Bahamas Flag of Bahamas

countryNorth America

Bahamas is a COUNTRY in North America.

The Bahamas is a tropical paradise made up of over 700 islands and cays, offering pristine beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. Known for its laid-back island vibe, the Bahamas is perfect for sun-seekers, adventure enthusiasts, and culture lovers alike. Explore the bustling streets of Nassau, dive into the underwater wonderland of Andros Barrier Reef, or relax on the pink sands of Harbour Island. The Bahamas is also rich in history, with colonial architecture, pirate legends, and Junkanoo festivals that showcase its Afro-Caribbean heritage. Whether you're snorkeling with sharks, sipping on Bahama Mamas, or simply soaking up the sun, the Bahamas promises an unforgettable escape.

Best time to visit Bahamas

The best time to visit the Bahamas is from mid-December to mid-April, during the dry season when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is minimal. However, this is also peak tourist season, so expect higher prices. For budget travelers, the shoulder seasons (late April to early June and November) offer fewer crowds and lower prices, though there's a higher chance of rain.

October

Now

Typical for October

Weather
Warm 25-30°C, rainy

Travel notes

Crowds
Low
Prices
Low

Late hurricane season

Know before you go

Getting there

NAS

Lynden Pindling International Airport (Nassau)

International

0 km away

FPO

Grand Bahama International Airport (Freeport)

International

0 km away

GGT

Exuma International Airport

International

0 km away

MHH

Marsh Harbour Airport (Abaco)

Domestic/International

0 km away

ELH

North Eleuthera Airport

Domestic/International

0 km away

Getting around

"The Bahamas offers several transportation options. Domestic flights are the fastest way to travel between islands, with airlines like Bahamasair and private charters. Ferries are a scenic and affordable option for inter-island travel, especially between Nassau and nearby islands. Taxis are widely available in major towns but can be expensive; always confirm fares beforehand. Renting a car is ideal for exploring larger islands like New Providence and Grand Bahama, though driving is on the left side of the road. Golf carts are popular on smaller islands like Harbour Island and Eleuthera."

Stay connected

WiFi speed

15 Mbps

Mobile data

Good

WiFi

Widely available in hotels and resorts; limited on Out Islands

Local SIM

Local SIM available at airport from $10 (e.g., BTC, Aliv)

Calling code

+1-242

Stay safe

Overall

7/10

Petty crime in Nassau and Freeport; avoid isolated areas at night.

Night safety

6/10

Petty crime in Nassau and Freeport; avoid isolated areas at night.

Transport

8/10

Scam risk

6/10

"Exercise normal precautions, avoid isolated areas at night, and secure valuables."

Entry and health

Visa requirements

"Visa-free for U.S. and Canadian citizens for stays up to 8 months; other nationalities should check requirements."

Health information

"No specific vaccinations are required for the Bahamas, but it's recommended to be up-to-date on routine vaccines. Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever can occur, so use insect repellent. Tap water is generally safe to drink in major cities, but bottled water is recommended on smaller islands."

Culture

Local customs

"Bahamians are warm and friendly, and a polite greeting is always appreciated. Tipping is customary, with 15-20% expected in restaurants and for taxi drivers. Dress modestly when visiting local towns or religious sites. The Junkanoo festival, held on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, is a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and costumes—don't miss it if you're visiting during these times. Respect the environment by not touching coral reefs or littering, as the Bahamas takes pride in its natural beauty."
English (official)Bahamian CreoleEnglish

Costs and practicals

Currency

Bahamian Dollar (BSD) · $

Cost level

Luxury

Meals

$15-30 | a mid-range restaurant meal costs $15-30 per person

Hotels

$150-400 | budget hotels $100-150/night, luxury resorts $300+

Local transport

$1.25 | local jitney bus ride ~$1.25

Cost notes

Prices higher on remote islands; all-inclusive packages can offer value.

