The Bahamas List

For many, The Bahamas conjures images of endless sandbars and Gatorade-blue water, an easy shorthand for a country that, in reality, is far more varied and complex. Spread across more than 700 islands and cays, each place has its own landscape, pace of life and personality.  

I was lucky to live on Eleuthera, one of the “Family Islands” (outside of New Providence, where the capital Nassau is located), a few years ago, and it gave me a sense of just how different the country’s roughly 30 inhabited islands are from one another—in terms of scenery, history, culture, and infrastructure. Beyond the familiar tropes of sun, sand and sea, there’s an incredibly rich world to explore: artists and artisans working across the islands, deeply rooted culinary traditions, local festivals, and communities with long, complicated histories. 

With input from a few friends who know certain islands especially well, we’ve pulled together a list to help you navigate this beautiful country that tends to reward travelers who stray a bit from the tourist track. 

NASSAU/NEW PROVIDENCE

New Providence is home to the nation’s capital, Nassau, and 70% of the country’s population, though it’s geographically quite small compared to some of the other islands. But if you have a connecting flight within the country, it will likely be through Nassau’s Linden Pindling Airport. I’ve never had a seamless experience flying into or out of The Bahamas for myriad reasons—bad weather, lost luggage, an unscheduled stop at a nearby airport—so I’d recommend booking a long layover or even staying overnight in Nassau if you’re making a connection. Here are some ideas for how to spend your layover—all of these spots are a pretty short taxi ride from the airport. 

Lulu de Kwiatkowski, an artist who grew up between New York and The Bahamas and now has a house in Lyford Cay says, “New Providence is very much divided by west and east sides. Unfortunately, all the best beaches are in private club areas and are located on the west side of the island.

For shopping, The Island Store has the best home, book and clothing selection and is certainly a life saver for locals and wonderful eye candy for visitors (makes you want to buy a house there!). Right next door is Sabrina’s, another great clothing boutique. After shopping, walk around the corner or take your golf cart and have lunch at Island Brothers, a great French café that makes you feel like you are in St Tropez for the day.

Across the street at the Island House, there is a great little food and wine shop that sells the best of the best of hors d’oeuvres yummies. There are also a few restaurants on the property, I recommend grabbing dinner at Shima, Asian fusion at its best. Island House also has a great spa, the Bamford Spa. Best masseuse ever! (Pro tip: book a massage during a long layover, then have lunch outside at their more casual cafe, Yellowbell.)