Picture-perfect Nassau & Paradise Island has long been a treasured haunt of the jet-set – but now it’s accessible to every kind of holidaymaker.

In recent years the Bahamian capital, set on the Atlantic isle of New Providence, has proven a surprisingly affordable long-haul destination for families, groups of friends and couples.

Across Nassau and neighbouring Paradise Island there are luxury oceanside resorts, boutique hideaways and all-inclusive retreats packed with family-friendly activities to cater to every budget and taste.

Picture-perfect Nassau has long been a treasured haunt of the jet-set – but now it’s accessible to every kind of holidaymaker

Nassau & Paradise Island is the perfect place for a holiday full of family fun

With thriving coral reefs, an ever-evolving food scene, exhilarating water parks and a fascinating history of piracy to discover, it makes for a one-of-a-kind sunshine-drenched holiday.

And thanks to their glittering bars, restaurants and casinos, you can enjoy a fun-filled nightlife in a tropical setting.

Moreover, flying to Nassau is easier than ever, with a British Airways service six times a week direct from London Heathrow to Nassau, while Virgin Atlantic flies the same route three times a week.

Whether you devote your whole trip to The Bahamas or pair it with a visit to the USA or Canada, you’ll find your own slice of paradise in Nassau. 

Here’s why it’s the ultimate destination for a long-haul holiday under the sun…

Find your perfect hotel

The newly opened Goldwynn Resort & Residences is a boutique retreat on Cable Beach

The stylish Rosewood Hotel in Baha Mar

Finding somewhere special to stay is a breeze. 

Consider the newly opened Goldwynn Resort & Residences, a boutique retreat on the white sands of Cable Beach with an infinity pool, holistic spa and personalised butler service in top-tier suite categories.

Or look to Baha Mar, a luxurious trio of Cable Beach hotels – stylish Rosewood, contemporary SLS and elegant Grand Hyatt. They share access to the Caribbean’s largest casino and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Royal Blue Golf Course. 

The elegant Grand Hyatt and SLS Baha Mar

There’s endless fun to be had at Fins Up Waterpark at Margaritaville Beach Resort

And at the Baha Bay waterpark, zoom along the Devil’s Backbone and Thunderball slides or catch some waves on The Surf simulator.

More heart-racing slides await at Fins Up Waterpark at Margaritaville Beach Resort in the heart of downtown Nassau, where every room comes with stunning ocean views.

Check into the glamorous Graycliff Hotel, said to have been built by the pirate Captain John Howard Graysmith in the 18th century. It counts the Duke of Windsor and Sir Winston Churchill among its former guests.

Or stay in one of the five unique hotels within Atlantis Paradise Island. 

Couples are drawn to The Cove, an elegant retreat tucked between two private beaches

The Coral is a hit with families, thanks to its expansive suites, teens-only nightclub, ice cream parlour and swim-up bar. Couples, meanwhile, are drawn to The Cove, an elegant retreat tucked between two private beaches with white glove service, all-suite luxury and designer touches throughout.

Practice your swing on spectacular seaside fairways at Atlantis’ Ocean Club Golf Course

From Atlantis’ Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island to Baha Mar’s Royal Blue Golf Course in Nassau, you’ll find plenty of fabulous coastal fairways to practice your swing.

Or if you’re looking for some more high octane fun, get a rush of adrenaline at the Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis where you can spend the day splashing around on 18 water slides, a mile-long river ride and thrilling rapids.

Water wonderland

At Atlantis feed and snorkel with cownose rays in the Atlantis Stingray Experience

With famous dive sites and idyllic powdery beaches, Nassau & Paradise Island are fantasy lands for water lovers and anyone who longs to lie back under gently swaying palms.

At Atlantis Paradise Island, feed and snorkel with cownose rays in the Atlantis Stingray Experience. And snorkel through the ‘Ruins Lagoon’ to spy spotted rays, tropical fish and the make-believe ruins of the lost city of Atlantis.

Or why not master scuba diving with the ‘Learn to Dive’ course at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas?

Catch mahi mahi and red snapper on a fishing trip, go on a sunset dinner cruise through Paradise Island Harbor, or charter the Blackbeard’s Revenge pirate ship for the day.

Play castaway on Sandy Toes Rose Island, a secluded private isle where you can paddle with The Bahamas’ swimming pigs, lie back in a hammock and tuck into a picnic

Enjoy a sky juice sundowner – a spiced blend of coconut water, condensed milk and gin – on Junkanoo Beach

Love beach-hopping? Play castaway on Sandy Toes Rose Island, a secluded private isle where you can paddle with The Bahamas’ swimming pigs, lie back in a hammock and tuck into a picnic.

