No, both the Bahamas Health Visa and pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement have been eliminated. All visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, are welcome to travel freely to and throughout The Islands of The Bahamas.
Yes, the Royal Bahamas Police Force maintains a robust presence to ensure the safety of visitors and Bahamian residents. We encourage you to maintain awareness of your surroundings and valuables when in public areas, beaches, and pools, just as you would at home.
Cruise lines serving The Islands of The Bahamas:
MSC Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines
Princess Cruise Lines
Royal Caribbean International Cruises
Disney Cruise Lines
Norweigan Cruise Lines
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
The following islands and cays have an available port of call for cruise travel:
Nassau & Paradise Island
Freeport
Great Stirrup Cay
Castaway Cay
Half Moon Cay
Princess Cays
Coco Cay
All nationalities who would normally require a visa for travel to The Bahamas and intend to travel to The Bahamas by way of cruise ship must obtain a Bahamian visa. The same applies for persons traveling by air to join a cruise ship traveling through The Bahamas.
The Bahamian dollar is maintained at the same level as the U.S. dollar and both are accepted interchangeably on all islands.
ATMs + PLUS and Cirrus are in banks on Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, and most major Out Islands.
While certain places do take credit cards, it’s advised that you carry cash if you’re exploring the Out Islands.
Casual summer wear can be worn during the day at any time of the year, but be sure to bring a jacket or sweater for the cooler evenings from December to February. Most hotels, restaurants, and casinos require jackets for men at night, especially in more cosmopolitan areas, such as Nassau & Paradise Island and Freeport.
Beachwear is inappropriate in churches, restaurants, and casinos. Away from the beach or the pool, you should cover your swimsuit with shorts or a long shirt when walking city streets. In more relaxed and remote areas, the dress code is more flexible.
Visitors and business travellers will find that telecommunication services in The Bahamas are comparable to the services found in most developed countries. A 100% digital switching system allows direct dialing to more than 100 countries. The U.S. and Canada are accessible via a direct call and most hotels offer direct dialing.
BTC also has roaming agreements with 128 companies around the world. To access BTC's GSM roaming system, simply turn on your phone and wait for it to connect to the network. To check if your home service provider is a BTC roaming partner or for country-specific roaming charges, see btcbahamas.com.
UK rules apply in The Bahamas, so please drive on the left and be very careful on the roundabouts. Visitors can use their residence permit for up to three months and may also apply for an international driving licence.
To learn more about the road traffic laws, visit www.roadtraffic.gov.bs.
Electrical outlets in The Bahamas are 60 cycles/120 volts, which is compatible with all American devices. British and European appliances require a two-pin flat adapter and a 220-volt converter.
Yes, you can bring your pet to The Bahamas, but you must prepare before you leave home. An import permit is required from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources (Nassau) for all animals brought into the country. The permit is valid for one year from the date of issue.
Follow the links below for important information on importing pets and to download the pet import form:
Spring Break Season in The Bahamas runs from late February to mid-April. This is important information, whether you’re aiming to avoid the season altogether or you’d like to land right in the middle of this weeks-long youth fest.
Evenings on the beach, sports meets, and musical entertainment are some events usually organised for the Spring Break calendar.
The Bahamas falls in the Eastern Time Zone, and follows Daylight Saving Time.
Tipping is customary in The Bahamas, and you should tip according to the quality of service you receive. Bellboys and porters usually receive $1 per bag, while most other servers (waiters, taxis, etc.) receive 15%. Be advised that many establishments include the gratuity in the total.
The Bahamas is a country of 16 major islands, spanning 100,000 square miles. There are countless activities ranging from cultural, leisure, to adventure and ecotourism.
Big Major Cay, home to a colony of pigs and often called Pig Island, is located in The Exumas. Learn more about our infamous Swimming Pigs.
Junkanoo is a traditional Bahamian celebration that has been carried out for thousands of years. It involves intricate costumes, joyful music and carefully choreographed routines, all in the name of a little friendly competition. Catch the celebrations on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and throughout the summer. Click here to learn more.
The Bahamas is a large country, fly times will vary depending on which island you’re heading to. Flights from the US East Coast are as short as 1 hour. Click here to view flights.
A public transportation service (called jitneys) is available on several of the major islands, including Nassau/Paradise Island and Freport-Grand Bahama Island. It usually runs from early morning (around 6:30 a.m.) until around 7:00 p.m. Rates vary depending on the route and the exact change is required. Bus stops are marked. On New Providence, the basic rate is $1.25 per person; areas outside the city of Nassau could cost up to $3.50.
Taxis are conveniently placed in most hotels and at airports. You can also call for a taxi or get one off the street in the main islands. The metered rates vary by island, but they are reasonable and set by law. Please note that surcharges often apply for more than two persons and extra luggage.
Car rentals are available on most islands, as well as scooter and bike rentals.
On the smaller islands, golf carts for rent are a popular mode of transportation.
Trade winds bless The Islands of The Bahamas with warm weather year-round. Winter lows average a comfortable 70 °F (21 °C) and summer highs range from 80 to 90 °F (26 to 32 °C).
Even paradise needs to cool off with a little rain now and then. The Bahamas has a rainy season year-round, which explains our lush vegetation. Squalls and thunder showers pass through quickly, so rain never ruins your plans. May and June typically have the most rain, much of it falling in the northern and southern islands.
Although hurricane season is from June through November, we encourage visitors not to cancel their plans as storm predictions can be surprisingly inaccurate. If a hurricane does disrupt your plans, many Bahamian hotels have hurricane cancellation policies that allow you to cancel and receive a full refund.
Effective January 1, 1992, the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas abolished all import duties on alcohol, perfumes, fragrances, crystal, leather goods, jewellery, fine linens, tablecloths, watches, clocks, photographic equipment, china, binoculars, and telescopes. Duty-free shops are marked with the DFS logo. Prices on these items are usually between 25-50% below U.S. prices.
You can find local crafts in straw markets and speciality shops or at Festival Place in Nassau, the Bahama Craft Centre on Paradise Island, and at Port Lucaya Marketplace on Grand Bahama Island.
Non-Bahamian residents, those who do not hold a Bahamian passport, those who are leaving The Bahamas in the next 45 days, and those who have not worked in The Bahamas in the last 6 months.
The main shopping areas include Freeport, Harbour Island, Nassau (including Bay Street, Lynden Pindling International Airport, Cable Beach and Bahamar Resort) and Paradise Island (including Atlantis Resort). Look for the Global Blue Tax Free signage in store windows. Participating stores can be found here.
Visitors who shop at Global Blue-affiliated stores will receive their VAT refund immediately at the time of purchase. A digital Shop Tax Free Card makes the process even faster.
Yes, the minimum purchase amount for non-consumables is $25. The minimum purchase amount for consumables, allowed only at the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau), is $50 for tobacco and alcohol and $25 for rum cakes.
No, the VAT deduction applies only to goods that are being exported in your personal luggage.