Rum Tours in Nassau: Walking Tasting, Van Highlights or Party Bus?
6 min read
Four rum tours run from the centre of Nassau, and they are four different afternoons: a walking tasting with a speakeasy, a van ride with samples, a reggae-soundtracked bus with bottomless punch, and a party bus that spends two hours at the beach.
For most people the answer is the rum tastings and culinary walking tour: 4.9 stars from 225 reviews, three hours, five rum tastings, three cocktails and food. Rather not walk? The island highlights tour with rum tasting is a 2.5-hour van trip and €15.81 cheaper. Nassau has 29 food and drink tours on GetYourGuide, from €17.56.
Four rum tours, compared
| Tour | Duration | Price | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rum Tastings and Culinary Walking Tour | 3 hours | €88.91 per person | 4.9 (225 reviews) | Rum drinkers who want to learn something |
| Island Highlights Tour with Rum Tasting | 2.5 hours | €72.58 per person | 4.8 (49 reviews) | A sightseeing drive with tasting stops |
| Rum, Reggae and Rhythms Tour | 4 hours | €69.86 per person | 4.7 (14 reviews) | A group that wants a party |
| Junkanoo Party Bus | 4.5 hours | €63.50 per person | 4.5 (24 reviews) | Friends who want music and a beach stop |
What each tour is
The walking tour (Islandz Tours) starts at John Watling’s Distillery, 40 minutes with a cocktail and food tasting, then the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas, the cruise port area, and an hour at The Lucerne, with a private speakeasy included. It finishes at Parliament Square. Groups are capped at 12. The listing includes five rum tastings, three cocktails, a tutorial on tasting and pairing rum, a mixology session, locally infused appetizers, conch fritters and rum cake. The history on offer is pirates, blockade runners and the Prohibition years.
The van tour is a Nassau highlights drive in an air-conditioned van: the Queen’s Staircase, a pass by Atlantis, the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory, the Graycliff Chocolate Factory and John Watling’s Distillery. Entrance tickets and food and drink samples are included, but some walking is involved. It meets at the Tourism Police Station on Woodes Rodgers Walk.
The reggae tour is the lively one. It lists a cigar factory, a chocolate factory, a winery, a rum distillery and the former home of Bob Marley, with wine and rum tastings and bottomless rum punch; a beach stop is optional. Only 14 reviews, so the 4.8 is a first impression.
The party bus starts at 26 N Bar and Bistro and spends 45 minutes at Fort Charlotte, two hours at Goodman’s Bay Beach and 45 minutes at Elizabeth on Bay for regional food. It is more beach than rum, and the least-rated of the four.
Who should not book
- All tastings: you must be 18 or over. The walking tour asks for a valid photo ID, and the van tour says guests must be over 18 for the rum sampling.
- The walking tour states it is not suitable for pregnant women; one reviewer warns that there are stairs, so people with mobility issues should check first.
- The van tour states it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
- The reggae tour states it is not suitable for pregnant women or for children under 18.
The walking tour’s own advice is to eat before you come, “as the rum tastings are quite strong on an empty stomach”, and to use a restroom beforehand, although every stop has facilities. It also warns that a minimum of two passengers applies: if too few book, you are offered an alternative or a full refund.
Cruise passengers
The walking tour states that if your cruise ship is late or cannot dock because of weather, you are eligible for a full refund. It meets at John Watling’s Distillery, not at the port, so check the address on the booking page before you plan the walk. How the rest of a port day fits around a three-hour tour is worked out here, and what to eat beyond rum is in the Bahamian food guide.
Our recommendation
For most people: the rum tastings and culinary walking tour, €88.91, 4.9 stars from 225 reviews — the best rated, small groups, five tastings, and food to go with them.
Check prices and availability for the rum tastings and culinary walking tour
Not walking much: the island highlights tour, €72.58, 4.8 stars from 49 reviews — you see the Queen’s Staircase and Atlantis from a van. Not worth it if you want to learn about rum: the party bus is mostly a beach day with drinks.
See dates for the island highlights tour with rum tasting
More options: the 29 food and drink tours from €31.75.