For sandcastle-building and water sports, head to the bathtub-warm waters and five-kilometre long Cable Beach, before enjoying a sky juice sundowner – a spiced blend of coconut water, condensed milk and gin – on bustling Junkanoo Beach.

Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a beach to match in Nassau.  

A capital of culture

Stop by Government House, the striking pink mansion that’s home to the governor-general

See the poignant Queen’s Staircase on a walking tour of the city

One of the best ways to see the many sides of Nassau is by drifting around the city on a walking tour.

En route, you’ll learn about The Bahamas’ history of colonisation. The country became free and sovereign in 1973, but reminders of its period under British rule are everywhere. 

See the poignant Queen’s Staircase, explore the dungeon and underground tunnels of the 18th-century Fort Charlotte and stop by Government House, the striking pink mansion that’s home to the governor-general.

If you’re looking for a unique keepsake of your holiday, potter around the famous Nassau Straw Market, a decades-old showcase of Bahamian craftsmanship

Hear about New Providence’s spell as a republic for pirates on a tour of the Pirates of Nassau attraction.

Children will delight in the Educulture Junkanoo Museum, which recounts the history of Junkanoo, the country’s national festival, known for its ornate masks, colourful costumes and music.

At the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, you can admire contemporary Bahamian artwork in before checking out the latest exhibition at Doongalik Studios, founded in the 1970s to spotlight local artists.

And if you’re looking for a unique keepsake of your holiday, potter around the famous Nassau Straw Market, a decades-old showcase of Bahamian craftsmanship, shopping for hand-woven goods as you go.

A culinary odyssey

Make a date with Arawak Cay, also known as ‘The Fish Fry’ for a feast of conch salads, fried snapper and chilled Kalik beers

From long-established Bahamian haunts to celebrity chef-lead restaurants, Nassau & Paradise Island are must-visits for gourmands.

Make a date with Arawak Cay, also known as ‘The Fish Fry’. This stretch of bars and restaurants in Nassau is hums with locals and holidaymakers alike, who pile into vibrant restaurants for a feast of conch salads, fried snapper and chilled Kalik beers.

Love fine-dining? Chef Michael White is the brains behind Atlantis Paradise Island’s Paranza restaurant, where regional Italian dishes get the star treatment. Or indulge in Japanese cuisine and drinks from the sake cellar at chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant, Nobu.

Chef Jean-Georges spearheads DUNE, at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort

At Fish by José Andrés, freshly caught conch and lionfish will be transformed on your plate by expert chef and diver Andrés, while chef Jean-Georges spearheads DUNE, at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, where diners revel in artful French-Asian cuisine and showstopper ocean views.

Meat lovers will fall for Carna, SLS Baha Mar’s steakhouse run by the lauded Italian butcher, Dario Cecchini, known for his nose-to-tail ethos.

Why not do a rum-tasting session at John Watling’s Distillery?

Sample Caribbean chocolate at the boutique Graycliff Chocolatier – a delicious souvenir

Try a wine-blending class at Bahama Barrels, the The Bahamas’ first winery, or do a rum-tasting session at John Watling’s Distillery, named after a 17th-century pirate.

Sample Caribbean chocolate at the boutique Graycliff Chocolatier and let Tru Bahamian Food Tours guide you around the city, stopping to feast on peas ‘n’ rice and conch fritters along the way.

Magical nightlife

The bar and restaurant scene in Nassau is always buzzing

Nassau is the beating heart of The Bahamas’ nightlife scene, as you’ll soon discover. 

Try the IPA at the Pirate Republic Brewing Company, The Bahamas’ only craft brewery or sip Bahama Mama cocktails and dance to live DJ sets in the open-air Skybar, SLS Baha Mar on Cable Beach.

You can take your pick of top-shelf Caribbean rums – from aged rum to dark sipping varieties – at T2 in the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.

For the ultimate in sophistication pull up a stool at the Martini Bar at The Ocean Club, A Four Season Resort, before experiencing the magic of Vegas in the Caribbean with a trip to the Atlantis Casino, which wraps around a seven-acre lagoon.

Or try your hand at blackjack and roulette at the Baha Mar Casino – the Caribbean’s largest casino at 100,000 sq ft – where floor-to-ceiling windows offer ocean views.

From beautiful beaches to incredible food and a diverse culture to a buzzing nightlife, Nassau & Paradise Island has it all, so whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two or family fun, you’re guaranteed a holiday you’ll never forget.  

Book your dream trip now at virginholidays.co.uk/destinations/caribbean/bahamas-offers 

And click HERE to find hotels for every budget and taste.

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