The first time I visited Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, I thought it would be a fun, onetime trip. Three visits later, it has become one of my favorite places to vacation.
Atlantis is famous for its sprawling waterpark and iconic Royal Towers, but there’s so much more to the property. With over a dozen pools, multiple beaches and plenty of restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Like any large property, it takes time to understand the ins and outs and learn the best spots, and can easily become overwhelming.
Here’s how my husband Joe and I like to make the most out of a 5-day trip to Atlantis.
Start each day with movement (and a snack brought from home)
One of the most underrated parts about Atlantis is how easy it is to get in a great workout. They have a robust gym and right next to it is my personal favorite, the lap pool. I almost always have the pool to myself and it’s such a treat.
It’s also very easy to walk or run from the Atlantis property, which isn’t always the case at resort destinations. I like to go on a run to the end of Paradise Island (where the road dead ends at the golf course). There are sidewalks the entire way, which makes for a great walk or run. You could venture even further and cross the bridge over into Nassau.
If a morning walk by the beach is what you’re after, Atlantis has plenty of walkable beach as well – great to pair with a cup of coffee or an early morning dip.
Over the years we’ve also learned that it works best when we bring our own breakfast food – think granola bars, protein bars, etc. There aren’t a ton of grab and go options in Atlantis, so bringing our own breakfast allows us to get up and moving without wasting time in line – which means getting to the beach earlier.
Head to the beach early or after the lunch turn
Atlantis has a few beaches on property and they’re all beautiful with nice beach chairs. Unfortunately, this is a resort where people stake out their beach chairs early in the morning. We’ve found that it’s best to either get to the beach early – before 10AM, or else wait until after lunch when people start to retreat to the pool.
Speaking of lunch, Cascades is our absolute favorite. Joe swears by the Jerk Chicken sandwich, and I love the kids Chicken Nuggets & Fries.
Getting sleepy? Hit the slides
The Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis is what it’s best known for – and it lives up to the hype. It’s a blast, even for adults. Whenever we find ourselves getting a little sleepy in the afternoon or needing a jolt of adrenaline, we head to the waterpark. The rapid river is always fun, and my favorite slide is either the Leap of Faith (that goes through the Shark Tank!) or The Abyss. It makes me nervous every time, but it’s so fun.
Sundowner before dinner
We love to end our daytime activities with a drink at the Cove pool or at the beach. The Cove pool is the only adults-only pool on property, with a DJ, its own bar, and great people watching. If we’re looking for something more relaxing, ending our day at the beach (when most guests have moved elsewhere) is really enjoyable. The sunsets are beautiful from Paradise Island, and it’s fun to watch the cruise ships head back out to sea.
A mix of on and off property dinners
We love to start and end our trip with dinners on property. Paranza has been a favorite for the past couple of trips, and we also enjoy Fish and Amber. Off property, we always eat at the Poop Deck at least once – a local spot just over the bridge in Nassau. It’s truly charming, sitting right on the marina with local Bahamian cuisine and friendly service. We love it!
We always make a visit to the Ocean Club at the Four Seasons as well – making sure to arrive before sunset to see the stunning property. You’re greeted with a view of the palm tree lined infinity pool overlooking the ocean, before making your way to the outdoor bar. This is one of my favorite places in the world to have a pre-dinner cocktail. Once the sun sets, we have dinner at the Ocean Club’s on property restaurant, Dune. It makes for an all around special night. Better yet, you can catch the free Atlantis shuttle to and from the resort.
We’ve also had dinner at Graycliff in Nassau and Costa at Baha Mar. Both are great, though they require a little more effort since you need to take taxis to and from.
End the night with a spin through the casino
We always end the night with a walk through the casino – the epicenter of Atlantis’s nighttime activities. Sometimes we continue to the marina village (where you can enjoy some very expensive Ben & Jerry’s) and other times we’ll walk through the aquariums.
There are so many things to do at Atlantis – after three visits, we still haven’t tried everything. It’s a large - and at times - overwhelming property, but having a little bit of a plan will go a long way in making your vacation enjoyable. Atlantis has become one of our favorite properties to revisit and even bring friends.
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