Freeport is one of the main cities in Grand Bahama, the Bahamas’ northernmost island.
The city is famous for cruise getaways because it offers so many things to visitors that no other place in the world can offer.
Freeport has something for everyone, no matter what your interests and preferences are.
The city provides more than enough opportunities to enjoy great food, spot beautiful beaches, and experience new adventures.
These are the best things to do in Freeport, Bahamas:
Mags951 / Shutterstock.com
The property on which the Garden of the Groves is located was discovered in 1973.
The garden is spread over an area of 12 acres and gets its name from the founders of Freeport.
The Garden of the Groves is a perfect place for those who are very much interested in flora and fauna.
This place has more than 10,000 different species of plants, birds, wildlife, foliage, and many more.
Mags951 / Shutterstock.com
You can also enjoy some time at the small petting zoo that is found within the premises of the garden.
The zoo is also home to a wide range of that include alligators, orchids, parrots, and many more.
The garden also has an open playground for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities.
This attraction is full of natural gifts that will easily make you realize how blessed you are.
OlgaMed / Shutterstock.com
Yevgen Belich / Shutterstock.com
Port Lucaya is one of the most famous cruise stops in the world.
The port not only has a ship repair facility and a maintenance port, but it also has a dry docking feature on the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
Due to this reason, most cruise ships make a stop at Port Lucaya, making it a great opportunity to interact with cruisers from around the world.
The dock and the harbor are very beautiful and loaded with colorful little houses.
Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This setting will definitely give you a feeling of living in a doll world or a candy land vibe.
These houses, however, are mainly used as shops, bars, and restaurants.
At the famous Port Lucaya Marketplace, you can shop for local goods and handicrafts and try some local food items while exploring the area.
The port also has a number of casinos and resorts, making it a very fun and pleasant experience.
Yevgen Belich / Shutterstock.com
Eric Glenn / Shutterstock.com
The Bahamas’ local cuisine is very unique and is a fusion of different cuisines around the world.
While in Freeport, you can enjoy the local Bahamian cuisine very easily.
The city is filled with cafes and restaurants that serve local and international dishes.
Some of the most famous Bahamian dishes are fried fish, fajitas, guava duff, pigeon peas and rice, rum cake, Johnny cake, shellfish, and more.
AllMyRoots / Shutterstock.com
What makes the experience better is that you are not limited to these options, as there are a large number of dishes that you can enjoy in the Bahamas.
You can also book a cruise ship meal to experience some of the islands’ most delicious meals.
Alternatively, you can check out some famous restaurants that serve local dishes at very affordable rates.
Must-try restaurants include Flying Fish GastroBar, Robinson’s Seafood Delight, and Tony Macaroni’s Conch Experience.
If you feel the need for some physical exercise after eating a lot of delicious food, Freeport has got you covered.
The city has some of the most beautiful and famous golf courses in the world.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, you can easily find a course that will suit your preferences.
Some of the most famous golf courses in the city are Ruby Golf Course, Fortune Hills Golf & Country Club, and the Reef Golf Course at Grand Lucayan, one of the top golf courses in the world,
Most of the golf courses in the city have additional facilities like clubhouses, restaurants, pubs, and restrooms where you can head after a round of golf and enjoy some delicious food and drinks beverage or admire pretty views of the sunset.
The Bahamian Brewery is one of the most famous breweries that produce the best craft beers in the city.
The brewery is spread over an area of 20 acres and has its own gardens.
You can also book a tour of each of these gardens and learn how the process of brewing your favorite beverages starts from the garden and ends using traditional and expert methods.
The first beer that was offered by this brewery was called Sands and was a great success.
At present, the brewery has multiple flavors and different brews such as High Rock, Strong Back, Bush Crack, Grapefruit Radler, Triple B, and more.
After observing how your favorite brews are made and tasting those, you can also buy some gifts from the shop located within the brewery.
You can also buy some beers on-site or order them online to enjoy at home.
Freeport offers a lot of opportunities for tourists to have firsthand experiences of its waters and aquatic animals.
However, if you want to add some more to this experience, you should definitely consider boarding a glass-bottom boat.
