Best time to go to the Bahamas for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to the Bahamas?
The best time to visit the Bahamas extends from November to May. Between the months of May and November, the weather is indeed humid, but the rains are not discouraging enough to prevent you from enjoying the day for fun and relaxation.
Therefore, any time of the year is suitable for a trip to the Bahamas and, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 32°C (90°F) , the heat is on. This is also the case in the sea, as the water temperature does not drop below 25°C (77°F) , regardless of the season.
When is the best time to visit the Bahamas to avoid crowds? It is important to know that the archipelago has two tourist seasons: high season in July-August and peak season in December. Therefore, there are many people on the beaches and at other tourist sites. The rest of the year, these places are less crowded, except during Easter and Whit Monday, as Bahamians take advantage of these public holidays to picnic with their families and the beaches are crowded.
If you prefer tranquility, while enjoying perfect weather conditions, choose the months of November, February, March, and April. However, the choice of islands is also to be considered: while Nassau and Freeport are bustling almost all year round, the Out Islands, also known as the Family Islands, are much more peaceful and nature reigns there. This can also be a matter of budget. Indeed, hotel rates on the main islands skyrocket during tourist seasons.
If crowds do not bother you and you want to see the population in celebration, make sure your stay coincides with Junkanoo, a festival linked to Bahamian culture and celebrated on all the islands at the end of December-beginning of January and in July.
Annual weather in the Bahamas
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in the Bahamas for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68°F to 81°F | perfect weather* | |||
| February | 70°F to 81°F | perfect weather | |||
| March | 72°F to 79°F | perfect weather | |||
| April | 76°F to 81°F | perfect weather* | |||
| May | 77°F to 83°F | good weather* | |||
| June | 81°F to 86°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| July | 83°F to 88°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| August | 83°F to 88°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| September | 83°F to 88°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| October | 81°F to 86°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| November | 76°F to 83°F | good weather | |||
| December | 72°F to 81°F | good weather* |
Best time to travel to Bahamas by cities
Climate and Weather in the Bahamas
A true little paradise in the Caribbean, the Bahamas are bordered by the United States, Haiti, and the island of Cuba. The Bahamas' weather is mild thanks to the presence of the Gulf Stream and the trade winds that blow almost all year round. Thus, the 700 islands of the archipelago enjoy an average of 320 days of sunshine per year. It's no wonder George Washington nicknamed them the "islands of perpetual June"!
The climate of the Bahamas has three variations:
- A tropical wet and dry climate, with dry winters. This is the most common climate and is notably present in the capital, Nassau.
- A tropical monsoon climate found on the side of Freeport, near Miami.
- A tropical wet and dry climate with dry summers. Less common, it mainly affects Harbour Island, in the north of the archipelago.
Climate during the dry season in the Bahamas
The dry season is between November and May, and it is the most pleasant period to visit the Bahamas. The islands enjoy a minimum of seven hours of sunshine in winter, which increases as spring progresses. If you are looking for mild and pleasant weather, this is a destination to seriously consider to soak up the sun while gray skies dominate Europe! In the middle of the day, temperatures average around 25°C. At night, the atmosphere cools significantly, so it is advisable to have something to cover up with in the evening, especially if you are staying in the eastern part of the archipelago.
During this season, precipitation is very rare. However, it is not impossible to experience a few brief showers. As for the water temperature, it is almost similar to that of the air. You will have no trouble swimming during your vacation and fully enjoying beach pleasures!
Climate during the wet season in the Bahamas
The wet season is from June to October. Nevertheless, it is entirely possible to explore the islands of the Bahamas without being inconvenienced. At this time of year, days are longer, and the sunshine hours are even higher than during the dry season, with about 9 hours of sun per day.
Even though it rains about every other day, showers are usually short-lived and mostly occur at night or in the late afternoon, which fortunately will not spoil your stay. In terms of temperatures, they remain very pleasant on average as they do not exceed 32°C (90°F) , even at the hottest time of the season. In the eastern part of the archipelago, in Snug Corner and Mayaguana, it is even rare for the thermometer to go above 30°C (86°F) . The wet season is therefore highly recommended to visit and admire their beautiful natural treasures.
The hurricane season extends from June to October, and the cyclone season can sometimes last until mid-November, depending on the year. However, the Bahamas archipelago is protected by coral reefs, especially the eastern coasts of the islands, such as the capital, Nassau. It is actually the cities in the southeast, like Abraham Bay or Matthew Town, that are most affected by these rare natural disasters.
Temperatures and rainfall in the Bahamas
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Bahamas and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Nassau, Andros Town, Freeport, Little San Salvador and Snug Corner, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in the Bahamas
Find out when Bahamas has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in the Bahamas
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, March, May, September, October and November. The number of visitors to Bahamas is high in: February, April, June, July, August and December.
- Very low season in the Bahamas: March, May, September, October and November.
- Low season in the Bahamas: January.
- High season in the Bahamas: February, April, June and August.
- Peak season in the Bahamas: July and December.
Figure: Visitor index for Bahamas month by month
Average price for flights to the Bahamas
A return flight between New York City and Nassau is generally cheaper if you go in september ($ 316 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 240 more for your airline ticket to Nassau if you go in february.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to the Bahamas
Where to go in the Bahamas?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Nassau | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Andros Town | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Freeport | 74°F | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 76°F |
| Little San Salvador | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Snug Corner | 79°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 81°F | 81°F |
| Big Major Cay | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Bimini | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 85°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Cat Island | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Dean’s Blue Hole | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Eleuthera | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Exumas | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Great Harbour Cay | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Harbour Island | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Inagua | 81°F | 81°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 83°F | 81°F |
| Long Island | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Marsh Harbour | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Mayaguana | 79°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 81°F | 81°F |
| Paradise Island | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Pink Sands Beach | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Alice Town | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 85°F | 79°F | 77°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About Bahamas
What can I do in the Bahamas?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Bahamas reliable?
Climate data for Bahamas has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Bahamas allows us to determine the average for each month in Nassau, Andros Town, Freeport, Little San Salvador, Snug Corner, Big Major Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, and 12 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.