Port Lucaya Marketplace — Attraction in City of Freeport

If you are coming in to spend the day from a cruise ship - this review does not apply to you. In that case I would give this four stars.

If you are staying for an amount of time - read on.

I stayed in the area for seven days. I felt safe, met tons of friendly people, and had many great experiences. The area however is not the jewel it used to be. Some of the hotels and businesses have closed because of hurricanes in 2004 and 2016. It is a shame to see the cornerstone hotels on the beach, as well as local landmark buildings shuttered or in disrepair. I don't want to dissuade you from going, it's still a great place to go. The marketplace is clean and well kept. There are local sellers that will sell you souvenirs, restsurants, tours and boats as well as the beach and hotels in the area. The main problem if you are staying to vacation is the area just about shuts down if there are no cruise ships in that day. The marketplace has very little activity. There is usually a restarant or two open so you won't lack for food. During these times I recommend you find a tour, which you can book in the marketplace. This will take you to more exciting places. The locals can tell you when the ships will be in and you will find it more lively and most all the businesses will be open.

I have heard that this island is the safest and I felt that while I was there. People were friendly and easy to talk to.

I highly recommend the...

Pay close attention...

When you visit Grand Bahama Island, the local taxi services are all very tightly runned when you come off ship... in order to keep prices down, they huddle all the wandering passengers into TWO groups when you disembark...

One group is taken to "the beach," the other group is taken "shopping," and that shopping group gets dropped off here, at the Lucaya Marketplace...

For those anticipating a robust "downtown area," and chose the "shopping," taxi, you may be disapointed that its really just a large outdoor one-story mall, and not a "downtown area" per say...

One side of the island has the "beaches," and the other side, Lucaya Marketplace... so you are forced to chose which group you want to jump in on...

This "huddling" taxi technique, allows large vans to take multiple passengers per destination, and, keep the cost at an affordable $7 each way...

But impatient travelers may get frustrated at the lack of autonomy associated with choosing your own taxi and going "where you want," and, having to WAIT until they huddle ENOUGH passengers to actually send a taxi out...

Otherwise, if you try to find your own private taxi, out side of the organized clan in port, you're looking at about $35 each way...

The marketplace is "ok," nothing spectacular, you may want to chose "beach" when they ask you "where do you want to go?" when you come...

Port Lucaya in Freeport is a lively and colorful marketplace that's perfect for picking up souvenirs and experiencing a bit of local culture. It's a mix of small shops, friendly vendors, and restaurants serving up traditional Bahamian fare and fresh seafood.

You’ll find everything from handcrafted goods and t-shirts to island-inspired jewelry and artwork. It’s a great place to browse, take your time, and chat with the locals.

There are also several restaurants and bars around the square, offering delicious Bahamian dishes, including conch, grilled fish, and other fresh seafood. It’s a great spot to grab a bite and enjoy the relaxed island vibe.

The best day to visit is definitely Wednesday, when around 95% of the vendors are open. Earlier in the week, many stalls can be closed or have limited hours, so plan accordingly to get the full experience.

Overall, Port Lucaya is a fun and laid-back place to shop, eat, and soak up a bit of...