Best Things to Do in Paradise Island With Kids
Paradise Island's best family days are Atlantis Aquaventure, The Dig's aquarium tunnels, a Cabbage Beach day, a water taxi day trip to downtown Nassau, and a look (not a swim) at the Marine Habitat — skip the Dolphin Cay swim program.
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1Area photo: Philip Gabrielsen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Atlantis Aquaventure
One of the biggest waterparks in the Caribbean — a network of slides (including Leap of Faith, which drops you through a shark tank), a long lazy river, and a wave pool. It is the single reason most families book Paradise Island over a plain Nassau beach resort.
Watch out: Day passes for non-resort guests are expensive — run the numbers on whether staying at an Atlantis property (which usually includes park access) beats paying for day passes separately if you are planning more than one visit. It gets crowded midday; arrive at opening for shorter slide lines.
2Area photo: Philip Gabrielsen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)The Dig Aquarium Walk
A walk-through aquarium built into faux-ruins tunnels, with glass walls passing through shark, ray, and eel tanks at close range. It is included with the same admission as Aquaventure and works well as a break from a hot day at the waterpark.
Watch out: It gets busy in the mid-afternoon as families take a break from the slides — early morning or right before closing is quieter. Some sections are narrow, so strollers can be awkward during peak hours.
3Area photo: Philip Gabrielsen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Cabbage Beach Day
Paradise Island's main public beach, with soft white sand and calm swimming water — genuinely nice on its own, and a good lower-cost alternative to a full Aquaventure day if you want a break from crowds and lines.
Watch out: The stretch closest to Atlantis is the busiest — walk further along the beach for more space and quieter water. Vendors are more persistent near the resort end than further down.
4Area photo: Philip Gabrielsen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Water Taxi to Nassau
A short harbor crossing by water taxi to downtown Nassau puts you at the Straw Market, Bay Street shops, and the Queen's Staircase — an actual town day that's a real change of pace from the resort bubble, and often cheaper and faster than a taxi over the bridge.
Watch out: Nassau's cruise-port area gets crowded and vendor-heavy on days when ships are docked — check the port schedule if you want a calmer visit. Hold onto your return water taxi ticket and time, since the last crossings run on a set schedule, not on demand.
5Area photo: Philip Gabrielsen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Marine Habitat (View Only)
Walkable pathways through Atlantis's Marine Habitat let you see dolphins, sea lions, and other marine life in the lagoon system without booking an animal encounter — a way to see the animals as part of your park day without the swim program.
Watch out: Dolphin Cay, the same facility, sells a swim-with-dolphins program that has drawn years of criticism from animal-welfare groups over enclosure size and captive breeding — we would recommend skipping that booking and sticking to the walkable viewing paths instead.
Frequently asked
Should we do the Dolphin Cay swim-with-dolphins program?
We would not. It has drawn sustained criticism from animal-welfare groups over enclosure size and captive breeding. You can still view the dolphins from the Marine Habitat walking paths without booking the swim.
Is Paradise Island the same as Nassau?
No — Paradise Island is a separate small island connected by bridge, built almost entirely around the Atlantis resort complex. Nassau is the actual city, a short bridge or water-taxi ride away, with the historic downtown and Straw Market.
Can non-resort guests use Aquaventure?
Yes, via a day pass, but it is priced steeply — compare the cost against a resort stay that includes park access if you are visiting more than once.
How do we get from Paradise Island to downtown Nassau?
A water taxi across the harbor is usually the cheapest and fastest option, or a taxi over the bridge if you'd rather not deal with boat timing.
Same destination, where to stay
Booking these activities? Pick the right resort first.
Activity days work best when your resort is the right launch pad. Our Paradise Island family-resort guide ranks the whole-family-experience winners.
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Plan a full Paradise Island family trip
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