Nassau · Bahamas

Nassau & Paradise Island

Nassau & Paradise Island spans New Providence mainland strands — Cable Beach, Junkanoo Beach / Western Esplanade, and Love Beach — and Paradise Island’s north-shore Cabbage Beach across Nassau Harbour, including the Atlantis resort corridor.

Cable BeachJunkanoo BeachCabbage Beach

Choose your stretch

  • Cable Beach — West Bay Street · New Providence · ~2½ miles of resort-lined sand a few miles west of Nassau
  • Junkanoo Beach / Western Esplanade — near Nassau Cruise Port · ~0.5 mi / ~10-min walk along Bay Street
  • Love Beach — northwest New Providence · ~20 min from downtown · snorkeling near protected coral
  • Cabbage Beach — Paradise Island north shore · public paths off Casino Drive by RIU Palace; check access on the day
  • Atlantis resort beaches — Atlantis Day Pass required for non-registered visitors (paid resort outdoor amenity)

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

Cable Beach / Goodman’s Bay (West Bay Street): public shoreline beside resort lots. Check the signs or ask the lot attendant. Resort lots are private.

Junkanoo Beach / Western Esplanade: walk-first from Nassau Cruise Port (~0.5 mi / ~10 min per Nassau Paradise Island). Chair/umbrella rentals are vendor commercial; sand entry stays free.

Love Beach: northwest New Providence, West Bay Street corridor west of Cable Beach.

Cabbage Beach (Paradise Island): vehicle access via Bridge Authority bridges — Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge private vehicles $2; pedestrians & bicycles Nil. Check public lot prices on the signs or with the attendant. Public access has been near Casino Drive by RIU Palace; some access was reported restricted in September 2026, so check on the day.

Atlantis resort: Day Pass advance purchase for non-guests; wristband pickup at Adventures desks / Ticket Center; prices vary by date.

Bridge Authority tolls · Atlantis Day Pass · Cable Beach (bahamas.com) · Junkanoo Beach (NPI) · Cabbage Beach (bahamas.com)

Best stretches and who they’re for

Cable Beach

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (bahamas.com): a few miles west of Nassau; about two and one-half miles of beach lined with upscale / luxury resorts, golf, nightlife, and a large casino; water sports and sunbathing. Corridor along West Bay Street. Nassau Paradise Island lists Cable Beach, Nassau. The shoreline below the high-water mark is public; the resort loungers beside it are for guests. The easiest Nassau beach on New Providence for a first visit.

Junkanoo Beach / Western Esplanade

bahamas.com: also Western Esplanade; joins beach at Arawak Cay and Long Wharf, near downtown Nassau, a few minutes’ walk from the cruise ship dock; benches; Saturday Bahamian cookouts / fund-raisers noted on official copy. Nassau Paradise Island: ~0.5 miles (800 m) from Nassau Cruise Port; ~10-minute walk along Bay Street; beach bars / chair rentals noted on destination marketing. Official NPI map labels Junkanoo Beach (Long Wharf) / Western Esplanade.

Love Beach

Nassau Paradise Island: about 20 minutes from downtown Nassau; north side of New Providence; near ~40 acres of protected coral; recommended for snorkeling. West Bay Street corridor west of Cable Beach.

Cabbage Beach

bahamas.com: one of the more beautiful beaches on Nassau/Paradise Island; beach walking, swimming, sunbathing; water-skiing, snorkeling, parasailing. North shore of Paradise Island. Public access historically referenced off Casino Drive beside RIU Palace; eastern access was reported fenced off in early September 2026, so check on arrival. Separate from Atlantis Day Pass beaches. Vehicle access: Bridge Authority private vehicles $2; pedestrians & bicycles Nil.

Atlantis resort beaches (context)

Atlantis Paradise Island: Atlantis Beach, Royal Beach, Cove Beach, Paradise Beach (Cove/Reef exclusive), Paradise Lagoon beaches, Dolphin Cay Beach. Official Day Pass and Pools & Beaches pages: Day passes are required for non-Atlantis guests to access Aquaventure, marine habitat, pools, and beaches; tickets must be purchased in advance; quantities limited; prices vary by date/season; wristbands issued on-site. Check the beach hours for your date when you book the Day Pass. Cash-free resort. Context only — resort amenity beaches need Day Pass for non-registered guests.

Notes before you pack

  • Flags / lifeguards: Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority Act — Authority may provide lifeguards at public beaches as it thinks fit — no dest-wide daily flag calendar. On-duty lifeguards and any physical flags at a specific stretch are authoritative when present. Resort operational flags (e.g. Atlantis swim areas) are resort-local only.
  • Dogs: Bahamas National Trust leash bylaws apply on BNT parks only.
  • New Providence and Paradise Island are linked by bridge (private-vehicle tolls); Atlantis Day Pass covers resort outdoor amenities.
  • Hurricane season (1 Jun–30 Nov): check met.gov.bs and NHC before exposed beach / boat days. U.S. Embassy Nassau emergency contacts: Police 911 / 919, Fire 919; BASRA marine rescue numbers on the Embassy hurricane page.
  • Check posted parking prices and the Atlantis Day Pass booking calendar for current rates.
  • Before you head to Cabbage Beach, check that the public path from Casino Drive, beside the RIU, is open.

FAQ

What is there to do near Nassau & Paradise Island?

Near Nassau & Paradise Island: snorkeling, and kayak and paddle. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust