Famous for its swimming wild pigs, beautiful beaches, amazing reefs, colorful historic towns, and being home to some of the world’s clearest oceans, the country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic is a truly wonderful gem.
Its close proximity to the USA means that The Bahamas, as well as Bermuda, are popular choices for a paradise-like getaway, and there are 16 major islands but over 700 stunning subtropical islands to discover and explore. Here are the best and most beautiful places to visit in The Bahamas…
1. Monjack Cay – one of the most stunning islands to explore
Monjack Cay, the most inhabited island, is famous for its beautiful beaches. Monjack Cay, sometimes known as “Nunjack” and “Manjack” Cay, is located north of Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos and a perfect destination for day trips.
Enjoy the beautiful view of sharks, stingrays, turtles, and lots of fish.
Take some time and feed these beautiful sea creatures; you can touch the nurse sharks and turtles. You can reach Monjack Island on a boat, and it is worth it.
If you’re lucky, you could catch a glimpse of green turtles and stingrays in the shallows. Recreational activities include swimming, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and walking the trail to the ocean.
2. Swimming Pigs (Pig Beach) – a famous and fun beauty spot 
This is easily one of the best beaches in The Bahamas. The Exuma Cays archipelago consists of 365 islands, including Pig Island and Big Major Cay.
Located on the northwestern shoreline of Big Major Cay, Pig Beach is an uninhabited Exuma Cays island. If you are in the Bahamas, you can’t miss this beach blanketed by tropical storms.
Visitors can easily spot swimming Pigs or the Exuma Pigs at Pig Beach, the most famous attraction of the Bahamas, which are a sight to behold and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
You can even feed them. Turquoise blue waves lap the white sand borders of this remote tropical island retreat in the Exuma Cays.
3. Nassau – the capital city with a mix of Bahamian and British culture
Despite the swarms of camera-toting tourists, Nassau, Bahamas, one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise ship ports, manages to fascinate visitors.
Enjoy the white sands of Cable Beach, the boutiques, restaurants, museums, candy-colored colonial buildings of downtown and Bay Street, and the Nassau Straw Market for souvenirs.
Ardastra Gardens and Conservation Center is a fun site to visit for families of endangered and threatened species nestled among four acres of tropical gardens.
4. The Glass Window Bridge – a perfect blend of Caribbean and Atlantic waters
Located along Queen’s Highway, Glass Window Bridge Is one of the most beautiful sites in the Bahamas. The turbulent, deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean may be seen on its northern side, while you can see the tranquil, turquoise-green seas of the Bight of Eleuthera on its southern side.
Enjoy the breathtaking views from the bridge of a rocky ocean and a calm sea from the spot. You can also venture down the bridge and take your time navigating the jagged rocks.
Besides, there is also a free public beach on the Caribbean side where visitors can enjoy a perfect swim.
5. Inagua – a natural retreat on The Bahamas’ second-largest island
The southernmost district of the Bahamas, Inagua consists of two islands, Great Inagua Island and Little Inagua Island. The majority of the flamingos on Great Inagua Island spend their time wading in the water and extending their wings.
When more than 80,000 West Indian flamingos take flight, they turn the sky pink.
Visitors can get the best view of this well-coordinated spectacle in the Inagua National Land & Sea Park, which encompasses 45 percent of Great Inagua Island. Matthew Town is the solely inhabited village on the island, and salt mining has been the primary source of income for years.
The flamingos sometimes relax on the shallow plains of neighboring Little Inagua Island. They are one of the highlights of the Little Inagua National Park, home to many endangered species.
6. Cable Beach – an unspoiled beach
A three-mile curved beach of white sand and brilliant blue waters, Cable Beach, is New Providence Island’s most popular location. The beach gets its name from an undersea telegraphic wire that washed ashore here in 1892, and resorts, hotels, and casinos border it.
It’s easy to spot vacationing families, spring breakers, water-sports operators, and wandering souvenir dealers on this beach. Once you step foot on Cable Beach’s magnificent sands, you won’t be able to get enough of it.
There’s lots of space to walk around and explore, and the azure waters and beautiful white dunes will captivate you.
7. Shroud Cay – a secluded isle with unique marine life
A beautiful archipelago of cays and rocks, surrounded by tidal mangroves, Shroud is a hidden island in the Exuma Land and Sea Park.
Brimming with myriad marine life, Shroud Cay has captured many hearts because of the “Washing Machine,” a natural lazy river that washes you in a spin cycle from one side of a vast and magnificent Shroud Cay beach to the other.
Shroud Cay is a beautiful example of Exuma’s outstanding natural beauty, immaculate shores, and shiny blue seas. Pay a visit to Exuma bank to explore the washing machine through a river-like network of mangrove canals.
