The island is best known for its capital Willemstad, with its Dutch colonial architecture that borders a beautiful bay. There is a festive atmosphere throughout the island, with much to do and see in Willemstad and beyond.


1. Enjoy a capital brimming with culture
It is often described as a small Amsterdam, but the capital of Curaçao has its own Euro-Caribbean touch. Four colonial districts provide different experiences: Punda's cobblestone alleys are great for strolling, surrounded by designer shops, art galleries, museums, and open-air restaurants. Along the Queen Emma Floating Bridge, the pastel buildings of the Otrobanda area are home to discount stores, Creole restaurants and dimly lit bars with Latin music on Bredestraat Street. Then, Pietermaai district stretches at night, while Scharloo's 19th-century mansions and street art attract creative spirits.

2. Visit the oldest synagogue in America
The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, which is part of the UNESCO designation, is the oldest synagogue in America, active since 1732. Almost three centuries old, the pastel yellow building is impressive for its neoclassical design, but also for its distinctive sandy floor. This feature is in part a reminder of the ancestors of the faithful who were secret Jews living in Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. They were forced to hide their cult before fleeing to Amsterdam and other countries, and later settling in Curaçao.
Today, the synagogue serves 145 families who maintain this heritage. Admission includes a visit to the two-story Jewish museum that houses artifacts, photographs, and stories from the Curaçao Jewish community.

3. Enjoy nature
The rugged northeast is the lung of Curaçao, with two protected parks. Christoffel National Park offers multiple trails designed for walking or exploring from the comfort of a vehicle. Sunset safaris allow hikers to escape the heat while enjoying the island's flora and fauna, including white-tailed deer and native owl. Also, you can climb to the highest peak on the island at sunrise, Mount Christoffel towers over Curaçao at 377 meters.
Next door, Shete Boka National Park stretches 10 kilometers along the rockiest coast of the island, and its deserted beaches are an important nesting site for turtles.
There are marked trails that lead to viewing platforms just above a series of seven coves where the sea furiously crashes against the rocks. Boka Pistol is the most impressive cove of all, with waves up to 12 meters high.
4. Gastronomy

The official dish is keshi yena - cheese stuffed with spicy meat (often chicken), olives, capers, onions and prunes, all baked to perfection. A delicious version is on the menu at the Gouverneur de Rouville, located on the second floor of a colonial building in Otrobanda, with panoramic views of the Willemstad coastline.
A popular drink to beat the heat is awa di lamunchi, a freshly squeezed lime juice.
5. Visit the Kurá Hulanda Museum

The Kurá Hulanda Museum has the most complete collection of African objects in the Caribbean. It also houses a detailed display of the transatlantic slave trade, explaining Curaçao's role as a place where the Dutch sold and shipped enslaved Africans to other parts of the Caribbean and to the United States.
In the Middle Passage building, museum guide Yflen Florentina shares lurid tales of capture and punishment methods along with tools to mark the skin, cages and iron necks used on slaves.

6. Swim on the beautiful Westpunt shoreline
The west end of the island is a beautiful destination, a favorite weekend getaway for the locals, full of beaches that line the crystal clear Caribbean Sea. An hour and a half drive from Willemstad, a winding coastal road lined with gigantic cacti leads into a seascape of crags towering over fine stretches of white sand. You can spend your days snorkeling and diving along the cliffs or on the beach. Corals and tropical fish abound, and visibility is almost always perfect.
While many beaches charge a small access fee, Playa Kenepa, the most beautiful, is a public space. Food vendors line the entrance - a perfect excuse to sample the local pastechi, a crunchy patty filled with seasoned meats.

7. Punda Vibes Thursdays
Once a week, Willemstad comes to life with Punda Vibes Thursday. From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., the most visited colonial district in the city turns into a great cultural festival with a night market. There is folk dance in Punda's main square on Gomezplein, outdoor stalls sell handcrafted crafts and jewelry, and various local artists perform live on Punda´s main streets.
Restaurants and bars join Punda Vibes with food and happy hour specials, and the afternoon ends with fireworks over St. Anna's Bay.

8. Jumping cliffs
Jumping from 12 meters at Playa Forti is a must-see in Curaçao, and not just for tourists. Facing a sprawling blue sea at Westpunt just a few miles north of Kenepa Beach, this crest offers one of the most beautiful views of the coast and draws crowds of locals and visitors who dare to jump on the weekends. If you are afraid of heights, go to the Blue View restaurant, located on a cliff just in front of this crest, and order a Blue Curaçao cocktail to enjoy the show at a safe distance.

See more about curacao in Tourism in Curaçao