Are you thinking about visiting the Queen’s Staircase in Nassau, Bahamas? I’ve got you covered. During my last trip to Nassau, I was able to spend some time at this beautiful relic, which bridges the gap between Nassau’s natural beauty and historical past.
Queen’s Staircase History
The Queen’s Staircase is a well known Bahamian landmark. It was built in 1893 by over 500 enslaved Africans during Bahama’s colonial time. Originally, it was constructed to link the Government House, the governor’s official residence, with Fort Fincastle, which served as a prison. During this time, there were lots of worry about European invaders so this staircase served as a shortcut for nearby soldiers.
Talented stonemasons carved out 66 steps from solid limestone using hand axes, chisels, and other basic hand tools. Crafted from the durable and visually striking ‘Limestone Rock,’ a native Bahamian stone formed from the remnants of marine organisms.It took them over three challenging years but they created a arttechural beauty. When Queen VIctoria visited the island in 1837, she expressed how beautiful the stairs looked. Local officlas decided to rename the stairs to Queen’s Staircase in her honor.
The Queen’s staircase is a whooping 102 feet. Each of its 66 steps was crafted evenly, rendering the Queen’s Staircase a functional sundial.
How Far is the Queen’s Staircase from Cruise Ships?
No, the Queen’s Staircase is a 20 minute walk from most major cruise ships. The walk is quite easy and allows you to see a more authentic side of Nassau. We passed a few local restaurants and lots of native fruit trees on our walk. I felt very safe during my walk.
Do you Pay for Queen’s Staircase?
No, you do not need to pay to visit the Queen’s Staircase or even need tickets. There are tour guides offering tours of the staircase and the surrounding area. They expect a tip. You can also find guides offering to take your photo for a small fee. They are not professional photographers and weren’t worth it, in my opinion. See the photos below to see why 😂.
Taxis in Nassau are quite expensive, and the weather can get very hot, so I recommend booking an air-conditioned tour if you’re looking to explore the island easily. I’ll link a few below.
Things to Do Nearby
There are few things to do located right outside of the Queen’s staircase. I loved buying fresh fruit from the local Rastafarian fruit vendor. He had lots of seasonal fruits including pineapple, mango, and coconut water. I bought one coconut and it was perfect! After drinking the coconut water I gave it to the vendor to cut open and then I enjoyed the coconut jelly. The jelly is my favorite part so don’t skip that step!
The area also has a big restaurant, local artisans, and food vendors. Make sure to pack cash because none of the local spots accepted cards and there aren’t any ATMs nearby.
A few local attractions near the Queen’s Staircase are:
- Fort Fincastle
- Straw Market
- Nassau Public Library
- Watertower
- Government House
- St.Francis Roman Catholic Church
Queen’s Staircase Photos
I wasn’t a big fan of the photos I paid for but if you’re looking for some basic family shots, the guides should be fine. It gets super busy so I recommend coming for photos as early as possible or after the cruise ship crowd leaves. If you have extra time you can also wait around for the stairs to clear up. I spent about 30 minutes at the staircase and caught it empty a few times.
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