Nassau isn’t my favorite port of call while on a cruise. The vendors are a bit much and the beach excursions are expensive and busy. (Looking at you Blue Lagoon Island and Atlantis.) HOWEVER you can enjoy a budget friendly day in Nassau with some great walks, shopping and beaches right off the boat. Below you will find the budget shore excursion I decided upon: a self-guided walking tour of Nassau. It only took a few hours. Keep scrolling to follow my self guided walking tour of Nassau, with how to get to and from the cruise port and how to get to Junaknoo Beach. So you too can have the perfect budget friendly shore excursion in Nassau.
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Need more budget shore excursion ideas? Here is our wonderful and relaxing day in Costa Maya and the best beach day in Cayman Islands. Thinking a beach club in Cozumel check out our review of Nachi Cocom.
Leaving Nassau Cruise Port
The Nassau port is under construction (as of Jan. 2023) so it’s a bit confusing to get out. The vendors start yelling for your attention pretty quickly and it can feel chaotic and overwhelming. Keep following the crowds and eventually you will see on the left a parking lot which has an exit out onto the street. Not totally sure if we were supposed to exit this way but it got us away from the cruise crowds. We ended up on Bay Street and from there we started our self-guided walking tour.
Follow the directions below for the self-guided walking tour. Pro tip: Use the GPS My City app for great historical information while on your walk.
Map of Self guided Walking Tour in Nassau
Nassau Self-Guided Walking Tour
Stop 1: Parliament Square.
If you take that weird short cut, you will end up right in front of Parliament Square. You really can’t miss it since it’s a bright pink building. It was built in the 1700/1800s by loyalists who moved from North Carolina to the Bahamas. Once you are done visiting, turn back towards Bay Street. Take a right onto Bay Street then take another right onto East Street. Follow East Street until you reach Sands Lane or start seeing signs for the Queen’s Staircase. Take a left onto Sands Lane and this path will take you to Fort Fincastle.
Stop 2: Fort Fincastle
It costs $3.00 a person to go inside the fort. There are excellent views at the top and some plaques explaining the history. There are some tour guides in the area. I didn’t think it was necessary to join one. The fort is in the shape of a ship and was built in the 1700s with limestone. From here follow the signs for the Queen’s Staircase; just across from the fort.
Stop 3: Queen’s Staircase
It was built in the 1700s by slaves as a path from the center of town to the fort. They hewed through limestone to build this staircase. It was named after Queen Victoria in the 1800s. Head down the stairs to fully appreciate it. When done, head straight down the corridor and keep walking straight until you hit Bay Street. Then take a right onto Bay Street.
Stop 4: Bay Street
Bay Street is filled with shopping, restaurants and Starbucks. There are many jewelry places as well. If you enjoy shopping, you will enjoy this street. Keep following Bay Street until you pass Margaritaville on your right. Then you will be on West Bay Street. Keep following this road until you reach Junkanoo Beach.
Stop 5: Junkanoo Beach
The walk to and around Junkanoo Beach is lovely. It is a free public beach with bars along it. You can even nab some free WIFI from the Comfort Inn. The water is bright blue with plenty of places to lay out BUT it is very much a party atmosphere. There was loud music and cheap beer. This is not the beach vibe I enjoy so if you keep walking down the beach you will find quieter places to rest. You will have to pay for lounge chairs. However there are plenty of places to sit on a towel and enjoy the sun.
Stop 6: Back to the cruise port
Go back down West Bay Street to Bay Street. Take a left down Charlotte Street then a right at the end. The port will be right in front of you.
Overall Cost
We only spent $6.00 while visiting Nassau. This was the entrance fee for Fort Fincastle. We ate on the boat for both breakfast and lunch. So it was an incredibly affordable day.
Nassau Tips and Tricks
- Most places will accept American dollars. Make sure you bring cash with you.
- Be firm but polite with vendors. Be aware of people trying to talk you into tours.
- It is safe to walk around tourist areas just take the usual travel precautions for pickpockets etc.
- Do your research for excursions not all excursions are worth your time and money.
- English is spoken across the island.
- Don’t be afraid to haggle.
- Bring towels from your ship. You can easily save money by lying out on towels rather then renting lounge chairs.
- Nassau is busy so getting off the ship early is always a win.
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Your Thoughts…
This was our self guided walking tour in Nassau. A perfect budget friendly option. What is your favorite thing to do in Nassau while on a cruise?
