Getting Around, Nassau Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Nassau / Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas)

There is no airport on Paradise Island, with the nearest one on New Providence, next to Lake Killarney and some 16 km / 10 miles west of Nassau. The Lynden Pindling Airport receives flights from the US and Europe, and transfers are easy to arrange. Train travel and standard bus transportation do not exist to Paradise Island and the way to get here is by taxi or hotel shuttle.

Nassau and Paradise Island are connected by two bridges. From the city, Mackey Street leads to the Island Bridge, and East Bay Street / Church Street to the Atlantis Bridge. You can also walk across the bridges and this island is compact enough to negotiate on foot. Taxi transport on both islands is popular, while around Nassau, minibuses offer a cheap travel alternative and connect the main places of interest, such as Cable Beach, Lyford Cay and Sandy Point.

Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) / Arriving by Air

Address: Coral Harbour Road / Windsor Field Road, AP 59222, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, West Indies
Tel: +1 242 377 7281
Formerly Nassau International Airport, Lynden Pindling International Airport is located to the west of the capital and lies directly south of both the Gambier Village and the Orange Hill Beach, where it receives direct US and European flights. The airport is quite small with so-so facilities and shopping, and there is no bus service to Paradise Island. For transfers, your hotel will usually provide a shuttle service, or failing that, expensive meter-taxi transport is available just outside of the arrivals lounge. Taxis generally offer fixed rates when travelling to popular destinations such as both Cable Beach and the Prince George Wharf.

Lynden Pindling Airport Guide

Car Rental

All of the big name rental companies are based at Lynden Pindling International Airport - Avis, Budget, Dollar and Hertz, as well as a choice of local firms renting scooters in Nassau - on Festival Place, the Prince George Wharf and West Bay Street.

Paradise Island is a small, densely populated island, and so having a hire car here is not really necessary, unless you also plan on driving about New Providence. You can pre-book car rentals online, though, and pick up at the airport, or simply hire your vehicle from a rental agency at the hotel. You should note that there is a nominal entry toll to this island.

Book your Nassau Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Visitors are able to travel around New Providence by bus, with minibuses (jitneys) and hotel shuttles being the mainstay of transport after taxis. These minibuses operate between the hours of 06:00 and 20:00, although they don't follow any actual schedules as such. Downtown buses are based on Bay Street and Frederick Street, with various bus stops dotted around the city and beyond, although you can ask the driver to stop anywhere. Buses do not cross the bridges into Paradise Island and remain on New Providence.

Taxis

You can get about Paradise Island on foot for the most part, although taxis are on hand for trips around the island, and to and from Nassau and the airport. Taxis are metered and usually hang around the main hotels and attractions.

You can also charter taxis and limos by the hour for a tour of the island, and of New Providence. However, prices are relatively steep.

Boats and Ferries

Water taxis travel between Nassau's Prince George Wharf and the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal (south) every 30 minutes.

The dock is located on Casino Drive and services run between 09:00 and 18:00. Trip time for this short journey is around ten minutes.