The Bahamas Holidays

Bahamas holidays offer up year round sun on powder white beaches, with some of the bluest water on earth, giving you the kind of relaxing beach holiday that dreams are made of.

Most of our holidays to Bahamas beaches are based in and around Nassau, the capital, on the island of New Providence, where you will find beachfront resorts, incredible seafood and enough water sports to fill a fortnight.

Nassau is the gateway to everything else too: boat trips to the Exumas, snorkelling off Paradise Island, and day trips to quieter cays where the only footprints in the sand are yours.

Highlights of your holiday to the Bahamas 2026 and 2027

• Winter sun - 26°C in January, and the sea barely drops below 23°C all year

• The bluest water you will ever swim in, but it won't make you feel blue (quite the opposite)

• Seven hundred islands and around thirty of them inhabited, so a quiet cay is only ever a boat ride away

• Conch salad cracked open in front of you at a shack on the sand, which is the national dish and the national pastime

• Junkanoo, a street carnival with cowbells and goatskin drums that goes on until sunrise

🎉 Fun Facts About The Bahamas

🐷 Swimming Pigs Are a Real Thing - Yep, this isn’t some internet myth. Head over to Pig Beach and you’ll find a bunch of pigs casually living their best life… in the sea. No one’s 100% sure how they got there, but now they paddle out to greet boats like it’s part of their daily routine. Honestly, they’ve got better holiday vibes than most of us.

💙 Home to One of the Deepest Blue Holes on Earth - The Bahamas is famous for its unreal water colour, and you can thank natural wonders like Dean's Blue Hole for that. It plunges over 200 metres deep, making it one of the deepest underwater sinkholes in the world. From the surface it looks calm and dreamy… but beneath? Proper mysterious.

🎺 Junkanoo Is Basically Carnival Turned All the Way Up -If you think beach days are the highlight, wait ‘til you experience Junkanoo Festival. We’re talking full-on street parades with colourful costumes, cowbells, drums and dancing that goes on for hours. It usually happens around Boxing Day and New Year, and it’s loud, proud, and impossible not to get swept up in.

Good to know for your Bahamas holiday

• ☀️ Weather - Highs of 26°C in January and 32°C in July and August, and a sea that sits between 23°C in February and 30°C in late summer. Hurricane season runs June to November.

• 💰 Money - The Bahamian Dollar is pegged one to one with the US Dollar and dollars are taken everywhere, so there is no need to change money twice.

• 🏖 Fun fact - Junkanoo costumes take a year to build and are destroyed within hours of the parade. Every group starts again from nothing the following January, which is why nobody photographs a design twice.

Making the most of your holiday in the Bahamas

"The best thing we did was the little Junkanoo museum on West Street in Nassau, which is basically a woman's front room. Arlene has been doing Junkanoo her whole life and she takes you through it herself, then leads you out the back where you can try the headdresses on and have a go on the drums and the cowbells. Our teenagers were embarrassed for about four minutes and then would not leave. We went in August so we missed the actual parade, and this was the next best thing by a mile. Takes about an hour. My other tip is to order a sky juice at the Fish Fry. It is gin, coconut water and condensed milk with nutmeg grated over the top, which sounds revolting and was the best thing I drank all fortnight."

- Rob Brooks, OtB Holiday Expert.

The Bahamas is perfect for you if...

• You've always wanted to swim with pigs and finally have a good excuse

• You're a "big resort" family, you don't want a quiet villa on a quiet beach, you want waterparks, kids' clubs, and swim-up bars all in one place

• You want a Caribbean holiday with more buzz than Antigua but without the full-throttle energy of Jamaica

• You like a base with easy day trips on the side (swimming pigs, sandbars, boat tours, you won't run out)

• You want your first Caribbean holiday to feel like a big deal, not a quiet getaway

🗣️ Local Lingo – 5 Things to Know in The Bahamas

English is the official language across all 700 islands, so you will never struggle to get by. That said, Bahamians speak their own Creole dialect, a laid-back mix of English, West African and Caribbean influences that gives everyday conversation a rhythm and warmth you will not hear anywhere else. Locals talk fast, drop a few consonants, and throw in slang that might catch you off guard at first, but it is all part of the charm. Pick up a few phrases and you will fit right in.

• Sip sip - sip-sip - Gossip or idle chat. You'll hear this one in beach bars and restaurants when locals are catching up on the latest.

• Mudda sick - MUD-ah sick - Something so good it's unbelievable. If the food blows your mind, this is the phrase.

• Conch - konk - The giant sea snail that's basically the national dish. You'll see it cracked, fried, in salads, and in fritters at every beachside shack.

• Limin' - LYE-min - Hanging out, doing nothing in particular, and being perfectly happy about it. Peak holiday energy.

• Biggity - BIG-ih-tee - Acting above your station or being a bit too full of yourself. Friendly teasing, Bahamian style.

• Potcake - POT-cake - The mixed-breed dogs you'll spot all over the islands. Named after the crusty rice left in the bottom of the pot, which locals used to feed them.

• Tingum - TING-um - The Bahamian version of "thingamajig" or "whatsit". Useful when you've forgotten the word for something after one too many Bahama Mamas.

🌴 The Bahamas Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

So, what is there to do in The Bahamas? The list below shows a travel guide with lots of sun-soaked beaches, thrilling water activities, delicious local food, and unforgettable experiences for families, couples, groups, and foodies alike.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Bahamas family holiday?

• Meet the swimming pigs, either on a half day out to Rose Island or the full-day Exumas trip to the famous ones at Big Major Cay

• Snorkel the calm, shallow reefs off Paradise Island, perfect for the kids' first underwater experience

• Build sandcastles on Cable Beach, soft sand, gentle waves and loads of space to run wild

• Splash the day away at Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis, slides, lazy rivers and rides for the whole crew

• Spot sea turtles and tropical fish on a glass-bottom boat tour, zero effort, maximum wow-factor

💑 What are the best things to do for couples in The Bahamas?

• Watch the sunset on the pink sands of Harbour Island, an hour from Nassau by air and worth the day

• Take a private boat trip through the Exumas, hidden coves, turquoise water and serious "how is this real?" moments

• Sip cocktails beachside in Nassau, sunset, sea breeze and not a single care in the world

• Escape to a secluded cay for the day, just you, the sea and pure silence

• Book a couples' spa day at a beachfront resort, because relaxation hits different with an ocean view

🎉 What are the best things to do for groups in The Bahamas?

• Hit the beach bars at Junkanoo Beach, DJs, drinks and that "just one more" energy

• Charter a boat around the islands, island-hop by day, party by sunset

• Feast on fresh seafood at Arawak Cay, the Fish Fry, where the atmosphere is as good as the food

• Bar-hop your way through downtown Nassau, think rum punch, live music and zero plans for tomorrow

• Recover the next day on Cabbage Beach over on Paradise Island, because balance

🍽️ What's the best food to try on a Bahamas holiday?

• Try conch salad cracked open in front of you at a beach shack, zesty, spicy and peak Caribbean flavour

• Dig into fried chicken and mac 'n' cheese at Arawak Cay, proper comfort food, island-style

• Sip on a Bahama Mama cocktail, fruity, strong, and dangerously easy to drink

• Feast on grilled lobster by the sea, especially good during the August to March season

• Treat yourself to guava duff, a traditional sweet dessert that's basically a hug on a plate

🗓️ When Is The Best Time To Visit The Bahamas?

Below shows a breakdown of The best time to visit The Bahamas for perfect weather or fewer crowds:

December to April: Peak Paradise Season

This is when The Bahamas is showing off. Think wall-to-wall sunshine, low humidity and temps sitting pretty around the mid-twenties. It is prime time for beach days, snorkelling and escaping the UK & Ireland winter. The only catch? It is the busiest (and priciest) time, but the weather is worth the flex.

