Government House

The Government House Bahamas combines history, political significance, and beauty. Make sure to visit this Nassau Old Town highlight on your Bahamas vacation.

The Government House Bahamas is home to the Governor General of the Bahamas, making it an important political destination. Located right in Nassau Old Town, the site offers history, excellent views of the island, and more. Anyone in the Bahamas looking for things to do in Downtown Nassau will want to make time to visit.

Good to Know

Location: Duke Street in Downtown Nassau

How Long to Spend: 30 Minutes (Currently closed to visitors as of 2023)

TripAdvisor Rating: 4 stars.

Nearby Attractions: Gregory’s Arch, Fort Fincastle, Queen’s Staircase, John Watling’s Distillery, Graycliff Heritage Village

Entry Fees: No entry fee

Government House Bahamas: Things to Do in Downtown Nassau

Government House Bahamas is adorned in a pink color, a color used exclusively on Government administration buildings. Governors house is located at the cneter of the Nassau Old Town.

You can identify Nassau political buildings by their bright pink colors.

Government House Bahamas: How to Visit

Like many of the top things to do in Downtown Nassau, the Government House Bahamas is easy to visit. Located just a short distance away from the Nassau cruise terminal, you can walk to the Government House in around 10 minutes from the port.

If you’re staying in the Nassau area, taxiing to the Nassau Old Town area will be the most straightforward way to tour the Government House Nassau. Instead of just seeing the house and returning to your hotel, take the opportunity to enjoy some of the other top things to do in Downtown Nassau.

The house is open Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Unfortunately, the estate is often closed to the public due to renovations. If you can’t enter when you visit, you can still enjoy an excellent view of the house and part of the grounds from the road.

Nassau Old Town: Where Is It?

Nassau Old Town refers to an area of Downtown Nassau that contains some of the top historical sites. The Government House Bahamas is one of these attractions.

Visit the historic Government House Bahamas landmark on a Nassau walking tour of old town.

The entrance to Government House Bahamas is close to other top attractions.

Located on Duke Street, the house is in close proximity to many other fascinating places. If you’re looking to learn more about the island’s history, for example, Fort Fincastle, Queen’s Staircase, and the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas are all great attractions to check out. Likewise, Parliament Square and the Nassau Public Library are also great sites to visit.

The location of Nassau Old Town makes it easy to explore most of the top attractions, even if you’re only in the Bahamas for an afternoon.

What to See at Government House Nassau

Stunning colors of the gardens that surround Government House Bahamas in bloom durng the Bahamas Spring in Nassau Old Town.

The grounds around the Government House Nassau are as pretty as the structure itself.

The Government House Bahamas has gone through several iterations. The current structure dates back to the early 20th Century and exhibits the colorful colonial architecture present throughout much of Nassau Old Town. Like Nassau, in general, you can find many British touches at the house.

While the estate previously featured a statue of Christopher Columbus, the local government removed this in 2021.

Graycliff Heritage Village

Graycliff Heritage Village is a nearby artsy area you’ll want to check out.

A short walk away from the Government House Nassau is Graycliff Heritage Village. It’s a cultural hub of New Providence, and a great area to explore when visiting the capital. From an art gallery and a museum to a chocolatier, the village has plenty to offer travelers.

Gregory’s Arch

Gregory’s Arch is another historic attraction that’s steps away from the Government House. Carved into limestone but featuring bright colors nonetheless, it’s a great spot for pictures.

Stretching over Market Street, a main Nassau thoroughway, the arch separated the downtown area of the capital from the rest of the island for decades.

Government House Top Travel Tips

Explore the area, not just the site: Even if you’re allowed to enter the gate to the Government House Nassau, it won’t take you long to see all it has to offer. Because of that, you’ll want to spend some time exploring the other nearby sites in Nassau Old Town. Museums like the Bahamas Historical Society and the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas are top-notch.
Follow up with a visit to Parliament Square: If you’re interested in learning more about the Bahamian government (while also seeing other historic structures), visit Parliament Square. It’s just around the corner from the Government House and is where different parts of the Bahamian government convene.
Witness the changing of the guards: One site you’ll want to see when you visit the Government House Bahamas is the changing of the guards. Taking place at 11 am on the second Saturday of each month, the colonial-era event features a marching band and different branches of the Bahamian military.

A historic British Post Box stands at the entrance to Government House Bahamas. GR stands for King George Reigns; the King of Great Britain at the time this post box was installed in Nassau old town.

Like the changing of the guards, post boxes are further relics of the island’s colonial past.

Visit the Picture-Perfect Nassau Government House

The Government House Bahamas has political significance, a colorful history, and an excellent vantage point from which to view New Providence. That, combined with its Nassau Old Town location, makes the Government House Nassau an accessible and worthwhile attraction to see.

Interested in learning more about the different things to do in Downtown Nassau and the surrounding area? Spend some time browsing through our other travel guides and interactive map.