self guided tour nassau bahamas

Free Self-Guided Tours of Downtown Nassau Bahamas

Step off your cruise ship and into a world of discovery with our free self-guided Walking Itineraries. Experience the thrill of self-guided adventures designed to take you beyond the ordinary. Skip the crowd and immerse yourself in a personalized journey right from the port. Our carefully crafted itineraries unveil the best-kept secrets and unique gems of downtown Nassau Bahamas. From historic landmarks to local treasures, these walking tours offer an effortless and distinctive way to explore, avoiding the common tourist path. Make the most of your time ashore with our one-of-a-kind itineraries; because your journey should be as extraordinary as the destination itself.

Nassau Pirate Quest

Embark on a journey through Nassau's rich pirate history. Discover hidden treasures, legendary pirate tales, and visit key locations associated with infamous pirates.

Epic Pirate Adventure

Nassau Brew Hop

Explore Nassau's emerging craft beer scene and unique spirits with visits to local breweries and pubs. Sample unique brews and drinks and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Craft Beer & Spirits Adventure

Testimonials

5 out of 5 stars

“I recently used the 'Nassau Pirate Quest' itinerary during my cruise, and it was a game-changer! As a solo traveler, I appreciated the freedom to explore at my own pace. The step-by-step directions were easy to follow, and I discovered charming pirate history spots that aren't on typical tours. Walk Nassau made my visit unforgettable!”

“Our family chose the 'Downtown Delights' itinerary for our cruise stop in Nassau, and it was a hit with everyone! As parents, we loved the convenience of a self-guided tour – no need to rush with a group. The kids were excited about the interactive elements and local treats suggested in the itinerary. It made our family adventure stress-free and memorable!”

Tips for your visit

Here are the top tips when visting downtown Nassau Bahamas. These tips will help you make the most of your time in port.

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Caribbean & Bahamas
Travel Tips

Downtown Nassau on Your Own: Walking Guide

For Jean and other friends leaving for the Bahamas soon…

Last month I cruised the Bahamas on two back-to-back cruises , both times stopping in Nassau. I had visited Nassau before and did the full day Atlantis Resort excursion, but I wanted to see and experience historic (and touristic) Nassau. So this time we explored Downtown Nassau on our own. We planned a general route using a Franko map (link below), and then went with the flow of island life by finding more attractions on our own. I even found a winery (I know you’re all shocked)! I’ve put together a Walking Guide for 6 Hours in Nassau without a Cruise Excursion including all the highlights we saw and repeated during those two days at port and included a PDF for download at the bottom of this post.

Cruise Terminal & Parliament Square

Not having a cruise excursion planned or really just any expectations of Nassau, I knew I at least wanted to see Fort Fincastle and Queen’s Staircase. So we made a beeline down the cruise docks, through the terminal, and headed straight for those two attractions. What we enjoyed along the way was the most gorgeous harbor and Parliament Square right across the street from the terminal exit. The buildings of Parliament Square were constructed in 1815 and fashioned after the old capital of North Carolina, New Bern. Make sure you visit Queen Victoria’s statue in the center of the square and read the historical markers on the adjacent buildings.

Queen’s Staircase & Fort Fincastle

We just so happened to approach Queen’s Staircase via Elizabeth Ave and I highly recommend following our lead. With this approach, you walk through a lovely tropical limestone “canyon,” completed in 1794, that leads to the 66 (65 visible) steps of Queen’s Staircase, celebrating Queen Victoria’s 64 years of reign. At the top of the staircase and to the right (you cant miss it), is a large water tower and surprisingly little, but no less intimidating, Fort Fincastle. Built in 1793 atop Bennet’s Hill, Fort Fincastle is the highest fort on the island. Pay admission to enter the fort and you will see the entire island on a clear day.

Bahama Barrels Winery & Fresh Conch Salad

From there we decided to head west on Shirley towards Graycliff Chocolate Co. but what we found along the way was a tall colorful sign pointing to a winery. I must have an internal compass that points towards the nearest winery. We popped in Bahama Barrels Winery for a tasting and really enjoyed ourselves. Turns out, the winery had only been open less than 6 months to happily fill a niche. We stayed for some local conch salad prepared next door and had a lovely lunch on the patio. If you visit and Jasmine is pouring your wine, please tell her “hello!” for me.

Graycliff Hotel Restaurant

If you have more than a few hours, or if it’s raining and you just don’t want to be out in it, stop by Graycliff Hotel and enjoy fine dining in their restaurant. This was the case on the second day our cruise ship docked in Nassau (conch salad the first time). On that same road, there’s also a pizzeria and a little bistro. Plenty of options here!