May to June: The Golden Window

Low-key the best time to go if you want great weather and slightly fewer crowds. It is still hot, the sea is perfect for swimming, and prices tend to chill out a bit after peak season. Basically, all the good stuff without the chaos.

July to November: Off-Peak and Tropical Vibes

This is hurricane season, so expect higher humidity, the odd heavy downpour and a bit more unpredictability. That said, rain usually comes in short bursts, and you will get quieter beaches and better deals. August to October is the most unsettled, so if you are going then, just keep plans flexible.

🌊 Activity-Specific Picks:

• Snorkelling and diving: April to June for calm seas and top visibility

• Wildlife spotting: January to March for dolphins and migrating marine life

• Festivals and culture: Head there around Junkanoo Festival (Boxing Day and New Year) for full-on energy and colour
  

All-Inclusive in The Bahamas

An all inclusive Bahamas holiday means waking up to Caribbean sunshine knowing your meals, your drinks and your beach lounger are already sorted.

It works particularly well here because eating and drinking out in Nassau adds up fast, and because most Bahamian resorts charge a daily resort fee and a compulsory gratuity on top of the room. Booking all-inclusive is the one way to know what the week costs before you fly.

The Bahamas is not the Caribbean's biggest all-inclusive destination and nobody should pretend otherwise. It is quality over quantity: a small group of well-run resorts on the best beaches in Nassau and Paradise Island, each with a different angle on it. The rest of the island's big names, including Atlantis and Baha Mar, sell rooms with optional dining plans rather than true all-inclusive, so it is worth knowing which is which before you book.

💑 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in The Bahamas for couples?

• Sandals Royal Bahamian is couples-only, on Cable Beach, with its own offshore private island thrown in. Everything is included, down to the water sports, and it is the one people book for a honeymoon or an anniversary rather than just a week away.

• Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas is adults only and properly all-inclusive, on Paradise Island, so you get the location without the Atlantis price tag or the Atlantis crowds.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in The Bahamas for families?

• Breezes Bahamas on Cable Beach includes meals, drinks, water sports and entertainment in one price, with no resort fee on top, which is rarer here than it should be. It takes children from fourteen, so it suits families with teenagers rather than toddlers.

• Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island runs 24-hour all-inclusive on the beach next to Atlantis. Adults only, so this one is for a couple or a group rather than a family with young children.

What Are The Best Beaches In The Bahamas?

The Bahamas isn’t just one island - it’s 700! And let's be real - when it comes to beach breaks, nowhere can compete with holidays to the Caribbean. So, it’s safe to say that you’ll be spoilt for choice where beaches are concerned. Plus, there are quite a few giggle-worthy names in there. Here are our favourites:

• Love Beach – a fittingly named beach for romantic strolls and lazing in hammocks.

• Junkanoo Beach – or as the locals call it - Spring Break Beach - which is enough to tell you what the party vibe is like here.

• Cable Beach – with soft white sands and vivid blue waters, this one's plucked straight from a postcard.

• Arawak Beach – clear and shallow waters make this an ideal spot for families and snorkellers.

• Cabbage Beach – nope, there's no leafy veg in sight, but there are plenty of water sports - all within easy reach of the capital.

• Jaws Beach – a piece of movie history, but it's totally safe to swim - promise!

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Where to Stay on your holidays in The Bahamas

Picking your base in The Bahamas is all about the vibe you’re chasing, from boujee resorts to barefoot island life, there’s a spot with your name on it.

💑 Where should couples stay in The Bahamas?

Cable Beach. A long, calm run of sand on the west side of Nassau, with the adults-only resorts and the best of the island's restaurants along it. Quiet enough to hear the sea from your balcony, close enough to be in town in ten minutes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay in The Bahamas?

Paradise Island. This is where the big-name resorts live, and where the waterpark is. Safe, shallow beaches, endless pools, and enough going on that nobody asks what there is to do. Connected to Nassau by a bridge, so a day in town is a taxi ride.