8. Ocean Cay Marine Reserve – a laidback Caribbean island with remarkable beaches
Ocean Cay, a protected Marine Reserve, was redeveloped as a private island called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for MSC Cruises.
The Island covers 95 acres and is a part of the Bimini district and 20 miles south of Bimini. Celebrate the natural beauty of the Bahamas while inspiring and educating guests about environmental protection.
This place is perfect for snorkeling with colorful fish or scuba diving with an expert guide in crystal clear water. Dive into the crystal clear waters to enjoy the beauty of marine life that calls Ocean Cay home.
Plan a day and evening on Ocean Cay to spend some quality time with your family!
9. Cat Cays – a private vacation island perfect for those seeking a quiet refuge
The famous Cat Cay comprises two small islands: North Cat Cay and South Cat Cay, located just ten miles south of Bimini. North Cat Cay is an exclusive owned island and managed by the Cat Cay Yacht Club.
Previously used by the pirate Edward Teach, the cay popularly known as Blackbeard is named for the “cat line” of a sailing vessel that it mimics.
The island now boasts a 9-hole golf course, a short airstrip, a large marina, and beautiful houses. As it is a private island, tourists arriving by boat are not permitted to explore it.
However, visitors can enjoy the food at Bu’s Marina Bar for lunch, dinner with a delicious rum punch.
10. Garden of the Groves – a pretty botanical paradise with an array of tropical fauna & flora
Garden of the Groves is the ultimate environmental experience in Grand Bahamas. Explore the lush foliage, flowing waterfalls, and glittering fountains on twisting footpaths. Visit the beautiful chapel, which is a popular location for weddings, prayer, and meditation.
Explore the Garden Shops, experience the solemn beauty of the Labyrinth, dine at the Garden Café, or let the kids play on the newly extended playground.
A haven for birders, watch the native and migratory birds and butterflies sip nectar or collect insects from the numerous freshly planted flowers; this vibrant garden is an excellent outdoor retreat.
11. Grand Bahama – one of the best places to visit in The Bahamas 
Grand Bahama Island, the northernmost of the Bahamas’ islands, is a favorite destination for package visitors and cruise ships.
Freeport, the Bahamas’ second-largest city, is a thriving tropical playground though Port Lucaya has surpassed it as the tourist destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Shop quirky jewelry and straw crafts from the Port Lucaya Marketplace or explore the marina; Grand Bahama is home to extensive underwater cave systems in the Lucayan National Park.
Explore the colorful pastel houses, take a dip in the Xanadu Beach or visit the private estate with manicured gardens at Cooper’s Castle.
12. Mayaguana – a quaint getaway with stunning scenery
Mayaguana, the most isolated and least developed island in The Bahamas, is suitable for those looking for a peaceful holiday. The island offers the ideal mixture of quiet and charm, whether it’s a footprint-free beach or a remote fishing area.
Make your way to the tranquil island of Mayaguana, where you’ll find modest, rustic accommodations with Caribbean charm in this close-knit community.
Mayaguana is the only Bahamas Island that retains its Arawak name. Mayaguana’s beaches are ideal for picnicking, sunning, shelling, and just taking a quiet stroll.
You can snorkel just offshore in the magnificent blue sea to observe coral heads, sand dollars, and starfish.
13. Taino Beach – the most stunning beach of Grand Bahama Island
Taino Beach is a lovely expanse of white sand dotted with thin palm trees that wave in the breeze. It is a popular gathering place, featuring a variety of water sports and restaurants serving local fare.
Relax on the smooth sand while taking in the colorful atmosphere of this vibrant harbor. Go beachcombing with your family to discover the various shells and corals that adorn this stretch of sand during your stay at one of the luxurious beachfront resorts.
Wednesday evenings feature exotic local food, while bonfires keep you warm late into the night. Participate in the dancing rituals and competitions, enjoy the colorful environment, or explore other nearby sites such as Lucaya Beach, Smith’s Point Beach, and Port Lucaya Marina.
14. Clifton Heritage National Park – a historical park on the New Providence Island
The Clifton Heritage National Park preserves the historical and cultural legacies of three influential groups who impacted the country: the Lucayans, Loyalists, and Africans.
A stroll through the Park’s twisting pathways will reveal a range of ecosystems, including native coppice, cliffs, coastal wetlands, dunes, rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, and offshore coral reefs. You can find songbirds, wading birds, seabirds, and other wildlife in the area.
The Park offers swimming, hiking, camping, snorkeling, birdwatching, and picnics, as well as the Sacred Space, which is ideal for spiritual retreats, and panoramic views from the cliffs.
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My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I’ve lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. I’m a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian – from cloudberry liquors to Nordic noirs. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, you’ll find me walking my rescued Greek street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Laos, California and the surreally beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland.