The heart of historic Nassau is bustling Rawson Square on Bay Street, just across from Prince George Wharf, where the major cruise lines dock. The square is a small but authentic crossroads of old Nassau, where tourists, government workers, hawkers and musicians congregate - especially during Christmas Junkanoo festivities, when up to 30,000 onlookers arrive.

Just west and north of the square, the Hairbraider's Centre features Bahamian women braiding hair for about US$1 a strand. Across Bay Street, just south of Rawson Square, Parliament Square is the centre of Bahamian government, with buildings from the early 1800s and including the Opposition Building, House of Assembly and Senate, where a statue of Queen Victoria looks down sternly from the steps. Behind the Senate is the Supreme Court building, and its lovely Garden of Remembrance honouring Bahamian casualties of two world wars.

Back on Bay Street, a few blocks west of Prince George Wharf, is Nassau's justly famous Straw Market . Filling much of a square block, the open-air squeezes in 150 vendors peddling everything from beads, totes and T-shirts to shark-tooth necklaces and expensive hand-carved wooden turtles. Just behind the market, the waterfront area is bounded by Woodes-Rogers Walk , worth a quick stroll for the view of the teeming harbour.

Just west of the Straw Market, the Pompey Museum , on the corner of Bay and George streets (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm; US$1; tel 242/236-2566), is located in a former bank called Vendue House, later renamed to honour a rebellious slave who hid out on Exuma during the 1830s. One of the city's oldest buildings, it houses a collection of artefacts and documents tracing the history of Bahamian slavery.

Bahamas information:
guide, hotels, airfares

Google maps

Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama
 Arrival
 Brief  history
 Information
 Getting around
 Boat excursions
  Diving & snorkeling
 Other outdoor
activities
  
Exploring Grand  
 Bahama
 Freeport / Lucaya

Long Island
 Long Island
 Arrival and transport
 Getting around
  Eating

New Providence
 New Providence &
 Paradise Island
 Arrival, transport.
 Practicalities


Exploring New   
Providence
  Nassau
 Nassau
 Getting around
  Eating & drinking
 Nightlife
 Diving, aquatic
sports

Explore Nassau
 Cable Beach
 Hillside area & west
 Historic Nassau

Exumas
Exumas
Arrival & information
Sea Kayaking
Great Exumas &
Little Exumas
Getting around
Exumas
Rental cars,    
bicycles, scooters
  Boat travel
  Eating
Outdoor activities
Northern Exumas 

Paradise Island
 Paradise Island
 Around the Island
  Eating and drinking
Nightlife
Outdoors

Eleuthera  
 Eleuthera
 Eleuthera Island
 Arrival & information
Eating

Treasure Cay 
Treasure Cay  
General information 
Fishing, diving, golf,
tours,  tennis
        

Alice Town
 Alice Town activities,
  restaurants