Things to Do in Paradise Island: Atlantis, Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Rush and Local Food

On a Friday evening at Marina Village, goatskin drums and cowbells start up, the costumed dancers of a Junkanoo Rush push through the crowd, and the masts of the yachts in the marina rattle in time with the beat. Paradise Island is a small island lying across Nassau Harbour from the city of Nassau, and it is built around one enormous resort, a long north-shore beach and a few quieter corners. It suits travelers who want water slides, marine life and sand in one place, and also those who like to slip away to a garden or a market in town.

A beach on Paradise Island · Illustration

What are the best things to do in Paradise Island?

The best things to do on Paradise Island are a day at the Atlantis resort, a long walk on Cabbage Beach, an evening of Junkanoo drumming at Marina Village, and a slow wander through the Versailles Gardens. Around those four fit a meal of conch, a look at the marine habitat and a crossing into Nassau itself.

The island is compact, which shapes how a visit goes. You can swim in the morning, wander in the afternoon and still be at the marina for the drums at dusk. Most travelers spend their time between the resort, the beach and the harbor side, and the rest of Nassau is a bridge away.

Spend a day at Aquaventure, the water park at Atlantis, where a lazy river and a temple-shaped slide tower set the scene.
Walk Cabbage Beach, the long white strand along the north shore, for sunbathing, swimming or a stroll at the water’s edge.
See the marine habitat at Atlantis, billed as the world’s largest open-air one, with its lagoons and walk-through aquarium.
Visit Dolphin Cay, a marine habitat for manta rays, sea lions and rescued bottlenose dolphins.
Stand under the arches of the Versailles Gardens and French Cloister, a calm, green break from the resort bustle.
Catch a Junkanoo Rush at Marina Village on Friday or Saturday evening, with drums, whistles and feathered costumes.
Eat cracked conch, conch salad and fritters, the flavors that define Bahamian cooking.
Cross one of the two bridges to Nassau for its forts, its straw market and its seafood stalls.

Sights and landmarks in Paradise Island

The landmarks of Paradise Island are a resort, a garden and a pair of bridges, and together they tell the story of how a quiet sandbar became one of the best-known addresses in the Bahamas. Much of the island’s character comes from that story, which rolls from private estates through casino days to the ocean-themed resort of today. Walking it, you notice how much is deliberate: the towers, the lagoons and the waterways were all designed to be looked at.

Atlantis and its marine habitat

Atlantis Paradise Island is an ocean-themed casino resort spread over 154 acres, and it officially opened on December 11, 1998, when the Royal Towers went up. The towers still dominate the skyline from across the harbor. Between the two Royal Towers stretches the Bridge Suite, which costs $25,000 per night and gives you a sense of the resort’s ambitions.

The marine habitat is the part that draws walkers who are not staying here. Atlantis bills it as the world’s largest open-air marine habitat, and you wander past lagoons, passages and a walk-in aquarium where fish, rays and sharks glide overhead and alongside.

The architecture, with its carved columns and sunken-city motifs, is half the fun. It is a place to spend a slow hour or two, mostly on foot, under cool glass and arches.

The resort has five distinct hotels: The Cove, The Royal, The Coral, The Reef and Harborside Resort, and everyone is welcome to stay at any of them. The Royal is the beacon of the resort, while The Coral sits near the marina with views of yachts and the sea. The Cove leans toward luxury and white-glove service. Even if you are sleeping elsewhere, the lobbies and the marina walkway are worth a stroll.

Versailles Gardens and the French Cloister

The Versailles Gardens and French Cloister lie about a 15-minute walk from Atlantis, and they feel like another island altogether. Terraced lawns step down in formal lines, statues stand between clipped hedges and the cloister, built of old stones brought from France, frames a quiet courtyard.

It is a place for slowing down after the crowds of the resort. Light is soft in the early morning and again late in the afternoon, when the stone turns amber and the harbor glints behind the trees. The garden suits couples, photographers and anyone who has had enough of water slides, and the walk there gives you a look at the residential side of the island.

