James Willamor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Paradise Island

Turquoise Waters and Endless Thrills

Nassau on Paradise Island welcomes visitors with wide, sunny beaches and calm turquoise waters. The city’s historic forts stand alongside modern hotels, showing a mix of old charm and new comforts. Local markets sell fresh fruit and handmade crafts while restaurants serve fish dishes caught straight from the sea. Walking along the waterfront feels relaxed, with gentle breezes and bright sunsets. Many people come for swimming, snorkeling or simply enjoying quiet moments by the ocean. Nassau’s friendly atmosphere makes it easy to feel at home during a short trip or longer stay.

Add to list Map view

Island in Bahamas

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.5

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

5/5

English is the official and universal language on Paradise Island. All staff, signage, and menus are in English, and communication is easy for international visitors.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Paradise Island Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for luxury beaches and resorts. Relax on white sand, swim in turquoise waters, enjoy water parks and experience upscale dining.

Place score

8.1

Best at:

Sea

Islands

Luxury

Walkable

Boating

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Bahamas – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Samoan Tala (WST) £1 ≈ WST 3.68
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in the Bahamas, especially in tourist areas. Cash is still commonly used for smaller transactions. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is expected in restaurants (15-20%). Taxi drivers usually expect a 10-15% tip. Tipping hotel staff is also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed on most beaches and in designated areas, but may be restricted in certain locations.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public spaces, including restaurants and bars.

Junkanoo (December/January)	Expect lively celebrations and street festivals, with some businesses closed.
Independence Day (July)	Expect national pride celebrations.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911
Taxi apps:	Uber, Taxi Bahamas
Other:	The Bahamas is famous for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and luxury resorts, making it a popular destination for tourists seeking relaxation.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Paradise Island, Bahamas

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

🔥

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - April, Dec.
Shoulder season:	May - Aug., Nov.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Hurricane season runs June to November, highest risk August to October

Hotel prices peak from Christmas to New Year and around spring break in March

Some hotels and restaurants close or renovate in September and October

Don't miss

🐬 Swim with dolphins at Atlantis Marine Habitat
🏖️ Relax on the famous white sands of Cabbage Beach
🦈 Explore The Dig, Atlantis Resort’s underwater aquarium
💦 Try water rides at Aquaventure Water Park
🛍️ Shop and dine at vibrant Marina Village
🌺 Visit historic Versailles Gardens & Cloisters

You've been here?

Why travel to Paradise Island?

Paradise Island is a dream for anyone who loves the beach but wants more than just sand and sea. The Atlantis resort is a self-contained wonderland: think 141 acres of water slides, lazy rivers, aquariums and marine habitats, plus a casino, celebrity chef restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Families will love the kid-friendly pools, Dolphin Cay and endless activities, while couples can unwind at luxury spas or savor romantic dinners overlooking the ocean. The island also offers snorkeling, paddleboarding, tennis and unique shopping at Marina Village. But it’s not all perfect: Paradise Island is pricey, especially at Atlantis and top-end resorts and it can get crowded during peak holidays. Some beaches are private or require day passes. Safety is generally good, but standard precautions apply – especially at night or in quieter areas. Hurricane season (June–November) can bring storms and the sun is intense year-round. Still, for a tropical escape with a bit of everything, Paradise Island is hard to beat.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Paradise Island Golf Course
2 Paradise Lagoon Beach North
3 Dolphin Cay
4 Atlantis Casino
5 The Dig

🎡Places for activities

1 Paradise Lagoon Beach South
2 Pearl Island Snorkeling

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Versailles Gardens
2 Paradise Beach
3 Paradise Lagoon

🛍️Shopping

1 Sandyport Marina Village & Resort

🎈Events

Junkanoo Festival (December/January)
Bahamas Carnival (May)
Atlantis Live concerts
Independence Day celebrations (July)
New Year’s Eve fireworks

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Atlantis Resort dominates; book day passes early.
Explore Cabbage Beach early morning to avoid crowds and enjoy soft sands.
Access via bridge or ferry from Nassau; taxis plentiful but negotiate fares.
Visit French Cloisters ruins for serene history amid ocean views and gardens.

How to travel to Paradise Island

Fly into Lynden Pindling International Airport (Nassau), then take a 30-minute taxi or hotel shuttle over the bridge to Paradise Island. Ferries and water taxis also connect Nassau’s downtown to the island. Many resorts offer airport transfers – book ahead, especially during peak season.

Access summary

From Nassau Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Taxi or shuttle, about 25–30 minutes.
From Nassau downtown: Taxi or water taxi over the bridge, around 10 minutes.
From cruise port: Short taxi or water taxi ride, roughly 10–15 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Paradise Island

Accommodation ranges from luxury resorts (Atlantis, The Ocean Club) to all-inclusives and boutique hotels. Most are clustered near the beaches and offer pools, spas and easy access to attractions. Book well in advance for holidays. Budget options are limited and camping is not available.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Royal at Atlantis

8.5

The Coral at Atlantis

8.1

Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas - All Inclusive - Adults Only

8.3

British Colonial Nassau

8.3

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau

8.2

The Reef at Atlantis

8.5

Bay View Suites Paradise Island

8.5

The Cove at Atlantis

8.1

Riu Palace Paradise Island - Adults Only - All Inclusive

7.8

Harborside Resort & Vacation Rentals at Atlantis

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Paradise Island

The island is compact and easy to explore on foot, especially within the Atlantis resort area. Golf carts and shuttles connect major hotels, beaches and attractions. Taxis are readily available for trips to Nassau or further afield. Public buses do not run onto Paradise Island, so plan for walking, hotel shuttles or taxis.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+10 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 10% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-7 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to WST) is 7% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£88	£188	£523
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£45	£98	£263
🍝 Food per day	£37	£81	£212
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£9	£49

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£30
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£22
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£14
☕ Cappuccino	£4.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£31
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.10

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£80
🤧 Cold medication	£9
💇 Basic haircut	£10

Safety information overview

General safety

Paradise Island is generally safe, but take standard precautions — watch valuables, avoid isolated areas at night and use licensed taxis. Drink spiking and petty theft can occur, especially near casinos and nightlife venues.

Health & Medical

Good medical care is available in Nassau, a short drive away. Bring any prescription medications. Tap water is generally safe, but many prefer bottled. Protect yourself from sunburn and dehydration; watch for jellyfish and strong currents when swimming.

Accessibility

Most major resorts and attractions are accessible, with ramps and elevators. Some beaches and paths are sandy or uneven. Wheelchair users should check with hotels about accessible rooms and facilities before booking.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe to drink, but many visitors prefer bottled water, which is widely available. Always stay hydrated, especially in the heat.