Located about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean, you’ll find the Dutch colonial island of Curaçao. Whether you’re arriving by boat on a cruise, or seeing it overhead on the plane, as you admire the capital city of Willemstad, you’ll quickly notice that it might remind you of another city. (If you were thinking Amsterdam you are correct). In fact, it is nicknamed the “Amsterdam of the Caribbean” per the architecture. Keep reading for how to spend one day in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Start with Breakfast at La Reina and Enjoy the Colorful Homes
The street Kaya Wilson Godett was one of my favorites during our time in Willemstad. Each building is painted in different bright colors and it’s a nice spot to appreciate the local architecture and take photos. Combine this with a coffee visit to La Reina before heading downtown. To make life easy, route to the coffee shop and then walk around from there!
- Address: 86 Kaya Wilson Godett, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Hours: 7:30 AM – 5 PM Mon – Sat
- Pro Tip: Many hotels come with free breakfast. However, La Reina is still worth a stop as there is a cute shop to pick up souvenirs as well as great coffee.
Stop at the Curaçao Sign and Catch a TukTuk Tour
From Kaya Wilson Godett you’re about a 10-minute walk to the Curaçao sign which marks the entrance to the heart of the city. This is another great photo stop for your time in Curaçao. But note – it gets pretty crowded so you’ll need to be patient if you want the sign to yourself!
From there, you can meet your Tuk Tuk city tour driver. If you’re short on time, this is one of the best ways to get a feel for the city and learn some history. Our tour was organized by the Curaçao Tourism Board, but you can find a highly-rated tour here that has the same itinerary we went on. Tickets are about $25 per person and the tour lasts about 2 hours.
- Curaçao Sign Address: 4338+PMF, Wilhelminaplein, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Tuk Tuk Tickets: ~$25/pp
- Pro Tip: You can ask the TukTuk to leave you at a different spot along your tour than the start (assuming you’re in a private group) to maximize your time on spots you really want to spend more time at!
Get the Local Feel with the “Old Market” at Plasa Bieu and The Floating Market
One of my favorite activities while traveling is visiting a local market. It’s a great way to get a feel for the culture and see what types of foods are eaten in that area. (And if you’re adventurous you can even order some street food!)
During your one day in Willemstad, try to add these two well-known markets to your itinerary – the “Old Market” at Plasa Bieu and The Floating Market. The Old Market is more of an open-air food court and the Floating Market is more your standard market with fruit and veggie stalls.
“The Old Market”
- Address: 4339+QVH, De Ruyterkade, Willemstad, Curaçao (in Zus di Plaza)
- Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM daily
- Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a lunch on a budget, opt for this spot.
The Floating Market
- Address: 19 Sha Caprileskade, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Hours: 6 AM – 7 PM daily
Check out the famed art gallery of local artist Francis Sling
If you’re driving through Curaçao and pass by Francis Sling’s ArtCave , you will likely admire the stunning mural on a building with a little red car parked in front. What you may not know is that the most magical art studio and gallery is inside! If you’re lucky like we were you will have the opportunity to meet the artist himself. One of my favorite parts was after learning about the artist, as we adventured through Willemstad we realized he had painted quite a few murals around the city!
- Address: 31 Bargestraat, Willemstad, Curaçao
- Hours: The hours aren’t clear but we visited around 10 AM on Tuesday and they were just opening.
- Pro Tip: The gallery/ studio also features a small shop that sells items like totes, shirt, jewelry, and post cards. These make for great gifts and souvenirs!
Cross the Famous Queen Emma Bridge
The Queen Emma Bridge (named after the Queen of the Netherlands during its construction) may just be Willemstad’s most famous point of interest. Hang around for an hour or so and you’ll see why! This pontoon bridge connects the Otraband and Punda neighborhoods of the city. Throughout the day the bridge moves to make room for the passing ships. You may find yourself jumping on/off to get to the other side or standing on it while it moves.
- Movement: It moves about every 45 minutes
- Crossing Fee: Free
- Pro Tip: If you have time and feel like people (and bridge) watching, grab a coffee on the Punda side of the bridge and hang out for a bit!
Enjoy the Art Scene of the Otrobanda Neighborhood
I’m saving what might be the best for last on your one day in Willemstad itinerary. While in the city, you absolutely cannot miss exploring the artsy neigborhood of Otrabanda (translates to “other side”). This historic neighborhood is the cultural hub of the city with bright colors and various murals. Every corner has something interesting to look at. In fact, I wish we had spent more time over here! Learn more about Otrabanda here.
