6 Best Beaches In Nassau

The best beaches in Nassau, The Bahamas, are postcard-ready strands with white sand and frothy blue water. The list includes some of the most famous beaches in the region: Cable Beach, Jaws Beach and Love Beach.

In addition to being a quick cruise away from many East Coast ports, Nassau — the capital of The Bahamas — is known for its sun-kissed weather and fruity drinks served up under the shade of a palm tree. And while you can use Nassau as a jumping-off point for excursions to other Bahamian islands, you'll find that the best beaches in Nassau are worthy of your vacation time. I especially like Cabbage Beach, with its striking green foliage. 

So how do you choose which strands to spend your time on? Read on for a list of the six best beaches in Nassau to choose from for your next visit.

1. The Closest Beach: Junkanoo Beach

Cruise ships dock in downtown Nassau, right in the center of the historic town's candy-colored colonial buildings and a short walk from the straw market. For those looking to walk to a beach from the cruise ship terminal, Junkanoo is the most convenient from the port. Grab your beach bag and your towels — the stroll through town will only take 15 minutes, unless you decide to shop along the way. Once there, you can join the throngs and rent a lounge chair and an umbrella for the day.

This is a very popular spot whenever there are several ships in port (think larger crowds) and especially during spring break season (which is one of the best times to visit The Bahamas). And while some days there may only be one ship calling on Nassau, others see as many as six cruise ships lined up. There's a lot going on here: Beach vendors sell cold local beer and water, and the Tiki Bikini Hut, which is right on the beach, serves up cracked conch and jerk ribs. If you don't grab lunch by the shore, you can find a spot on the way back to the ship. Join the crowds at The Bearded Clam Sports Bar for conch fritters, coconut shrimp, and tacos piled high with fried fish and curried goat. The Main Street Ice Cream Parlor — also on the way back to port — dishes out tasty rum cake sundaes.

2. The Beach With The Most Activities: Atlantis Beach

When you pull into the Nassau cruise ship terminal, you'll probably notice the pink towers of the Atlantis Resort, which seem close enough to reach out and touch. They're about a 10- to 12-minute ride from the port. You can book a shore excursion that includes bus transfers and full-day resort passes, which give you access to one of the prettiest beaches in Nassau. The gorgeous shoreline has powdery white sand and cool blue water, and your pass includes the use of beach towels and lounge chairs for the day.

But the beach is just the beginning: You also get access to the 141-acre Aquaventure water park with a dozen swimming pools, slides (including one designed to look like a Mayan temple), a lazy river and Poseidon's Playzone, a splash park designed just for little ones. The resort also has shops, a casino and restaurants, including ones helmed by celebrity chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and José Andrés. Just keep in mind that if you have kids and you start at the water park, you might never make it to the beach or the shops at all.

3. The Cleanest Beach: Cabbage Beach

4. The Most Popular Beach: Cable Beach

5. The Beach With The Best Story: Jaws Beach

6. The Beach With The Best Name: Love Beach