Nassau Paradise Island offers visitors every Bahamian experience, and most are packaged in the convenience of a guided tour, a touring excursion, or a self-guided tour of the points that interest you most.  

 To make the most of your Nassau Paradise Island visit, be sure to include a walking tour -- or maybe two or three to experience things from a close-up vantage point.  

 If you are really pressed for time, at least enjoy a quick one- or two-hour guided circle tour.  Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll around Nassau’s Market Plaza on Bay Street where you can polish your bartering skills while sampling the work of some of the local artisans.

 You might enjoy a long linear walk with return by taxi to your point of origin.  An extended stroll down Bay Street, for example, will take you by Fort Charlotte built overlooking Clifford Park to guard the western entrance to Nassau Harbour. A side trip to this circa 1789 structure will not only let you absorb the atmosphere of one of Nassau’s oldest forts, but you can also experience one of its original dungeons. A little farther on, you will come to the spectacular Nassau Botanic Gardens with its rainbow of tropical fragrances.

 Striking out on your own can be a rewarding experience, but you’ll spend your time more efficiently if you check first with the Ministry of Tourism office for the most updated list of tours available. Guides are government-certified, with some hosting tour groups of 50 or more.There is no better way to learn about a treasure like Nassau Paradise Island than to take a look back into the beginning and examine its art and artifacts. More than twenty museums and art galleries are open for exploration.

Here are a few you will not want to miss:

-Bahamas Historical Society Museum
This famous museum emphasizes both the collection and preservation of historic, anthropological, and archaeological Bahamian artifacts with the ongoing exhibit "A Reservoir of History.” Open at weekdays, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Sat. 10:00 a.m. - Noon.  It is closed on Sundays and holidays. Tours are available to the museum and an admission for adults of $1.00 and $0.50 children. Bahamas Historical Society Museum is located at Elizabeth Avenue and Shirley Street, Nassau. For more information, telephone the museum at 242-322-4231.

-Pompey Museum
This museum houses an archival and museum exhibition gallery featuring the ongoing exhibit "The Road to Freedom," containing artifacts, historical documents and drawings that recount the history of slavery, abolition and emancipation in The Islands of the Bahamas.
Museum hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.; 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on alternate Saturdays; closed Sundays and holidays.
Location: Ground floor of the Pompey Museum, Bay Street, Nassau
Donation: $1.00 adults; $0.50 children under 12
For more information, telephone the museum at 242-326-2566/8.

-Paintings by Amos Ferguson
This permanent art exhibition spotlights paintings of internationally acclaimed Bahamian artist Amos Ferguson and is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.
Museum Hours: Same as the Pompey Museum
Location: 2nd floor of the Pompey Museum, Bay Street, Nassau
Donation: $1.00 adults; $0.50 children under 12
For more information, telephone the Pompey Museum at 242-326-2566/8.

 
-Pirates Of Nassau Museum
Step aboard the deck of an embattled pirate ship and come face to face with Captain Teach and his fearsome crew as they guide you through the interactive and historical age of piracy in the lawless Nassau of 1716. Museum hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mon. - Sat. Location: Marlborough & George Streets, downtown. Admission: Adults $12.00; two children free per adult; $6.00 each additional child. For more information, telephone the museum at 242-356-3759.

-Lyford Cay Gallery  
Since its opening in the 1960s, this museum has featured paintings, sculptures, hand-blown glass and decorative art accessories from around the world. Museum hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Location: Lyford Bay Shopping Centre, Lyford Bay. Admission is free. For more information, telephone the gallery at 242-362-4040.

-Doongalik Studios Gallery
This gallery is the premier showcase for Junkanoo art and culture in The Islands Of The Bahamas, creating and selling a variety of products which result from the inspiration of this annual festival. Location: Village Road, Nassau. For more information, telephone the gallery at 242-394-1886.

  For up-to-date information about other specific museums and art galleries, and what current exhibitions might be of greatest interest to you, contact the Ministry of Tourism office or consult the local telephone directory.