Discover hotels and villas for winter-sun holidays in Nassau, Bahamas

Most places in the Bahamas are famous for their tranquil, forget-the-world character. Nassau, on the other hand, has always had a bit of a rebellious streak – in its early days, the city was so overrun by pirates that it was declared a self-governing pirate republic. The city still has its wild side – unleashed yearly at Junkanoo, a visual feast comparable to Rio carnival that sees thousands of brightly-costumed dancers take to the streets – but in today’s Nassau, you’ll find far more fine-dining and high-fashion boutiques than parrots or buried treasure. It’s perhaps best described as a place that is at once calm and characterful – fresh from a morning dip in the turquoise sea, you’ll feel ready to dive headlong into the bustle of the Straw Market, which stays true to the city’s rabble-rousing days with its array of hollering hawkers.