The Ultimate Bahamas Family Guide
Planning a trip to this iconic 700-island archipelago with kids? This Bahamas family guide is your one-stop hub for everything family-friendly—from the best calm-water beaches and unique animal encounters to kid-approved restaurants and where to stay. Whether you’re bringing toddlers or teens, we’ve got you covered.
Jump To:
- Top Things to Do
- Best Beaches
- Snorkeling with Kids
- Where to Eat
- Regions Overview
- Top-Ranked Family Stays
- Local Tips
- Getting Around
- Best Time to Visit
- What to Pack
Top Things to Do
The Bahamas offers an incredible mix of resort fun and natural wonders. Families can do everything from brave the massive water slides at Atlantis to have the iconic experience of swimming with pigs in The Exumas. Add in historical pirate tours and vibrant straw markets, and there’s an activity for every interest.
- Swimming Pigs of Exuma: A world-famous, bucket-list boat trip to see and feed the friendly swimming pigs.
- Atlantis Aquaventure: A massive water park on Paradise Island with thrilling slides, a lazy river, and amazing marine habitats.
- Queen’s Staircase: A historic 66-step landmark in Nassau, carved from solid limestone. A fun, quick trip for families.
- Lucayan National Park (Grand Bahama): Explore one of the world’s longest underwater cave systems (on boardwalks) and see the stunning Gold Rock Beach.
Best Beaches for Kids
The beaches in the Bahamas are legendary for a reason. Families will find countless coves with calm, crystal-clear, shallow turquoise water that is perfect for toddlers and young swimmers. From bustling resort beaches to quiet stretches in the Out Islands, you’re never far from a perfect patch of sand.
- Cabbage Beach (Paradise Island): A long, beautiful stretch of white sand with calm areas perfect for swimming, especially near the resorts.
- Cable Beach (Nassau): Famous for its calm, clear water and soft sand, lined with resorts and public access points. Ideal for all ages.
- Treasure Cay Beach (Abacos): Often voted one of the world’s best, this crescent-shaped beach has powder-soft sand and water that’s incredibly shallow for a long way out.
Top Ranked Family Stays
From the mega-resorts of Paradise Island, with their endless amenities and kids’ clubs, to the quieter hotels and villa rentals in Nassau or The Out Islands, the Bahamas has a home base for every family’s budget and style.
- Paradise Island: Home to Atlantis and other large resorts, this is the epicenter of family entertainment with water parks, aquariums, and restaurants.
- Cable Beach (Nassau): A great alternative to Paradise Island, offering large family-friendly resorts (like Baha Mar) with beautiful beach access.
- The Out Islands (Exumas, Abacos, Eleuthera): Best for a quieter, more nature-focused vacation with smaller hotels, house rentals, and a focus on boating and beaches.
Snorkeling with Kids
The Bahamas is a world-class snorkeling destination, and its calm, clear waters make it incredibly easy to introduce kids to the underwater world. Many of the best spots are accessible right from the beach, with colorful coral and schools of tropical fish waiting just below the surface.
- Love Beach (Nassau): A fantastic, easy-to-access beach with good snorkeling for beginners just a short swim from shore.
- Thunderball Grotto (Exumas): A famous cave system (seen in James Bond films) where kids can snorkel inside a “grotto” filled with friendly fish.
- Deadman’s Reef (Grand Bahama): Known for its shallow snorkeling area right off the beach, perfect for young kids to see coral and fish.
Where to Eat
Family-friendly dining is easy to find in the Bahamas, especially in the main tourist hubs. Options range from casual, toes-in-the-sand beach bars serving fresh conch salad to a huge variety of restaurants within the large resorts. Don’t miss the local “Fish Fry” for an authentic and casual meal.
- Arawak Cay (The Fish Fry): A collection of colorful, casual restaurants in Nassau serving authentic Bahamian food like fried fish, conch fritters, and peas ‘n’ rice.
- Marina Village (Paradise Island): A great family-friendly hub with casual, walkable options from pizza to ice cream just outside the Atlantis resort.
- Beach Bars & Grills: Almost every popular beach will have a casual grill or bar perfect for a family lunch with high chairs and kid-friendly items.
Regional Breakdown
The “Bahamas” isn’t just one place; it’s an archipelago. The experience you have depends entirely on which island(s) you visit. Most families stick to the main hubs, which are full of amenities and easy to access.
- Nassau & Paradise Island (New Providence): The busy, action-packed center of tourism. Home to the cruise port, big resorts (Atlantis, Baha Mar), and countless activities.
- Grand Bahama: A quieter alternative to Nassau, with a mix of resorts, nature (Lucayan National Park), and cruise port shopping in Freeport.
- The Out Islands (Exumas, Abacos, Eleuthera): More remote, quiet, and relaxed. This is where you go for boating, secluded beaches, and a “get away from it all” vibe.
Local Tips
- Driving is on the **left** side of the road, and steering wheels are often on the left (U.S. style), which can be confusing.
- The tap water is generally considered safe to drink in Nassau and Grand Bahama, but bottled water is preferred by many. Check locally in the Out Islands.
- Currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD), which is pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar. **USD is accepted everywhere**, so there’s no need to exchange money.
- Power plugs are **U.S. (Type A & B)** with 120V. No adapters are needed for U.S. devices.
- Be prepared for “sticker shock”—the Bahamas is a famously expensive destination, especially for food and groceries.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Bahamas is during the dry, peak season from December to April, which has fantastic weather. However, this is also the most crowded and expensive time. The shoulder season (May-June) is a great alternative. The official hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk in August, September, and October.
Getting Around
In Nassau, taxis are plentiful but unmetered (agree on a price beforehand). Renting a car is an option for exploring the island. On Paradise Island, most things are walkable or accessible by a quick shuttle or taxi. For travel between islands, you will need to use domestic flights (like Bahamasair) or fast ferries (like the ‘Bo Hengy’).
What to Pack
- Reef-safe sunscreen and rash guards (sun is strong)
- Multiple swimsuits
- Bug spray, especially for evenings or exploring the Out Islands
- Water shoes for snorkeling or rocky areas
- A light sweater or jacket for cool, air-conditioned restaurants at night
- Plenty of cash (USD) for taxis and smaller beach bars
We hope you found this Bahamas family guide useful. For more general travel info, visit the Wikivoyage page on the Bahamas.