For your next vacation in one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean, you are wondering which areas to avoid in Nassau in the Bahamas.
Many tourists choose the Bahamas archipelago for its resorts, beautiful beaches, and clear, turquoise waters perfect for diving or snorkeling.
But when you have to stay in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, before choosing your hotel, you ask yourself a few questions.
Here is the 2024 Nassau Safety Guide to help you choose the best place to stay and avoid dangerous areas of Nassau.
Is Nassau a safe city in 2024?
To assess whether Nassau is a safe or dangerous city, I compared its level of crime with other cities in the world but also with American cities.
And when we compare globally, we can say that Nassau is not one of the most dangerous cities. Indeed in 2024, contrary to Cape Town ou Acapulco, it does not appear in the rankings of the most dangerous cities in the world (statista.com ou populationu.com).
Speaking on Numbeo.com According to the world ranking of the 400 most dangerous cities according to their crime index, Nassau is in the high average. Indeed, for Nassau in the Bahamas, in 2024 this site gives it a crime index of 64.77. This is a very high index which proves that Nassau is not one of the safest cities in the world.
If we compare with other cities in the world, we can conclude that Nassau is more criminal than Buenos Aires at 63.27, Santiago de Chile at 61.16, Athens at 55.88 or Paris at 57.01.
And if we compare with American cities, Nassau would be less dangerous than Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit ou Cleveland.
Is Nassau dangerous for tourists?
No, the city of Nassau is not dangerous for tourists apart from a few neighborhoods and areas to avoid (see list below) and provided they are careful.
In fact, the Bahamas Department of Tourism says crime levels in Nassau are comparable to any other major city, but the US authorities, French or Canadian have issued warnings.
In fact for 2024, the French Government which has not classified the Bahamas as vigilance zones, however, indicates this on France Diplomacy :
“Acts of delinquency (thefts, burglaries), sometimes violent, have been reported on the islands of Grand Bahama and New Providence, mainly in the cities of Freeport and Nassau. Travelers should avoid traveling at night in certain areas of Nassau and Freeport that are not usually frequented by tourists.
Also, the Canadian Government recommends that visitors exercise great caution in 2024: travel.gc.ca
The different areas in Nassau
The city of Nassau is located on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. It has just over 300 inhabitants and is organized around the following districts:
- Downtown Nassau which houses the administrations of the capital of the Bahamas
- Palmdale near the center
- Paradise Island peninsula located in front of Downtown
- Blair Estates
- Yamacraw Beach
- Little Hermitage to the East
- Nassau Harbor which is the port where cruise ships dock
- Cable Beach (Nassau Hotel District) which includes the neighborhoods of Grove, Skyline Heights, Sandy Port and Delaporte.
Here is the map of the main neighborhoods of Nassau in the Bahamas: Google map. It will allow you to easily identify the areas to avoid in Nassau and the best ones to stay in (see list below).
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Nassau
According to government authorities and statistics, here are the 3 most dangerous areas of Nassau in the Bahamas:
- The areas around Fish Fry and Arawak Cay ;
- The area Sand Trap nearby;
- Neighborhood Over the Hill which is located south of Shirley Street in downtown Nassau.
Click on the links provided to geolocate on Google Maps the areas to avoid in Nassau.
Remember that the US Government indicates on its website travel.state.gov :
“In Nassau, increased vigilance is required in the Over the Hill area south of Shirley Street where gang violence has led to a high rate of homicides primarily affecting the local population. Violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be careful when staying in short-term vacation rentals where private security companies are not present. »
To form your own opinion, you can consult the statistics published by the bahamas police which records all crime-related data.
Is Downtown Nassau dangerous?
Le downtown nassau is visited by thousands of people who come here to shop, enjoy the bars and restaurants, visit the Straw Market or go sightseeing. The busiest area is along and around Bay Street and the Woodes Rogers Walk. Generally, during the day there is no problem.
However, the British Government states this:
“Be vigilant at all times and don't walk alone away from the main hotels, tourist areas, beaches and downtown Nassau, particularly after dark. " Source : foreign-travel-advice/bahamas
Safest neighborhoods in Nassau
To make the list of the safest neighborhoods in the city of Nassau, I synthesized information published on the websites of real estate agencies and on the best travel forums.
According to these sources, the safest neighborhoods in Nassau are:
Best areas to stay in Nassau
You will find many hotels on the island of New Providence. But if you are looking for a safe and pleasant place to stay near the beach in Nassau, then here are the 2 favorite areas for tourists:
Cable Beach
The seaside resort of the splendid beach of Cable Beach is quite far from Downtown and areas to avoid in Nassau. This is where the majority of hotels are concentrated, welcoming thousands of tourists from the United States and around the world.
If you are looking for the best place to stay near the most beautiful beach in Nassau, then I recommend the Sandals Royal Bahamian All Inclusive
Paradise Island
Paradise Island is an island located opposite the city of Nassau to which is connected by two bridges. It is on this island, far from the neighborhoods to avoid, that the most beautiful hotels in Nassau are to be found.
Indeed, this island has long attracted many wealthy and famous people for decades. Even today, Paradise Island has kept its glamorous atmosphere. Tourists come here for the many nightlife, the beautiful shops, the good restaurants, the casino and of course for the heavenly beaches.
Among the most luxurious, the hotel The Royal at Atlantis is also the most mythical, especially for its Atlantis Aquaventure water park. Indeed, it is known all over the world and has become a must in the Bahamas!
How to visit the city safely?
If you want to safely visit the old quarters of Nassau, the beautiful colonial houses, the historical monuments, then book a guided tour.
Indeed, you will be picked up and picked up from the hotel or the ferry terminal, will have an English-speaking guide and will travel by air-conditioned bus.
This article was produced by synthesizing web data and information from traveler forums, blogs, rankings and statistics updated in 2024.