The bridges and the harbor

Paradise Island connects to New Providence by two bridges across Nassau Harbour. The first was built in 1966 by Resorts International, and the second followed in the late 1990s. Crossing either one gives you a view of cruise ships, fishing boats and the pastel buildings of downtown Nassau on the far shore.

Walking up onto the span in the evening is a small pleasure in itself, with the harbor lights switching on and the towers lit up behind you. The bridges are also the reason the island feels so close to the city, since the Nassau side is simply across the water.

The golf course and other quiet corners

The Paradise Island airport closed in 1999, and the airfield and runway have since been replaced by an 18-hole golf course. It is a curious bit of island history, since planes once landed where golfers now putt, and the open green still gives the middle of the island a spacious feel.

Beyond the course, the island’s smaller pleasures are the marina promenade with its yachts, the shaded streets of the residential parts and the viewpoints along the harbor shore. They reward a leisurely afternoon on foot, with no ticket and no plan.

Beaches and outdoor things to do in Paradise Island

The beaches of Paradise Island run along the north shore and inside the resort, and the outdoor activities center on the water, from parasailing and snorkeling to the water park rides. Atlantis alone counts five miles of white sand beaches, though its waterpark and pools are the main draw for guests. Beyond the resort, the island’s best-known public stretch is Cabbage Beach.

Cabbage Beach

Cabbage Beach runs about 1.3 miles east from Atlantis along the north shore, and it is described as one of the more beautiful beaches on Nassau and Paradise Island, ideal for beach walking, swimming or sunbathing. It is a long, open sweep of pale sand with the Atlantic ahead of you and resort towers marking the western end.

Public access is through a path running north from Casino Drive along the east side of the RIU resort. From there you can choose your stretch, with the busier sand nearer the resorts and a quieter feel as you walk east. Water-skiing, snorkeling and parasailing are all on offer here, so the beach suits both people who want to do nothing and those who want a little action.

A good rhythm is a long morning walk along the water, a swim and then a late lunch back toward the resort side. The beach rewards walkers more than people who stay put, since the scenery shifts as the crowd thins.

Aquaventure and the resort beaches

Aquaventure is a large water park built around theming and attractions that local water parks rarely match, and it covers 154 acres of slides, river rides and pools. Its two stars are The Current, a lazy river that doubles as a raft ride, and the tall temple-shaped slide tower with the Leap of Faith slider, the one that drops you through a clear tube past sharks.

Between the rides, the resort beaches give you a place to lie back in the sand. A day here suits families and thrill-seekers, and it is built for staying put, with restaurants, bars and loungers a few steps from each attraction.

Water sports and nature nearby

Parasailing lifts you above the north shore for a view across the island, the harbor and the line of towers. Snorkeling off Cabbage Beach lets you look at the shallows, and water-skiing is another option for those who want speed. These activities cluster around the beach and the resort side, so they fit easily into a beach morning.

If you want a quieter outdoor hour, the marina promenade, the golf course edges and the Versailles Gardens offer green space and harbor views. Each one asks little of you but a pair of comfortable shoes and a bit of curiosity.

Day trips from Paradise Island

The day trips from Paradise Island mostly head across the bridges to Nassau, where the old town, the forts and the waterfront stalls fill an easy day. Because the island is linked to New Providence by two bridges, the city is the natural outing, and from there boat excursions to nearby cays are the other choice.

Downtown Nassau

Downtown Nassau sits across the harbor, and crossing a bridge puts you among pastel colonial buildings, government houses and narrow lanes. Bay Street is the main artery, lined with shops and the Straw Market, where baskets, hats and carved wood are sold. The city’s history as a pirate haven, a loyalist refuge and a blockade-running port gives the streets their stories.

Go in the morning, when the light is soft on the pastel facades, and follow the history trail up the hill. Fort Fincastle and the Queen’s Staircase, a flight of steps cut into limestone by hand, are the classic stops, and they give a view back over the harbor toward Paradise Island. The visit suits travelers who like to walk and look.