Timezone

America/Nassau -05:00 (GMT)

More facts

Population

385,640

Area

13,940 km²

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

ISO code

BS, BHS

Type

country

Frequently Asked Questions

Also known as: Bahámaí, Komunumo de Bahamaj Insuloj, באַהאַמאַס, Багамын Арлууд, బహామాస్, Багамы, Багаман гlайренаш, Багама, Na Bahámaí, Comunitatea Bahamas, Orílẹ̀-èdè Àjọni ilẹ̀ awọn Bàhámà, בהאמה, Baham adaları, ባሃማስ, Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Commonwealth di Bahamas, Cymanwlad y Bahamas, Mienebêst fan de Bahama's, Bahamu Salu Sadraudzība, de Bahamas, باهاماس, 巴哈马, බහාමාස්, باهامای مشترک‌المنافع سامون, Spůlnota Bahamůw, Bahamasy, 바하마 연방, یەکیەتیی هاوقازانجی بەهاما, جزر البهاما, Jumuiya ya Bahamas, ბაჰამიშ კოკეფიშ წორომაჸალობა, Mancomunidá de Les Bahames, Државна Заедница Бахами, Commonwealth ali Bahamile, קהיליית איי בהאמה, A Bahaamas, Bahames, Baħamas, باہاما, Tetã Va'ama, ဘဟားမားစ် ဓနသဟာယ နိုင်ငံ, Bagamalar, Багам аралдары, איי בהאמה, Bahamos, Samveldið Bahamaoyggjar, Àwọn Bàhámà, Ҷазираҳои Багам, Bagamat, Bahâmasa, Բահամներ, De Bahama's, Forobanafolo Bahamasi, Бага́мскія Астравы́, ny Bahamaghyn, Бахамын Нүхэрлэл, Bahamu Sondrauga, Багама утрауҙары, Баҳамас, Bahaamas, Пахам Утравĕсен Пĕрлешӳлĕхĕ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᏆᎭᎹᏍ, Commonwealth Bahamow, Садру́жнасць Бага́мскіх Астраво́ў, បាហាម៉ា, Na Bahàmas, बहामास, Samväldet Bahamas, Peusema'muran Bahama, ບາຮາມມາສ, Ny Bahamaghyn, La Bahamoj, Commonwealth des Bahamas, බහාමාස් පොදු රාජ්‍යය, 巴哈馬, બહામાસ, Bahama's, بَہامَس, බහමාස්, Samveldi Bahamaeyja, Bahama Milletler Topluluğu, Bahamat, Багамысе отро-влак, I Bahamas, Il-Baħamas, Bahaman kansainyhteisö, دولتِ مشترکہ بہاماس, Багамуд Арлин Ниицән, Багамалар, Bahamasuolluuh, Bahamai Közösség, Orílẹ́ède Bàhámásì, Бахам, Bahamy, Federasyona Bahamayan, Pahama, Багамы Сакъадæхты Æмбалад, Die Bahamas, iBhahamasi, Ynysow Bahama, Mancomunidat d'as Bahamas, Bahama riikkaidlihttu, Bahamské spoločenstvo, 巴哈馬係, பஹாமாஸ், བ་ཧ་མཱ་སི།, বাহামা দ্বীপপুঞ্জের কমনওয়েলথ, বাহামা, Bahama, Commonwealth Bahama, De Bahamas, ბაჰამიშ კოკეფი, Commonweel o the Bahamas, ประเทศบาฮามาส, باهاما, Bahamak, Gemenebest van de Bahama's, বাহামা দ্বীপপুঞ্জ, Commonwealth del Bahamas, Bagam orollari, Le Bahamas, Багама арыылара, Bahamasɛ, Bahamassambandet, Bahamu salas, Bagaman Sared, Kamanwelt a di Ba'aamaz, Содружество Багамы, Co-unnaneys ny Bahamaghyn, ba'am, D'Bahamas, Садружнасць Багамскіх астравоў, Kenglad ar Bahamas, Ishujt Bahamas, བྷ་ཧ་མ་སུ།, Zajednica Bahamâ, Бахамски Острови, Commonwealth tal-Baħamas, Bagama Orollari