermuda to the island of New Providence. There they built a fort and a city, which they called Charlestown, in honour of the king. Several years later, the city was renamed Nassau, to honour William, Prince of Orange-Nassau, the successor to the throne of England.

Although some of the religious farmers from Eleuthera lived in Nassau, most of its population were pirates, privateers or wreckers (people who lured ships to run aground on the reefs and then plundered the cargo from the shipwrecks). In an attempt to stop the plundering, the Spanish and French fleets attacked and destroyed Nassau periodically over the following years. However, the lawless citizens would always return and rebuild the port city. In 1718, Great Britain declared The Islands of the Bahamas a Crown colony and named former privateer Woodes Rogers as its first Royal Governor. Rogers flushed out the pirates from Nassau, restored law and order and built Fort Nassau. After accomplishing his mission Rogers left the islands, but returned in 1729 at the request of the Bahamians. He opened the first House of Assembly in The Bahamas and presided over the colony until his death. The assembly adopted Rogers’ official motto, "Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia" which means "Pirates Expelled, Commerce Restored". During the Revolutionary War, British Loyalists fleeing America in the 1770s settled in Nassau. They added to the town’s architecture, population and prosperity. During the American Civil War and Prohibition, Nassau grew and prospered as it was ideally situated for shipping blockaded goods to the United States. Since Nassau is the capital city of The Islands of the Bahamas and has always been home to most of the country’s population, its history is intricately interwoven with that of the country. Nassau is a perfect combination of British heritage and colonialism along with modern resorts and picturesque beaches. Nassau is located on the island of New Providence, which is about 21 miles long and 7 miles wide. The city is compact and can be explored easily on foot in a few hours. Cruise ships dock at piers on the north side of the island, a 10 minute walk from the center of the city. The modern pier, known as Prince George Wharf, is only one block from famous Bay Street, the main shopping street of Nassau. When your cruise ship docks, you will find plenty of taxis waiting to take you around the island. When you are in Nassau for the day, you can either take a shore excursion sponsored by the cruise ship, book an excursion on your own, or use the time to explore the city, the island or a beach. Or take a boat to Sting Ray City, a small island near Nassau where you can snorkel with a group of sting rays, petted them, and even fed them some squid, which they suck out of a closed fist. Weird sensation! Other shore excursions including a tour of Nassau or the island, boat trips, snorkeling or diving, golf, swimming with dolphins, or exploring on a submarine. There is certainly something for everyone! Stop off at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism near Rawson Square. They can help give you a really good sense of what to see and do in Nassau. You can't miss it--you will see it when you exit the cruise ship pier. They can provide maps, directions, and other information. If you are exploring the city on foot, it certainly helps to know what you are looking at! Nassau is a wonderful place to visit for a short getaway cruise or as a port of call on a longer one. It's close to the U.S., but is "foreign" enough to be very interesting. Because of the thousands of visitors, there are many opportunities for activities, but the streets are often packed with tourists. All of the major cruise lines, along with many smaller ones and yacht charters, include Nassau as a port of call. I think you will enjoy the colonial history, the turquoise waters, and the many options for fun Many tourists believe that Nassau is the best of both worlds. It is modern enough to have the tourism infrastructure work well, the economic conditions are better than much of the rest of the Caribbean, and nothing in the city is so "unfamiliar" to make less well-traveled tourists uncomfortable. At the same time, Nassau has just enough of the exotic side to make you realize you're not at home anymore. When you step off the ship and see the police, dressed in their "bobbie" uniforms and directing traffic that is driving on the left, you will immediately realize you've left home! The old colonial sites, the lilt of the British language influence, and the West Indian people and festivals help make Nassau a fascinating destination. Nassau is stretched along the northern coast of New Providence, Bahamas. The city is compact and easy to leisurely explore on foot. As you stroll the city, absorb the colonial history and allow time to look for bargains in the shops and straw markets. Take a walk down Bay Street to the Queen's Staircase and a visit to Fort Fincastle and Fort Charlotte before concluding at the Ardastra Gardens Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

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