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The Bahamaschecked Jul 2026Taxis and ride-hailing in the Bahamas
There is no Uber here, and no meter in the taxi either. That combination catches a lot of visitors out, so here are the going rates and the one habit that prevents every dispute.
At a glance
Uber and Lyft
Neither operates here
Fares
Government-set zones, no meter
Rule one
Agree the fare before you get in
Jitney bus
About 1.25 to 1.50 dollars
Uber and Lyft do not operate in Nassau, or anywhere in the Bahamas, so taxis are the default. Fares are set by the government in zones rather than run on a meter, which means the price is fixed in principle but quoted by the driver in practice, so agree it before you get in. Expect roughly 45 to 55 dollars from the airport to Paradise Island, 18 to 24 from the cruise port to Cable Beach, and single figures for short downtown hops, for two passengers. Extra passengers are about 3 dollars each, the Paradise Island bridge toll is 1 dollar each way, and a 15% tip is customary. The cheap alternatives are the jitney buses and the water taxi.
No Uber, no Lyft, and no meter
If you land expecting to open an app, you will be disappointed: the official Nassau Paradise Island destination information states plainly that Nassau does not have Uber or Lyft. A locally built ride app or two exists with fixed, pre-shown fares, and hotels will call a car for you, but the default way to get around is a licensed taxi.
Bahamian taxis come in any colour, so identify them by the yellow licence plate and a visible driver licence. Unlicensed drivers, known locally as hackers, do work the tourist areas, and they are the ones most likely to invent a price at the end of the ride.
Taxis are legally metered but in practice fares are quoted from government-set zone rates, and those rates are not posted anywhere a visitor will see them. That is the whole problem, and the fix is simple.
Agree the fare first, and know the going rates
One habit prevents every dispute: settle the price before you open the door, and repeat it back. Drivers expect this and it is not considered rude. If a quote sounds far above the figures below, say so or wait for the next car.
As a rough guide for two passengers: short hops within downtown Nassau or on Paradise Island run from around 6 dollars, downtown to Paradise Island about 9 to 13, Cable Beach to Paradise Island around 18, the cruise port to Cable Beach or Baha Mar about 18 to 24, and the airport to Atlantis or Paradise Island roughly 45 to 55.
The underlying official tariff is set by distance, historically about 3 dollars for the first quarter mile and a small amount for each additional quarter mile, for up to two passengers. You will rarely hear it quoted that way, which is why the route figures above are the more useful number to carry.
The extras that get added
Quoted fares generally cover two passengers. Each additional person is about 3 dollars, so a family of five pays meaningfully more than the headline rate and should confirm the total, not the base.
Crossing to Paradise Island adds the bridge toll of about 1 dollar each way, usually built into the quote but worth asking about. A night surcharge of roughly a quarter is commonly reported for the small hours, and luggage is normally included, though it is worth mentioning if you have a lot.
A tip of about 15% on the agreed fare is customary here, since tipping follows US norms. See tipping in the Bahamas for the rest, and bring small bills: drivers take cash and rarely have change for large notes.
The cheap ways: jitneys and the water taxi
The jitneys are Nassau's privately run buses, and they are the local way to move: roughly 1.25 to 1.50 dollars a ride on the main downtown and Cable Beach routes, exact change required, and you pay as you get off rather than when you board. They run roughly from early morning to early evening, and you wave to stop one rather than wait at a marked stop. They do not serve the airport.
Between Nassau and Paradise Island, the water taxi is both cheaper and nicer than a cab: about 7 dollars a person for a ten minute crossing, leaving from Woodes Rogers Wharf near the cruise port. It is the best value ride in the city.
Some hotels and resorts run a complimentary airport shuttle, which is worth confirming when you book, since it removes the most expensive taxi ride of the trip. If you decide to rent a car, remember the Bahamas drives on the left. For the cash side, see cash or card in the Bahamas and the Bahamas money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Is there Uber in Nassau?
No. Neither Uber nor Lyft operates in Nassau or elsewhere in the Bahamas, which the official destination information confirms. Licensed taxis are the default, a locally built ride app with fixed fares exists, and hotels will call a car for you.
Do Nassau taxis have meters?
In practice, no. Fares are government-set by zone and quoted by the driver rather than metered, and the official rates are not posted anywhere visitors will see them. Always agree the fare before you get in, and repeat it back to be sure.
How much is a taxi from Nassau airport to Atlantis?
Roughly 45 to 55 dollars for two passengers, plus about 3 dollars for each additional person and a customary 15% tip. Confirm the total before you load bags. Some resorts run a complimentary airport shuttle, which is worth checking when you book.
What is the cheapest way to get around Nassau?
The jitney buses at roughly 1.25 to 1.50 dollars a ride, exact change, paid as you exit, covering the downtown and Cable Beach routes. Between Nassau and Paradise Island the water taxi is about 7 dollars a person for a ten minute crossing.
More on The Bahamas
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Do US citizens need a visa for the Bahamas?Short answer: no visa, and no online form to file. US citizens are stamped in on arrival for a generous stay. The one thing to get right is your passport: a book to fly, a card only for cruises. Here is what actually matters.
- Cash or card in the BahamasYour US dollars already work here at par, which makes this one of the simplest money destinations in the Caribbean. The part that catches people is where cards stop working, and it is not where you would guess.
- Tipping in the BahamasTipping here follows US customs, which is unusual for the Caribbean and makes it easy to get right. The one thing to watch is the automatic gratuity many resorts add, so you do not pay twice.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Nassau Paradise Islandthe official destination guidance on taxis, jitneys, water taxis and the absence of ride-hailing
- The Islands of the Bahamasthe official tourism site
Our own readThat Uber and Lyft do not operate, and the jitney and water taxi fares, come from the official destination information. Taxi zone rates are set by government but are not published where visitors can check them, and third-party tables disagree, so the route figures here are bands drawn from recent traveller reports and operator listings rather than an official schedule. The night surcharge is widely reported by local operators rather than published centrally, so treat it as indicative. Checked July 2026.
How we checkHow every guide is researched, checked and dated