Hamdo‘stligi, Do Bahamas, Il Bahamas, Bahamaghyn, Багама Аралдары Ынтымактыгы, Li Bahamas, बहामासचे राष्ट्रकुल, Vaamakuéra, Բահամյան Կղզիներ, Mancomunidade das Bahamas, Багама Холбоһуга, Komonwelt ng Bahamas, ବାହାମାସ୍, Багамські Острови, Bagaman suarin yhtymy, Quần đảo Bahamas, Bahama-eilen, Bahamaoyggjar, Commonwealth an'i Bahamasy, Bahamasullot, 巴哈馬聯邦, Bagaman suaret, Bahaman liittovaltio, Bahama Ühendus, بەهاما, Комновелт Бахама, เครือรัฐบาฮามาส, Las Baamas, Bahamet, Бахами, ބަހާމަސް, Bahamas, ბაჰამის კუნძულები, كومنولث جزر البهاما, Mancomunidad de las Bahamas, Pasamakmuran Bahama, الباهاماس, Багама Утрауҙар Берлеге, 巴哈马 / 巴哈馬, Багам аралдары достастығы, Багамские Острова, Багама аралдары, Mancomuniá de las Baamas, Bahaamaase, བཱ་ཧ་མས྄།, Bahamanae, Μπαχάμες, Insulae Bahamenses, Bahamoj, Bahamalar, Співдру́жність Бага́мських Острові́в, Commonwealth bu Bahamas, 巴哈馬國, בהמה, Багамтæ, Comhlathas na mBahámaí, Bahamaas, Dalka Bahamas, द बहामस, Les Bahames, Mankomunidad ti Bahamas, Commonwealth faan a Bahaamas, Bahami, Багамвлӓ, ဘဟားမား, ಬಹಾಮಾಸ್, Багамын арлууд, i-Bahamas, ବାହାମା, Wspólnota Bahamów, Zjadnośeństwo Bahamow, قلمرو همسود باهاما, バハマ国, ma Pawama, Bahamā, Пахамсем, Баһамалар, Бахаме, ബഹാമാസ്, Y Bahamas, די באַהאַמאַס, Bahamské společenství, കോമൺവെൽത്ത് ഓഫ് ബഹാമാസ്, Khối thịnh vượng chung Bahamas, بہاماس, Bahamuäns, バハマ, Commonwealth dełe Bahamas, Commonwealth der Bahamas, Bahamu Sadraudzība, बहामस राष्ट्रमण्डल, Gemaenebes van de Bahama's, ਬਹਾਮਾਸ, Bahamas Kok, ಬಹಾಮಾಸ್ ಕಾಮನ್ವೆಲ್ತ್, Ti Bahamas, Bahamakuna, Дружество Бахамски острови, Co-fhlaitheas nam Bahàmas, Łe Bahamas, An Bahamas, Բահամյան Կղզիների Ընկերակցությունը, Бахамските острови, de Bahama's, 바하마, Commonwealth delle Bahamas, كومونويلث الباهاماس, Багамскы островы, na Bahámaí, बहामस, Бахамын аралууд, Κοινοπολιτεία των Μπαχαμών, Baamas, Thịnh vượng chung Bahamas, Baham Adaları Birliyi, பகமாசு பொதுநலவாயம், Gemenebes van die Bahamas, བྷ་ཧ་མས྄, Bahama Insularo, Ba'aamaz, Persemakmuran Bahama, बहामाज, The Bahamas, Садружнасьць Багамаў, Bahamų Sandrauga, பாகாமாசு, Las Bahamas, Les Bahamas, Բահամները, కామన్వెల్త్ ఆఫ్ ది బహామాస్, Bahamák, የባሃማስ የጋራ ሀገር, ਬਹਾਮਾਸ ਦਾ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਮੰਡਲ, Bagaman Sariden Ühtnend, Содружество Багамских Островов, Bahama Ütisüs, Komanwel Bahamas, باھاما, ဘဟားမားနိုင်ငံ, Bahama-szigetek, Бага́мы, Bahamaeyjar, Comunidade das Bahamas, བྷཱ་མས྄།, Bahamas nutome, ბაჰამის კუნძულების თანამეგობრობა, Bahamakunap Llaqta Tanta, Bagama Adalary, কমনৱেলথ বাহামা, Zveza Bahami, Bahamasi

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