Arawak Cay and the Fish Fry

Arawak Cay, on the Nassau side, is where locals go for seafood, in a row of brightly painted shacks and open-air stalls. You eat conch in every form, from fritters to scorched conch, with fried fish, plantains and a cold Kalik beer or a coconut-water drink.

It is a lunch or early-evening trip, relaxed and noisy, with music from the stalls and tables set outside. It suits anyone who wants to eat the way Nassau does, and it pairs well with a morning in the old town.

Cable Beach

Cable Beach is a long stretch of sand on the western side of New Providence, home to the Baha Mar resort and the Sandals Royal Bahamian. It makes a change of scenery from Cabbage Beach, with a resort strip behind it and restaurants within reach.

Go for a half day, with a long beach walk, lunch and a look at the resort grounds. It suits those who want a second beach to compare with the north shore of Paradise Island, though the visit is mostly about sand and a meal.

Boat trips to nearby cays

Boat excursions to small cays near Nassau are another way to spend a day, with sandbars, shallow turquoise water and snorkeling stops. The Bahamas tourism website lets you filter activities by island, including Nassau and Paradise Island, so you can see what is on offer before deciding.

The other islands, including the Exumas and Eleuthera, each have a character of their own and reward a longer stay rather than a single day. Treat a boat trip from here as a taste, not as the full picture of the archipelago.

What to eat in Paradise Island

Eating in Paradise Island means conch, in every form the Bahamas has found for it, set beside fresh fish, rice cooked with pigeon peas and sweet, sticky desserts. Atlantis alone has over 21 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges, so you can dine in a hotel dining room, at a marina table or on a beach, and still taste local flavors.

Conch, the national obsession

Conch is the shellfish at the heart of Bahamian cooking, and you meet it in many guises. Conch salad is raw, chopped fine and tossed with lime, onion, tomato and hot pepper, bright and sharp. Cracked conch is pounded thin, battered and fried, and conch fritters are crisp, spiced balls served with a dipping sauce.

Cooked in a chowder or stewed, conch turns soft and deeply savory. Try it in at least two forms and you quickly see why the dish carries so much local pride.

Fish, lobster and island sides

Grouper and snapper come grilled, steamed or fried, often with peas ‘n rice, a mix of rice and pigeon peas cooked with tomato and thyme. Bahamian rock lobster, grilled or in a salad, is another favorite, and plantains, coleslaw and mac and cheese come alongside many plates.

At breakfast, look for boiled fish with grits, a hearty, peppery stew, or johnnycake, a dense, slightly sweet bread. The flavors are home-style and generous, and they make a good counterweight to the resort buffet.

Drinks and sweets

Kalik is the Bahamian beer, light and made for the heat. Sky Juice mixes gin with coconut water and sweet milk, and rum punches come in many forms, often with fruit juice and a splash of grenadine. Goombay Smash, a rum-based cocktail, is another local standard.

For dessert, guava duff is a boiled pudding rolled with guava and served with a rich rum sauce. Coconut tarts and rum cakes are the sweets you find at stalls and bakeries, and they make good small gifts to carry home.

Where to eat

On the island, Marina Village and the resort restaurants offer the widest choice, from casual counters to sit-down dining with harbor views. For the most local meal, cross to Arawak Cay on the Nassau side, where the stalls serve conch and fried fish in a lively open-air setting.

Eating well here is a matter of mixing the two: a polished dinner at the marina one night and a plate of fritters at the Fish Fry the next. That variety is part of what makes the food the island’s quiet highlight.

Things to do in Paradise Island at night

Nights on Paradise Island revolve around the marina, the resort bars and a Junkanoo Rush on weekend evenings. The mood is relaxed and warm, with music drifting from open-air terraces and the lights of the yachts reflected in the water.

