A tiny little island with plenty of entertainment, here are 5 of our favorite things to do in Freeport Bahamas. With so many options, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy!
Now that you’ve pulled into port, it’s time to put down the Dirty Monkey mocktail and enjoy everything Freeport has to offer.
Somewhat Simple has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Somewhat Simple and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Freeport Bahamas
Freeport is not a super popular destination in the Bahamas and is usually used for refueling. But whether you prefer exploring the island on your own or taking a cruise excursion, there’s an abundance of things to do at Freeport you might never have thought of. Whether you’re here for just one day on a cruise or planning to stay for several days, here are a few recommendations to make the most of your time while you’re there.
The best way to see Freeport is to get a taxi when you exit the cruise terminal. Just follow the crowd through the shops to the locals who will be holding signs offering a variety of activities – you can’t miss it! And even though most of the excursions are completely safe, we recommend sticking with approved excursions. So do your homework and review your desired activities online before getting on a bus or in a taxi.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Freeport Bahamas
No matter what time of year you visit Freeport, the weather is going to be amazing! However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when planning your trip.
Hurricane season in the Bahamas generally runs from June through November each year so factor that into your planning. We went in February and while the weather was fantastic, the ocean was a little cold. My opinion would be to visit around April or May so you have great weather and warm water!
Money Saving Tip
While a lot of the shops will accept U.S. dollars for purchases, I’m not a huge fan of walking around with a wad of cash in my pocket. I prefer to use a credit card for most things because I don’t want my vacation ruined if I lose my wallet full of cash. However, be careful which card you use because a lot of them will charge you a 3% fee when you’re out of the country.
Also, over the past few years it’s been common for places abroad to offer to charge your card in U.S. dollars when they run your card. While your credit card won’t charge you the extra fee, the exchange rate the store will give you is typically worse than the fee your bank will charge you. The best way to pay for things abroad is to simply have a credit card that doesn’t charge you a foreign transaction fee.
My all time favorite travel card that I use and love is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. And right now you can earn a 60,000 point bonus, which are worth $750 towards travel when redeemed with Chase Ultimate Rewards, if you spend $4,000 or more in the first three months the account is open. This card has no foreign transaction fees so it’s a perfect card to use in the Bahamas!
More Great Cruise Tips
- Cruise Packing Checklist Printable
- Make The Most Of Your Days At Sea
- 10 Best Cruise Tips
- Carnival Cruises Bottomless Bubbles Package
Things To Do in Freeport Bahamas
1. Swim With Pigs
No visit to the Grand Bahama Island would be complete without swimming with the pigs. You’ll have to take a shuttle boat to reach Pig Island which you can easily do with one of several tour companies. Once there, you’ll be able to see these wild pigs running and swimming around. You can jump in the water with them, or just sit back and enjoy some sun while relaxing on this beautiful beach. These tours typically last about half of the day.
2. Paradise Cove
If you’re looking for a great beach to visit, you should look into Paradise Cove while you’re visiting Freeport, Bahamas. You can get a day pass that includes transportation for around $39.99. (Don’t forget to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card) They have an amazing white sand beach, perfect for relaxing -OR- you can be adventurous by snorkeling at Deadmans Reef.
If you like sports, you can play volleyball, take a spin on the stand up paddle board, or explore the coastline via paddle boat. If you get hungry, they have a restaurant that is sure to have something you love!
3. Lucayan National Park
Not only is Lucayan National Park amazingly beautiful to see, it is also one of the only places in Freeport that lets you tour underwater caves! You can learn all about their eco-systems with a private tour or bird watch and enjoy the lush foliage and plants only found there. The park is recognized as an important bird area because it has 3 restricted birds residing there. the Thick-billed Vireo, the Bahama Swallow and the Olive-capped Warbler.
It really is an amazing place to see, especially if you have kids. I know most kids don’t want science lessons or learning activities while on vacation, but the things you get to experience at Lucayan National Park really are once-in-a-lifetime!
4. Grand Lucayan Resort
If you are looking for a more typical resort/vacation sort of thing to do, visit The Grand Lucayan Resort. A day pass to Grand Lucayan will give you access to their beaches, pool, and lounge chairs.
And don’t worry about getting hungry! They have several places to eat and the food ranges from typical burgers to the more exotic local flavors. The day pass is available from 8AM to 6PM and they sell out quickly, so book fast and far in advance!
5. Explore the Cruise Port
Though simple, exploring the port of Freeport, Bahamas is also another great option to pass some time and it’s free to do. Do a little souvenir shopping while browsing the various stands of handmade items. And don’t be afraid to barter – they usually expect it. You can also find designer handbags (authentic and knock-offs) for a fraction of the retail cost.
Some places do accept credit cards, but most want cash, so make sure you are prepared for that when you leave the ship. For a cheap place to eat, we totally recommend Mama Setta’s. (Their chicken wings are AMAZING!)
More Cruise Port Travel Guides
- Best Things To Do In The Cayman Islands
- What To Do In Nassau, Bahamas
- Fun Things To Do In Roatan, Honduras
- Zip-lining In Antigua
- Things To Do In Costa Maya, Mexico
Somewhat Simple has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Somewhat Simple and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I am actually getting married in Freeport next week. We are taking a cruise and getting married at a shoreside location at the Grand Lucayan Resort. We have about 30 guests that are attending the ceremony and I was wondering how difficult it is to get a taxi and how far away is the resort from the port? Any information would be extremely helpful! Thanks in advance!
Congrats, how exciting!!! The last time I was there, there were plenty of taxis right out side of the cruise terminal to take you wherever you need to go. I believe that resort is about 10 miles away from the port. Good luck!