The +1242 country code connects calls to the Bahamas, an archipelago of over 700 islands scattered across the western Atlantic Ocean. Because the Bahamas participates in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), you dial it the same way you would any US or Canadian number: the country code +1 followed by the area code 242 and a seven-digit local number. About 400,000 people live here, most of them on New Providence (home to Nassau) and Grand Bahama. The tourism-driven economy means you might find yourself calling hotels, dive operators, or vacation rental managers alongside personal contacts.
Quick answer: The Bahamas uses area code 242 under the +1 country code (NANP). Bahamian phone numbers are 10 digits total: +1-242-XXX-XXXX. There is no trunk prefix. Landline numbers typically start with 3 or 6, and mobile numbers start with 3, 4, 5, or 8. The Bahamas spans Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving).
How to call Bahamas: quick reference
As a NANP territory, Bahamas follows the standard North American dialing pattern. From the US or Canada you can treat it like a domestic long-distance call, though your carrier will charge international rates. From elsewhere, dial your exit code, then 1242, then the seven-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1242 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-1242-[local number] |
| UK | 00-1242-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-1242-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-1242-[local number] |
| France | 00-1242-[local number] |
Understanding Bahamas phone numbers
All Bahamian numbers follow the NANP format: +1-242-NXX-XXXX, where N is 2-9 and X is 0-9. The full international number is always 11 digits.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use prefixes like 357, 359, 376, 377, 395, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 454, 455, 456, 457, 464, 466, 467, 468, 469, 524, 525, 535, 544, 551, 552, 553, 554, 556, 557, 558, 559, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 812, and 814. The two mobile carriers share different prefix blocks. BTC (now BE Aliv merged some operations) historically held the 3xx and 4xx ranges, while Aliv launched with 8xx prefixes.
Landline numbers
Fixed-line numbers are concentrated in a few prefix ranges. Nassau and New Providence use prefixes starting with 302, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, and 393. Grand Bahama (Freeport) uses 350, 351, 352, 373, and 374. The Family Islands (Out Islands) use 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 354, 355, 362, 365, 366, and 367. There are no separate area codes within the Bahamas; the 242 code covers the entire country.
Mobile carriers in Bahamas
BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company)
BTC has been the incumbent carrier since 1966. Originally government-owned, it was partially privatized when Cable & Wireless Communications acquired a 51% stake in 2011. Liberty Latin America later took over Cable & Wireless. BTC operates both the fixed-line and mobile networks, with 4G LTE coverage across the major islands. It remains the only provider of landline service.
Aliv
Aliv launched in November 2016 as the Bahamas' second mobile carrier, breaking BTC's decades-long mobile monopoly. It is a subsidiary of Cable Bahamas (now REV). Aliv built its own 4G LTE network and gained a significant share of the mobile market within its first few years. Coverage is strongest on New Providence and Grand Bahama, with ongoing expansion to the Family Islands. Aliv operates mobile-only; it does not offer landline service.
Don't confuse +1242 with nearby codes
Several Caribbean NANP codes look similar to 1242. A mistyped digit can connect you to the wrong island entirely.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +1 246 | Barbados | 246 vs 242 - the last two digits are swapped |
| +1 268 | Antigua and Barbuda | 268 vs 242 - different middle and last digits |
| +1 284 | British Virgin Islands | 284 vs 242 - starts with same "2" but rest differs |
| +1 441 | Bermuda | 441 vs 242 - both Atlantic island NANP codes |
The most common mix-up is between the Bahamas (242) and Barbados (246). Double-check that third digit: 2 for Bahamas, 6 for Barbados.
Time zone considerations
The Bahamas uses Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) and observes daylight saving time (EDT, UTC-4) on the same schedule as the US. This makes calling from the US East Coast particularly convenient since you share the same clock year-round.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9am in Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Same time | 9:00 AM |
| US West Coast | +3 hours ahead | 6:00 AM |
| UK / Ireland | +5 hours ahead | 2:00 PM |
| Central Europe | +6 hours ahead | 3:00 PM |
| Japan | +14 hours ahead | 11:00 PM |
| Australia (AEST) | +15 hours ahead | 12:00 AM (next day) |
Communication in Bahamas
Business hours
Most businesses in the Bahamas operate Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Banks typically close at 3:00 PM. Government offices follow a similar schedule. Tourism-related businesses, especially on Nassau's Bay Street and in resort areas, often keep extended hours including weekends. During Junkanoo season (December-January) and spring break, expect some businesses to adjust their schedules.
