Family Days Out in Nassau

October 18, 2026

Travel advisory: The US State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, for crime, and both it and the UK Foreign Office warn about jet skis and poorly regulated water sports. With children, keep to daytime, stay with the group and choose supervised attractions. The current wording is on the US advisory page and the UK safety page .

Nassau has a small zoo with a famous flamingo show, a huge resort waterpark, a pirate museum and a few easy beach options. Prices below are in Bahamian dollars, which trade one to one with US dollars, and many attractions accept both.

Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre

Ardastra is on Chippingham Road and can be reached by jitney Route 10. It covers more than four acres and holds over 200 animals, according to the Ministry listing. The marching flamingo show runs at 11:00, 1:30 and 3:00, with keeper talks at 10:30 and 2:00. Non-resident adults pay $35 and children aged 4 to 12 pay $25, while under 4s go free. Rabbit and tortoise feeding costs $5 each. The zoo opens daily from 9:30am to 4:00pm, last entry is at 3:00pm, and it closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Tickets are sold at the gate and a waiver is needed. Paths are uneven, so expect a bumpy ride with a pushchair. See ardastra.com .

Atlantis Aquaventure

The waterpark on Paradise Island spans about 141 acres, with a Mayan Temple, the 60-foot near-vertical Leap of Faith slide and a mile-long river ride. Visitors who are not staying at the resort need a day pass. It covers Aquaventure, the resort pools other than The Cove Pool, the beaches and the marine habitats, including The Dig and the Predator Tunnel. The price changes by date and is not published, so expect to pay more in peak weeks. Passes are sold in advance only, the resort is cash-free, and you need ID, a signed waiver and the card that paid for it. Children under 3 are free, and you should check the rule for age 3 at booking. Aquaventure hours are 10am to 5pm from November to February, 10am to 6pm in October, and 9am to 7pm from March to September. Read the terms on the Atlantis day pass page .

Forts, pirates and chocolate

Fort Charlotte on West Bay Street is the island’s largest fort, with a moat, dungeons and underground passages. Entry is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children under 12, daily from 8am to 4pm. On Wednesdays and Fridays a living-history scene starts at 11:30am and ends with a noon cannon firing. Guides work for tips. See the Bahamas tourism listing .

The Pirates of Nassau Museum at King and George Streets is a self-guided walk-through with a replica ship, dioramas and real period weapons. Visits take one to two hours. Fees are reported at roughly $13 to $14 for adults and half that for children, though sources disagree, so confirm at the door.

Graycliff Chocolatier on West Hill Street runs workshops reported at about $55 to $82 per person. Prices come from booking listings, so confirm before you go.

Beach time

Blue Lagoon Island offers an Island Beach Day with the ferry, lunch, beach and an inflatable aqua park, listed at about $120 for adults. Junkanoo Beach is free and a 10 to 15 minute walk from the cruise terminal. It is a working harbour beach with small boat traffic, and the water quality is sometimes questioned. Treat it as a short daytime paddle with an adult at the water’s edge, not a place to swim. No source confirms lifeguards at the main public beaches. Fort Fincastle and its Water Tower have been under renovation since March 2025 and a reopening date is unconfirmed, so check before heading there. Jet skis are not suitable for families, and the US Embassy advises Americans to avoid renting them.

To compare family tours, browse Nassau family listings .