Graycliff Chocolate Co. & Cigar Co.

After we properly wined and dined, we visited Graycliff Chocolate Co. for a tour and chocolate tasting. We really enjoyed seeing the chocolate making process as well as the craftsmanship in filling and painting the chocolates for each flavor and season. We also visited the Cigar shop and watched them roll a few.

John Watling’s Distillery & Casino Royale Filming Location

Further west is John Watling’s Distillery on the grounds of the 1789 Buena Vista Estate, where they offer free tours and pina colada tastings, and an opportunity to purchase rum that isn’t exported or shipped. Not being much of a rum fan myself, I opted for a rum flight and was shocked at how wonderful each of their rums and rice vodka were (so I went back for more during the next visit)! We also spotted a sign in the estate’s lawn marking a Casino Royale (2006) filming location, the fictional Madagascar Embassy. I looked for Daniel Craig but couldn’t find him…

Western Esplanade Beach/Junkanoo Beach

Full of wine, food, and rum, we headed straight north to Junkanoo Beach (Western Esplanade Beach on the map). This beach is one of the only (or the only?) free beach on the island, and it is beautiful! We enjoyed seeing the blue water again and walked along the water heading east towards the cruise terminal.

Pirates of Nassau Museum & Smugglers

Since we had time, we visited the Pirate Museum (bright flamingo colored building) for a tour. This was neat! They also encouraged us to grab a glass of wine before the tour at Smuggler’s next door, which we happily obliged! After the tour, we went back to Smuggler’s/Starbucks for pistachio gelato and an espresso.

Six hours is plenty to do and see many attractions in Downtown Nassau. On my first visit, I logged 9 miles walked and on the second visit I logged 10 miles walked. Didn’t even feel like it! The sites listed above are what we saw, but there’s plenty more! Let me know what you discover on your own!

Download Free PDF Downtown Nassau on Your Own Walking Guide for 6 hours in Nassau without a Cruise Excursion here: NassauWalkingMap

More Cruise Tips, Packing Lists, and Past Cruise Adventures:

First 24 Hours on a Cruise Ship: Do’s and Don’ts

Cruise Tips: Planning and Packing

My Cruise Kit: The Practical & the Ridiculous

A Cruise Must: Chef’s Table on Carnival Cruises

How I Maximize Relaxation & Fun on Cruise Sea Days

What’s a Back-to-Back Cruise?

Cruise Packing Lists: Backpack & Rolling Suitcase Packing Checklists

Carry-On Suitcase Packing List (Packing Checklist for the Overhead Bin)

Carry-On Bag Packing List (Packing Checklist for Under the Seat)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Western Caribbean Cruise Things ( Part 1: Cozumel & Progreso, Mexico )

These Are a Few of My Favorite Western Caribbean Cruise Things ( Part 2: Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica )

Read about our Mediterranean cruise here and British Isles cruise here and Alaskan Cruise here .

Don’t forget a corkscrew ( read about my TSA-compliant Carry-On Corkscrew here )!

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4 Replies to “Downtown Nassau on Your Own: Walking Guide”

Thank you so much for this walking tour. My husband and I recently went to Nassau (Nov 2018) and walked this route. We had so much fun. We walked through the Graycliff gardens to get to the chocolate factory, heard good music and had good eats along the way. I asked him what was his favorite part of the cruise and he said “Walking in Nassau!”. I definitely agree

Oh Jayel, thank you for checking back, that means so much to me. I’m so glad you had a great time exploring on your own. Historic Nassau is so much fun! Thanks again!

We are going on a cruise in February. We are taking our 4 kids ages 10yr – 17yrs plus my parents. How safe is it to go out on your own with having the kids along? Any Areas to stay away from? We are debating whether to go on out or purchase an excursion. We will have about 5 or 6 hours to spend & we want to do beach time to snorkel and relax for a few hours but we also want to explore Nassau. Any tips and is there enough time to do both? Thank you!

Hi Holly! Some of the sidewalks in historic downtown are narrow or non-existent, which requires crossing busy streets, so that’s something to consider. I felt safe otherwise. Since your group has a wide range of ages/energy levels together during a relatively short excursion day, Nassau on your own might not please everyone (or would you be able to do everything). You could taxi up to Fort Fincastle and then end up at Junkanoo Beach and get a bit of both sites.