Communication style
English is the official language, though Bahamian English has its own cadence and expressions. Phone calls tend to be warm and personal; greetings matter. Business calls still lean formal for initial contact but become relaxed once you have a relationship. WhatsApp is widely used for casual communication and even some business coordination, especially among smaller operators and vacation rental hosts.
Network quality
4G LTE coverage is solid on New Providence and Grand Bahama. The Family Islands have patchier coverage depending on how remote they are. Some smaller cays rely on satellite connections or limited cellular service. After major hurricanes, network outages can last days to weeks on affected islands. If you cannot reach someone on a remote island, it may be a connectivity issue rather than the wrong number.
The Bahamian diaspora
Where they went
South Florida is the primary destination. The Bahamas-born population in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area is substantial, and Nassau is just a 35-minute flight from Miami. Other communities exist in New York, Atlanta, Houston, and Washington, D.C. The UK and Canada also have smaller Bahamian populations, mostly in London and Toronto. Many Bahamians who study abroad in the US maintain close family ties at home.
Why they call
Family connections remain tight despite the short distance to the US mainland. Holiday coordination is a big driver, especially around Junkanoo (December 26 and January 1) and Bahamian Independence Day (July 10). Parents call children attending universities in the US. Property owners on the Out Islands call local caretakers. The tourism industry also generates heavy inbound call traffic from travel agents, airlines, and cruise lines coordinating logistics.
Dialing examples
Calling a Nassau landline from the US
You want to call a hotel on Cable Beach in Nassau. The local number is 327-6000. From a US mobile phone, dial +1 242 327 6000. From a US landline, dial 1-242-327-6000 (treated as a long-distance call, but billed at international rates by most carriers).
Calling a Bahamian mobile from the UK
Your friend in Nassau has the mobile number 424-1234. From the UK, dial 00 1 242 424 1234, or on a mobile phone, +1 242 424 1234.
Calling Freeport (Grand Bahama) from Germany
You need to reach a dive operator in Freeport. Their number is 352-5678. From Germany, dial 00 1 242 352 5678, or on a mobile, +1 242 352 5678.
Calling within the Bahamas
Local calls within the same island use just the seven-digit number: 327-6000. Calls between islands (e.g., Nassau to Freeport) also use seven digits since the entire country shares the 242 area code. There is no need to dial 242 for domestic calls.
Common mistakes to avoid
Treating it as a free domestic call
Because the Bahamas uses +1 like the US and Canada, some people assume calls are billed at domestic rates. They are not. Most US carriers classify +1-242 as international, and per-minute charges apply. Check your plan or use a VoIP service like CallSky to avoid surprise bills.
Confusing 242 with 246
Bahamas is 242; Barbados is 246. One transposed digit sends your call 1,500 miles southeast to a different country. Always verify the third digit.
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
The Bahamas has no trunk prefix (no leading 0). When dialing internationally, go straight from +1-242 to the seven-digit local number. Adding a 0 after 242 will result in a wrong number or failed call.
Ignoring hurricane season disruptions
Hurricane season runs June through November, peaking in September. Major storms like Hurricane Dorian (2019) can knock out telecommunications infrastructure on entire islands for weeks. If you cannot reach someone in the Bahamas during this period, the issue may be damaged cell towers rather than a wrong number. Try again later or check news reports for the specific island.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +1242 code?
The +1242 code is for the Bahamas, an archipelago nation in the western Atlantic Ocean southeast of Florida. The 242 is an area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
Is calling the Bahamas the same as calling within the US?
No. Although the Bahamas uses the +1 country code, most US carriers bill calls to +1-242 at international rates. Check your phone plan or use a VoIP calling service for lower per-minute rates.
What time zone is the Bahamas in?
The Bahamas follows Eastern Time (UTC-5) and observes daylight saving time on the same schedule as the United States, so Nassau is always on the same clock as New York and Miami.
Do I need to dial a 0 before Bahamian numbers?
No. The Bahamas does not use a trunk prefix. When dialing internationally, use +1-242 followed directly by the seven-digit local number. When calling locally within the Bahamas, use just the seven-digit number.
Why can't I reach someone on a Bahamian island?
Remote Family Islands (Out Islands) sometimes have limited cell coverage. During and after hurricanes, telecommunications can go down for extended periods. Hurricane Dorian in 2019, for example, destroyed infrastructure across Abaco and Grand Bahama for weeks.
See also: Barbados (+1246) | Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) | All country codes