Prince George Wharf is the largest cruise port in The Bahamas. It's the place to see massive cruise liners load and unload passengers. More than a million passengers arrive at Prince George Wharf every year.

Cruise ship passengers come and go through Festival Place, which is a great place to shop for resort wear and souvenirs. Festival Place is a bright and colorful area that features over 45 artisan and seller stalls. You'll find traditional crafts such as hand-crafted straw bags, textiles, and paintings.

Prince George Wharf is a great place to arrange tourist attractions such as horse-drawn carriage rides, scooter rentals, boat excursions, and hair-braiding. Visitors can also check out live Bahamian music on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The adjacent Woodes Rogers Walk offers a great viewpoint of the historic wharf.

Rawson Square was named for Sir Rawson William Rawson, who was Governor of The Bahamas in the 1860s. Rawson Square is often the first stop for cruise ship passengers.

Rawson Square is a charming destination with cobblestone paving and colonial-style government buildings. The Churchill Building is on the south side of the square, and visitors can find horse-drawn surreys on the west side of the square. There's also a pavilion for open-air hair-braiding.

Rawson Square has a bronze bust of Sir Milo Butler. Butler was sworn in as the first Bahamian governor of an Independent Bahamas in 1973. Rawson Square also features a fountain named for the first Bahamian Minister of Tourism, Sir Stafford Sands. In addition, a life-size bronze statue features a woman holding a child and celebrates Bahamian women.

Visitors will also find a monument honoring Christopher Columbus. The Christopher Columbus monument was erected in 1992 during the Bahamas Quincentennial Celebrations.

Visitors can pose for pictures underneath a "The Islands of The Bahamas" sign with the historic cruise ship port in the background.

Rawson Square hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. Junkanoo festivals are held the day after Christmas, on New Year's Day, and during the summer. During Junkanoo, the square is packed with residents and tourists taking part in a vibrant parade.

The Queen's Staircase is known as the 66 steps and is one of Nassau's most visited attractions. The staircase was cut from limestone and completed in 1794. The staircase provides a direct route to Fort Fincastle on Bennet's Hill.

When the staircase and fort were built, The Bahamas feared invasions by other European nations who wanted to control the Caribbean. As a result, the British built several forts to defend the country against European attackers and pirates. These forts include Fort Fincastle, Fort Montagu, and Fort Charlotte. Fort Fincastle is the highest of the three forts, and residents wanted a direct access route to and from the fort in case of an attack.

Six hundred slaves worked for over 16 years to complete the staircase. The enslaved people used hand tools to cut through solid limestone.

In the 1800s, the staircase was renamed after Queen Victoria, who ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901.

The Queen's Staircase has a beautiful water feature that cascades next to the staircase to a pool at the bottom of the stairs. The staircase is surrounded by a peaceful garden area with high stone walls and lush foliage.

Today, the staircase is still used to access Fort Fincastle. The garden setting makes it a wonderful place to visit during the day or night. Residents and visitors can enjoy the peaceful grotto in the middle of bustling Nassau.

Fort Fincastle was built with cut limestone in 1793. Its location on top of Bennet's Hill was chosen as the best strategic location to protect Nassau and the harbor from attacks. Governor John Murray, also known as Lord Dunmore and Viscount Fincastle, was in charge of the fort's construction. Visitors can access the fort by climbing the historic Queen's Staircase.

Fort Fincastle was built in the shape of a paddle-wheel steamer. The fort had a 68 cannon capacity but never fired a single shot. The fort also served as a lighthouse until 1817, when the Paradise Island lighthouse was built.

Bennet's Hill is the highest point on the island, and the fort offers fabulous views of historic Nassau, Paradise Island, and the harbor. Visitors can also read several information signs to learn more about the fort's history.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum is a fun interactive museum that immerses guests into the lives and times of Nassau's pirates. Visitors can board the Revenge pirate ship and go on an adventure through time.

The years 1690 through 1720 are known as the Golden Age of Piracy, and Nassau was known as the pirate capital of the world. Nassau was the heart of pirate activity as pirates could helm their shallow-draft ships through the waters of The Bahamas that were too shallow for larger warships. The pirates could then quickly access the deeper water trade routes that larger, slower ships used.

The museum presents its pirate history in an entertaining, interactive way. Visitors begin their pirate adventure on a recreated dock and shanty town before boarding the Revenge replica pirate ship. Onboard, visitors will learn more about pirate history and can practice their pirate lingo.

The museum displays different pirate living quarters, weaponry, and tools. In addition, the museum has exhibits detailing famous pirates such as Blackbeard and Woods Rogers. Visitors can also learn more about women pirates like Anne Bonny and Mary Reid.

In the Marooned exhibit, visitors can see what it was like for pirates who broke the pirate code and were abandoned. In the Flag Room, you'll learn that pirates would raise a black flag as they approached their victims.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum has an on-site restaurant, Smugglers, where you can enjoy local favorites like conch salad.

The Nassau Straw Market features thousands of hand-crafted items and has been a Nassau tradition since the 1940s. Traditionally, Bahamians weaved and braided straw baskets to use as fish traps and fruit baskets. After World War II, Americans began visiting The Bahamas on vacation and bought these beautiful hand-crafted baskets and bags.

The original Straw Market burned down in 2001. The current two-story structure was completed in 2011 and provides an indoor, air-conditioned space.

Visitors will find handmade straw items, wood carvings, shell jewelry, and delicious treats at over 400 stalls. Visitors are welcome to barter and bargain for eye-catching items. In addition, there are plenty of mass-produced souvenirs, t-shirts, and knock-off designer bags.

The Straw Market is the place to go for unique Bahamian gifts and fun souvenirs.

Bay Street is Nassau's busiest shopping destination. Visitors will find local vendors selling handmade crafts as well as luxury brands. As you stroll, you'll find shops selling jewelry, designer purses, liquor, and souvenirs.

The Island Book Shop features a variety of local interest books. Shoppers will also find several exclusive cigar shops. In addition, Bay Street is home to the world-famous Nassau Straw Market, where you can barter and bargain for hand-crafted straw items.

Bay Street is also home to museums and historical attractions. The interactive Pirates of Nassau Museum is one of Bay Street's attractions. In addition, you'll stroll past the Nassau Public Library, Rawson Square, Parliament Square, and the Pompey Museum. There are many waterfront adventure outfitters along Bay Street where you can book a sailing, diving, or fishing charter.

Bay Street features a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. Try Bahamian conch fritters or enjoy American comfort food. Two miles west of Rawson Square, you'll find the Fish Fry, a favorite place for Bahamian food and beverages.