These boats are made with glass so that you can enjoy the aesthetic views and the underwater life at the same time.
These uniquely designed boats can be easily reached using a small cruise ship.
Once you board these unique boats, be ready to enjoy some stunning coral reefs, turtles, fish, and aquatic plants.
Covering only 1.5 acres, Peterson Cay National Park is considered to be the smallest national park.
Despite its size, it is still home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs and coral structures in the Bahamas.
The place offers various adventure opportunities like snorkeling and diving.
In this national park, you can also spot a wide variety of marine animals such as tropical fish, manta rays, and barracuda.
The beaches around Peterson Cay National Park are quite sandy and beautiful and are the perfect place for enjoying some relaxing time and picnics.
Eric Glenn / Shutterstock.com
The city of Freeport is no less than a paradise in terms of shopping.
For all those who love shopping, the city has a lot of local and internationally recognized markets where you can grab locally produced and specialty items.
One such famous shopping area is the Port Lucaya Marketplace, which is a commercial marketplace covering a ground area of 9.5 acres.
Anya Douglas / Shutterstock.com
It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city and has a large number of handicraft shops, specialty stores, restaurants, bars, local vendors, and more.
In addition, you can always head to Count Basie Square, which is the best place to enjoy some fantastic live local music and enjoy your evening.
If you are shopping for local products, make sure to check for the “authentically Bahamian” label to verify its authenticity.
Pinetree Stables is famous for offering horseback tours of the entire city of Freeport.
They are famous for breeding tropical pleasure horses that are raised and trained using natural horsemanship to ensure the safety of all riders.
The stables offer various services such as horseback riding, riding lessons using holistic horsemanship, school field trips, and more.
In addition, they sell a few items that include plants and fertilizers.
While horseback riding through the lanes and roads of this beautiful city, you can also gain incredible insights into the local flora and fauna from your tour guide.
Pirate’s Cove Zipline & Water Park is a famous family vacation destination in Freeport.
This water park is the perfect place to cool down during the hot summer.
Along with the water rides, the park also has trampolines, zip lines, and onshore activities that can be enjoyed.
The water park is situated right on the coast, which allows the visitors to enjoy activities such as boat rides, paddleboarding, jet skiing, and snorkeling.
You can also enjoy kayaking and exploring the mangrove forest.
In order to make the most out of your trip to Pirate’s Cove Zipline & Water Park, it is suggested that you visit early in the morning to avoid the rush.
UNEXSO is another famous vacation destination in Freeport.
This marine sanctuary is a one-stop location for all sorts of fun activities such as diving, shopping, enjoying tasty food, and swimming.
You can have fun at the Dolphin Lagoon, where a lot of bottlenose dolphins are present.
Along with playing with the dolphins, you can also swim with them and make some new friends.
You can also dive with the sharks and enjoy your time.
This is one place where you can enjoy yourself with both dolphins and sharks at one time and be very safe.
YES Market Media / Shutterstock.com
If you are visiting Freeport, enjoying a boat tour is something that you should definitely not miss.
You can undertake the various types of available boat tours depending on your preferences.
All these boat tours also offer additional adventurous activities like jet skiing, fishing, swimming, and many more.
SvetlanaSF / Shutterstock.com
You can also try catching some tropical fish species like marlin, barracudas, tuna, kingfish, and snappers.
These boat tours are also the most effective way to spot dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and even manatees.
You can also try local activities like spearfishing.
MDay Photography / Shutterstock.com
If you want to explore the entire city and its attractions, undertaking bicycle tours and jeep tours are some exciting options that you should consider.
While the jeep convoys are provided by locals with guides, bicycle tours are independent, and you can go wherever you want.
Bicycle tours are the best way to go around and see Freeport’s various markets, famous streets, perfume factories, bars, restaurants, and other major attractions.
The jeep tours are the most ideal way to explore the city’s forests and national parks.
Whatever option you choose, one thing is for sure: the experience will be one of a kind and will remain with you for eternity.
The Rand Nature Center, located in the center of Freeport, is a nature lover’s dream come true.
Spot the informative signage and displays along the 2,000-foot pine forest and coppice path.
