Nassau isn't the best experience you'll have in your life, unless you are into tax-free shopping. Right when you enter the city, people are trying to sell you things. If you are a woman or girl, be prepared to be pressured to have your hair braided. Also, most of the beaches are not free. You have to pay to use them.
Hostels in Bahamas 
Looking for the best hostels in Bahamas? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Bahamas with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Bahamas hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Bahamas and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Bahamas
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Bahamas, across 2 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Bahamas hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Bahamas. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Bahamas
The Bahamas are an archipelagic chain in the western Atlantic Ocean; they are located southeast of Florida and north of Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The islands, islets, and cays in the Bahamas number more than 700. The Bahamas are considered a commonwealth nation, which means that while it is independent and has its own government, it is also observes the Queen as a nominal head of state. “The Bahamas” can refer to either the island nation or to the island chain that it shares with the Turks and Caicos.
The capital of the Bahamas is Nassau, on the island of New Providence. The Bahamas is where Christopher Columbus first made landfall in 1492; evidence as to where exactly is still inconclusive. Before Europeans came to the Bahamas, the natives were originally from West Africa and came from either slave ships or as escaped slaves from the US. The culture is heavily African-based, with dancing, music, drumming, and poetry, folklore, and legend making up the colourful lifestyle. Junkanoo, a native parade with vibrant dancing, masks, music, and more, takes place on New Years Day and Boxing Day in Nassau and a few other cities on the islands. If you are there, make it a point to watch.
The climate in the Bahamas is tropical savannah; average daily temperatures range from 21-29 degrees Celcius. Geographically, the islands are relatively flat with slight ridges and no mountains; the highest peak is Mount Alvernia, which is only 63m high.
The currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, but United States dollars are widely accepted. Tourism is one of the key industries in the Bahamas; it generates 60% of the GDP and provides a majority of jobs on the islands. Cruise ships from all over the world call into Nassau year-round; cruise tourism accounts for 70% of the yearly visitors to the island chain. The second biggest economic sector is financial, with foreign banks accounting for 15% of the GDP.
Travellers who are looking for hostel accommodation can find only a few in Nassau. There are very few European-style hostels in the Bahamas; it is actually hard to do the Bahamas on a backpacker budget. If you are determined to spend little money, consider a guesthouse instead of a hostel, or splurge on a nice, inexpensive hotel. Unfortunately, the Bahamas is just not a backpacker destination; they passed a law in 1978 outlawing camping, so be warned that you will end up spending quite a bit of money.
Whether you choose to arrive in the Bahamas by ship or by air, you will find something exciting to do. The former Pirates Republic is now a haven for tourists seeking sun and fun, exotic Afro-Caribbean culture. Enthusaiastic travellers should definitely get out of Nassau to the more remote islands for a more authentic Bahamian experience. Outdoor enthusiasts will want to explore the national parks - which are full of caves and wildlife -, the blue holes, and the botanical gardens. Anyone interested in underwater activities will certainly enjoy the coral reefs, underwater sinkholes like Deans Blue Hole, the second largest blue hole in the world, and marine life that the Bahamas offers.
Handwritten by local expert for Bahamas hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Bahamas - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Bahamas. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Bahamas. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Bahamas
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Bahamas?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Bahamas here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Bahamas safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.