In the Bahamas, Freeport is a bustling city on the island of Grand Bahama in the northwest Bahamas. The second-largest city in the Bahamas is known for its upscale resorts, historical and cultural venues, ecological sights, shopping opportunities, and underwater cave exploring. Get ready to plan a trip to Freeport with these 10 best things to do in or near there.
10 Bahamas Maritime Museum
Based right in the heart of Freeport, the Bahamas Maritime Museum teaches about the islands’ maritime legacy with intriguing stories and interesting artifacts. Exhibition areas tell of the Bahamas’ Lucayan people and the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, along with recovered objects from Maravillas, a Spanish ship that sunk in the Bahamas in 1656. Founded by Allen Exploration, the museum is a newcomer to the Bahamas, too, having opened in August 2022.
9 Bahamas Distilling Company
Bahamas Distilling Company is a small-batch rum distillery that schedules tours and tastings on weekdays. While there, sample their signature spiced and coconut rums and perhaps purchase one of their brands, and order a cocktail from their onsite bar. Currently, the company puts out about six types of rum, from their Floating Pig spiced rum to their Hammered coconut rum, with eye-catching label art.
8 Port Lucaya Marketplace
For visitors seeking souvenirs or a meal away from their resort of stay, the Port Lucaya Marketplace is the place to go. It is the Bahamas’ largest shopping, dining, and open-air entertainment facility. There are many specialty stores and boutique shops, restaurants and bars, and lounges, so you can spend both the day and/or night here. Retail options also extend to Duty-Free stores, craft centers, and push carts. Tip: Be sure to place an order from Daddy Brown’s Conch and Seafood Stand.
7 Coral Vita
This commercial enterprise in the Bahamas is working to restore the Commonwealth’s coral reefs at a global level, and the public is able to tour their facilities to learn more about their efforts. Having partnered with science institutions, Coral Vita farms resilient coral at scale and supplies them to restoration projects for transplanting them in reefs. Visitors to Coral Vita can learn more about coral farming and the ocean’s threatened reefs.
6 Fish Fry at Smith’s Point
This popular foodie tradition is said to happen on Wednesday nights at Smith’s Point, a settlement that is adjacent to Taino Beach. The Fish Fry at Smith’s Point consists of beachfront shacks in which their vendors fry up seafood over oil-drum cookers. Along with trying some Bahamian cuisine, this nightly event becomes a dance party scene. The festivities usually begin at 6 p.m.
5 Rand Nature Centre
Step away from the sand and surf for a bit, and head to the Rand Nature Centre in downtown Freeport. This park has a native pine forest and is a major birding spot where wintering birds flock here, usually from October to May. A number of walking trails lead across the park, and the entrance building holds restrooms and natural history exhibits on island geology and ecology. There is an admission entry fee.
4 Underwater Exploration
The Bahamas is the world’s third-largest barrier reef, and these waters are full of caves and dive sights. In and near Freeport, there are locations where you can don a pair of fins and other aquatic apparatus to snorkel or dive. Confirm with tourism companies that offer these experiences on the specifics of these excursions. Tiger Beach in Freeport is one of the best spots for shark diving, while Ben’s Cave, also in Freeport, provides an underwater trek as one of two inland blue holes within the Lucayan National Park. There are also wreck dive sites near Freeport, such as Theo’s Wreck, which is the site of a 1982 ship sinking.
3 Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience
Tony Hanna, or might be more recognized by the name Tony Macaroni, has been running his beachside shack, Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience, since 1992. This eatery overlooking Taino Beach not only can be popular during the famous Fish Fry at Smith’s Point, but Tony attracts crowds during the day, too. His conch burgers and homemade hot sauce bring in diners faithfully. Check out this interview with Tony on The Bahamas’ YouTube channel.
2 Peterson Cay National Park
The one-and-a-half acre Peterson Cay National Park is big on its stance as a protected marine habitat and an important bird area. In partnership with the Freeport Harbour Company, a coral reef nursery has been developed southwest of this cay. Tour excursion companies can run outings to this park.
1 Lucayan National Park
Referred to as “The Welcome Mat of Grand Bahama,” Lucayan National Park is an incredible biodiversity site with underwater caves and nature trails. This 40-acre national park has Ben’s Cave, a chartered underwater cave system, and a quite diverse topography. It has pine forests, mangrove creeks, and coral reefs; it also holds Bahamian vegetative zones. Part of Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach, stands out on its own because it is both beautiful and secluded. It’s also referred to as The Welcome Mat of Grand Bahama Island, as the shoreline spans greatly during low tide.