Learn about the local flora and wildlife, traditional Bahamian culture, and the visual art of local artists.
There are also many bird species you may see all year round.
Migrating birds come for the winter between October and May, making this the best time of year to go birdwatching in Freeport.
Parliament Square, built by American Loyalists in the early 1800s, is situated in the heart of Nassau.
Famous landmarks include the House of Assembly and Supreme Court of the Bahamas, with their pink colonial-style architecture.
The Parliament Square Cultural Center offers unique, local-guided tours located in the heart of the historic district.
Art, literature, Christianity, traditional craftwork, and everyday living are all included in the Bahamas’ culture.
Guests are often allowed to participate in activities like listening to music, singing, dancing, and sipping herbal tea straight from the pot.
Situated at the Grand Bahama’s highest point, Cooper’s Castle stands as the island’s only castle.
A Bahamian man, Mr. Harvard Cooper, built the castle in the 1980s.
It is a testament to his progress, as he went from possessing just one pair of trousers as a boy to becoming one of its wealthiest residents today.
At present, there are still family members living in the castle.
Still, you may have a guided tour of the 46-acre property or even reserve the castle for a particular occasion.
Your Bahamas adventure won’t be complete without water activities!
Bahamas Adventures caters to visitors of all ages and interests.
It is one of the Bahamas’ most popular tour providers.
Family vacations may include a snorkeling excursion, a boat ride to a neighboring national park, or just relaxing on the beach with the company’s amenities.
There are also exhilarating jet ski safaris, beginner scuba diving classes, and trips for thrill-seekers.
Both tourists and locals alike can’t get enough of this marketplace.
The largest retail mall on the island is housed within a massive warehouse.
Local art, sculptures, artifacts, souvenirs, woven products, and more may be found here.
Local artists from Freeport and other nearby Bahamian islands contributed their work to this local art exhibition.
Check for the “authentically Bahamian” label on a product before purchasing it so that you may be sure to support the local economy.
Handcrafted European chocolate delicacies are what Bootleg’s specialty is since it is owned and maintained by the family.
The recipes utilized have been handed down through the family for centuries, but they have been tweaked to meet the needs of today’s diners.
Delectable confections like Key lime caramels and chocolates are made using regionally sourced ingredients, including fresh fruits, spices, and rum.
Guests of the cafe may also sit down and have a cup of hot chocolate; fortunate visitors may even get to see the chocolates being prepared.
Karuna Eberl / Shutterstock.com
Lucayan National Park is an extremely beautiful National Park located almost 30 miles from Port Lucaya.
The park is spread across 40 acres of land and has almost three different and unique ecosystems.
Unlike other national parks in the world, Lucayan National Park has its major attraction located under the ground.
After following a trail for over 9.7 kilometers, you would reach the mouth of an underwater cave.
What makes this cave special is that it is one of the longest underwater caves in the world.
Jesper Rautell Balle, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It is not allowed to swim in the cave, but the insides are picture-perfect.
Ben’s Cave and Burial Mound Cave are some of the most beautiful caves.
After exploring the caves, you can head back to the park’s boardwalk and enjoy scenic beaches.
With beautiful turquoise waters and beautiful white sand, the beaches are nothing but paradise.
Since there is no restriction on staying here, you can also get some lunch and enjoy your evening in this place.
Albo / Shutterstock.com
Also famous as Deadman’s Reef, Paradise Cove is a resort set up on the beach.
The resort offers a number of adventurous activities, such as snorkeling and cruising.
If you are willing to do some physical activities, that option is also available.
You can enjoy activities like scuba diving, swimming, and fishing underwater.
Since the place has no restrictions on photography, you can also carry a waterproof camera to capture the beauty underwater.
You can also enjoy other activities like kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, and boat tours to enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.
The place has very well-managed bars and restaurants on the sides of the beach to ensure that people face no difficulties while spending their time on Paradise Cove.
Freeport, Bahamas, is a tourist magnet, and this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
After all, this destination is all about sun, sand, and fun in the Caribbean.
In this lively city in the Grand Bahama, inventive Caribbean food, world-class shopping, and exciting activities are just waiting to sweep you away.
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
