Nassau
The largest and best known city in the Bahamas is Nassau. Located on the island of New Providence, it boasts a population of more than 175,000 people. In times gone by, Nassau was an international playground for the rich. Today, the first city of the Bahamas attracts not only the affluent of the world, but vacationers of every class and culture, especially from America. The city has become a tax haven – Nassau has more than 400 banks – and is a popular location for international business conferences and meetings.
Nassau is also a microcosm of the nation’s history. Visitors can explore its narrow streets, the old British forts, climb the Queen’s Staircase and wander through outlying villages dating back to the days of slavery and beyond.
Throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, at the height of the Bahamian tourist season, Junkanoo – a spirited, Mardi Gras-style celebration born of slavery – explodes across the islands, but nowhere is it quite as exciting as in Nassau.