Junkanoo Rush at Marina Village

Visitors can watch a Junkanoo Rush at Marina Village on Friday and Saturday evenings. Junkanoo is the Bahamas’ great street festival, with roots in the days of slavery, and the Rush is a smaller, weekly taste of it, with dancers in bright costumes, brass, whistles, cowbells and goatskin drums.

The sound arrives before the parade does, a rattling pulse that pulls people out of the restaurants. It is lively, colorful and a good fit for families, and it gives you a feel for Bahamian celebration even if you never see the big festival.

Bars, lounges and the casino

With 19 bars and lounges at Atlantis, the choice runs from beachside rum punches to polished hotel lounges and spots overlooking the marina. Atlantis is also a casino resort, so gaming rooms form part of the evening for those who like them.

A drink at the marina, with yachts moored alongside and the towers glowing above, is a pleasant way to end a day without plans. Live music turns up in several venues, and you can drift from one to the next on foot.

Quieter evenings

If you prefer calm, a long dinner at a harbor-view table suits the island well. Many people take a slow walk along the marina promenade, watching the boats settle in, then stop for dessert, perhaps guava duff or a slice of rum cake.

The two bridges are also pleasant at dusk, with the lights of Nassau across the water. A night spent this way leaves you rested for a morning on the beach.

Things to do in Paradise Island with kids

Children on Paradise Island find a water park, a marine habitat and a long beach within a short stretch of the island, which is why families make up so much of the visitor mix. The days are easy to fill, and the challenge is pacing them.

Aquaventure

Aquaventure is the main event for kids, with slides, river rides and pools set across the resort. The Current, a lazy river that is also a raft ride, suits those who want to float and splash, while the temple-shaped slide tower with the Leap of Faith slider is for the bold.

A whole day here goes quickly, and it works well to alternate rides with time on the beach or in a shaded spot. The theming, with its sunken-city feel, keeps younger children curious between slides.

Dolphin Cay and the marine habitat

Dolphin Cay is a 14-acre marine habitat for manta rays, sea lions and rescued Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and it counts as one of the largest and most sophisticated marine habitats and dolphin rescue-rehabilitation facilities in the world. A swim with dolphins is offered, and reservations can be made by calling toll-free (888) 877-7521.

The wider marine habitat, with its walk-in aquarium, is easy for children to explore at their own speed, pressing noses to the glass as rays and sharks pass. It is an indoor-feeling hour that gives a break from the sun.

The beach and the gardens

Cabbage Beach gives children sand, shallows to look at and long stretches for running. Parents will want to keep an eye on the sea, since it is the open Atlantic along the north shore, and to plan around the strong island sun with shade breaks and plenty of water.

The Versailles Gardens, about a 15-minute walk from Atlantis, offer lawns and statues for a quieter family outing. Evenings at Marina Village add the Junkanoo Rush, whose drums and costumes tend to hold children’s attention.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, and says most crime occurs in Nassau on New Providence and in Freeport on Grand Bahama.

Paradise Island is part of Nassau, reached across two bridges, and the resort, the beach and the marina cluster closely enough to explore on foot. The Bahamian dollar is the local currency. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so plans made in those months are worth holding with some flexibility.

Sources

Wikipedia, Paradise Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Island), checked October 10, 2026
Wikivoyage, Paradise Island travel guide (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Paradise_Island), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, Atlantis Paradise Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis_Paradise_Island), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Cabbage Beach (https://www.bahamas.com/natural-wonders/cabbage-beach), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Dolphin Cay (https://www.bahamas.com/natural-wonders/dolphin-cay), checked October 10, 2026
Wikipedia, Aquaventure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaventure), checked October 10, 2026
Atlantis Paradise Island, accommodations (https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/accommodations), checked October 10, 2026
Royal Caribbean, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (https://www.royalbeachclub.com/), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Atlantis hotel (https://www.bahamas.com/hotels/atlantis), checked October 10, 2026
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com), Things to do (https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/things-to-do), checked October 10, 2026
U.S. Department of State, The Bahamas Travel Advisory, Level 2 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 10, 2026
NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 10, 2026