Place · Bay Street, Rawson Square & the Straw Market
Straw Market
Go in the morning for baskets and hats before the ships fill it; bargain calmly; leave bags at the hotel.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 45–60 min
- p95 90 min
- Price
- Free
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- 09:00–17:009:00 AM–5:00 PM
- typical, check
- Best time
- before 09:30
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Bay Street, Rawson Square & the Straw Market: painful
- Getting there
- Taxi or walk to Bay Street
- Straw hats and baskets
- Bargain calmly
- Go before the ships
- Go before 09:30
- Free entry
- Queue: switch at 15 min
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 11Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…Downtown pavements are narrow and busy with vendors
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
- The Bahamas ↗Check entry rules for your passport on the official Bahamas government sources before you fly; requirements differ by nationality.
- The Bahamas ↗Respect marine protected areas: fishing, collecting shells or coral and anchoring rules are enforced in national parks such as the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.
- The Bahamas ↗Do not bring firearms or ammunition; even a single forgotten round in a bag can lead to arrest.
- The Bahamas ↗Water-sports operators on Nassau and Paradise Island beaches are poorly regulated: use tour companies booked through your hotel and wear a life jacket.
- New Providence ↗Hurricane season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct): buy flexible fares and keep a buffer night in Nassau.
- Nassau ↗Downtown pavements are narrow and busy with vendors: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Nassau ↗After dark, take a licensed taxi door to door; do not walk between clusters.
- Nassau ↗On days when several cruise ships are in port, Bay Street and the Straw Market are crowded from mid-morning: go before 09:30.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 09:00–17:00Usually 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Crowds
Quietest around 09:00 · go before 09:30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Sun · busiest Thu–Sat · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Know before you go
- Go before 09:30 when few ships are in port.Go before 9:30 AM when few ships are in port.
- Say hello and ask the price; agree it before you pick up an item.
- Carry small US bills; change is often in Bahamian dollars.
- Do not accept braiding or henna until the price is agreed.
Best time of day
Go before 09:30. Plan 45–60 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
90min
Trading hours vary by stall and by cruise days; not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Dress code
- Cover up in town; beachwear stays at the beach.
- Bags & lockers
- Keep bags in front.
- Photos
- Ask before photographing vendors and goods.
- What's closed
- Sundays and public holidayscheckMany stalls shut; check.
- Cruise-free dayscheckFewer stalls open.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | — |
| Straw hats and baskets | US$10–40 depending on bargaining (2026 estimate) | — |
| Hair braiding | agree a price first, US$20–60 (check) | — |
How to do it well
- 1Walk from Bay Street and go early.
- 2Buy after a first lap; prices differ between stalls.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Taxi or walk to Bay Street
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- market: none
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Crowded when several ships are in port; quiet on ship-free days.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- medium
- Queue rule
- Switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.
Bailouts
heat
Café (AC)
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Straw Market covered stalls (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesmarket: none
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: partly · partly
- Stroller: partly · partlycaution
Level floor; aisles are narrow at busy times.
Combine with
- 3 minCafé on Bay Street (AC)
- 5 minRawson Square
- 8 minChrist Church Cathedral
Walk the Bay Street, Rawson Square & the Straw Market area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Red lines
- Check that goods are made in the Bahamas if that matters: look for the official tag.
- Agree a price before a braiding or photo.
More on the groundWho it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids
Rules on site
- silence
- None.
With kids
- with kids
- Bright goods, but crowded on cruise days.
- child price
- free
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Souvenir shoppers | good | Hats and baskets in one hall. |
| Photographers | caution | Ask first. |
| Anyone who dislikes crowds | poor | Packed on cruise days. |
Skip it if
- Three or more ships are in port and you cannot go before 09:30.Three or more ships are in port and you cannot go before 9:30 AM.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
How do I know it is made in the Bahamas?
Look for the official Bahamas-made tag and ask where a piece was made; many goods are imported.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Should I bargain?
Yes, politely; a smile and a modest counter-offer work better than a hard bargain.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it open every day?
Most days; check on Sundays and holidays.
Can I pay by card?
Some stalls take cards; cash is easiest.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- officialBahamas Ministry of Tourism (official)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Nassau