👯 Where should groups stay in The Bahamas?

Downtown Nassau. Beach clubs, bars, restaurants and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay, with Junkanoo Beach walkable from most of it. Ideal if your holiday motto is go hard or go home.

Cheap holidays to The Bahamas

The Bahamas has a reputation as a splashy, big-budget destination, but a cheap Bahamas holiday is absolutely doable if you know where to look. The biggest lever is timing: May to early June and November deliver warm weather and significantly lower prices than the December to April peak. You're still getting 28-30°C days and calm, swimmable seas, just without the premium.

Board basis makes the biggest difference to your daily spend. All-inclusive resorts like Breezes Bahamas lock in your food and drinks upfront, which means you know exactly what you're spending before you fly.

Book early for the widest choice of rooms and the lowest flight prices, especially on the direct British Airways route from London. The Bahamas has a smaller hotel scene than destinations like the Dominican Republic or Jamaica, so the best-value rooms at popular resorts like The Royal at Atlantis fill up faster than you'd expect.

🏨 What Are The Top Hotels In The Bahamas?

Holidays to The Bahamas are as much about luxury as they are about fun in the sun, with beachfront resorts, world-class spas and enough pools to lose count. Whether you are after a couples' retreat, a family base with waterparks on tap, or an adults-only escape, Nassau has you covered. See all Bahamas hotels.

💑 What are the best hotels in The Bahamas for couples?

• The Cove At Atlantis is the grown-up corner of Atlantis, with its own adults-only pool complex, two beaches and a spa that could keep you busy for a week. Quieter than the main resort with full access to everything in it.

• Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is a sleek five-star on Cable Beach with several pools, a golf course and a casino on the estate, and some of the best sunset views in Nassau. The kind of place where you dress up for dinner and mean it.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in The Bahamas?

• The Royal at Atlantis is the family hub of the Atlantis complex, with direct access to Aquaventure Water Park, the marine habitats and a long list of restaurants. Kids will not want to leave.

• Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau is the best-reviewed hotel in our Bahamas line-up, right on Bay Street in downtown Nassau, with its own water park included for guests and the Fish Fry a short ride away.

💰 What are the best-value hotels in The Bahamas?

• Comfort Suites Paradise Island is all suites, next door to Atlantis, and guests get access to the Atlantis pools, beaches and water park. The way to do Paradise Island without paying Paradise Island prices.

• British Colonial Nassau is the historic one, on its own beach at the end of Bay Street, a short walk from the whole of downtown. Character rather than waterslides.

👉 All Bahamas hotels

More Caribbean Holidays:

• Antigua Antigua has a beach for every day of the year (literally, there are 365 of them) and some of the best all-inclusive resorts anywhere in the Caribbean. Perfect for couples and families who want white sand, warm water and not a care in the world.

• Barbados Rum punch on the west coast, surf on the south coast, and Friday night street food in Oistins that is worth the flight alone. Barbados has a swagger that is hard to match, with brilliant hotels at every price point.

• Cuba Vintage cars, salsa music and beaches that look like they have been photoshopped. Cuba is a totally different Caribbean experience, with all-inclusive resorts in Varadero and old-town charm in Havana that feels like stepping back in time.

• Dominican Republic The Caribbean's all-inclusive capital, with mega-resorts in Punta Cana serving up everything from water parks to swim-up bars. Brilliant value and proper sunshine.

• Jamaica Reggae, jerk chicken, and beaches so good they named a James Bond film after one. Montego Bay and Negril are the headline resorts, both packed with all-inclusive options and serious laid-back energy.

• St Lucia The Pitons, the rainforest, the volcanic mud baths. St Lucia is the Caribbean at its most dramatic, with boutique resorts and honeymoon vibes that are hard to beat anywhere else in the region.

• Tobago Tobago is the quieter, greener side of Trinidad and Tobago, with unspoilt beaches, world-class diving and a pace of life that makes everywhere else feel rushed. A brilliant pick for nature lovers and couples.