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Voykit pocket guide · Aruba
Oranjestad (Aruba)
Oranjestad
Oranjestad is a half-day town from your beach: the fort and the museum in a morning before the heat, Main Street for lunch, the marina at sunset, and a look at the cruise calendar so you do not share it with ships.
The capital is small, flat and hot, with a harbour at the front and a marina next door. The trips that go wrong walk the waterfront at midday on ship day, plan a Sunday errand when shops are shut, or forget that the wind hides the sun. Four small clusters cover the town; the beach is the sleep base and Oranjestad is a taxi-and-walk morning.
- Country
- Aruba
- Local name
- Oranjestad
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Dec
- Time zone
- America/Aruba
- Stay
- 1 days: Fort and museum in the morning, Main Street lunch, marina at sunset
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AWG
- Money
- Cards work in hotels, restaurants and most shops; US dollars are accepted almost everywhere at about 1.79 florins to the dollar, and change may come back in florins. Keep small US notes for counters, buses and tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget AWG 70–130 excl. bed · Mid AWG 130–300 excl. bed · High AWG 300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid SIM at the airport or a phone shop (passport needed); SETAR and Digicel are the local networks. Check roaming rates on your home plan.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- 110 to 120 V; US-style two-pin sockets (types A and B). Visitors from the US need no adapter; carry one from Europe.
- Tipping
- Check the bill for a 10 to 15% service charge; if none, tip about 15%. Round up for taxi drivers and give US$1 to 2 per bag to a porter.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and safe to drink; hotels also supply bottled water.
- Toilets
- Museums, the marina, malls, cafés and the cruise terminal; few public toilets, so plan around them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | US$3 to 5 |
| Bottle of water, shop | US$1.50 to 3 |
| Pastechi | US$1.50 to 3 |
| Local beer in a bar | US$4 to 7 |
| Taxi between clusters | US$8 to 20 |
| Beach chair and umbrella | US$20 to 40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
- AUA to Oranjestad or the beaches: one licensed taxi at the government fare, 10–30 minutes; the risk is a late flight, when the rank thins, and the entry form you must have done before you fly.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) (AUA) | International and inter-island flights | Licensed taxi 10 to 20 min at the posted fare |
| Cruise terminal | Cruise ships | Walk 5 to 15 minutes to Main Street |
| Bus terminal (Arubus) | Public buses to the hotels and the island | Walk 10 minutes |
Typical fares
- Airport to Oranjestad centre, taxi
- About US$15 to 25, 10 to 20 min (posted fare card)
- Oranjestad to Eagle Beach, taxi
- About US$10 to 15, 10 to 15 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster by day; take a taxi between clusters and to the beaches; use the public bus for cheap trips on set routes.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside a cluster by day |
| Licensed taxi | Government fares; US$8 to 20 across town | Between clusters, to the airport and after dark |
| Public bus (Arubus) | About US$2 to 3 (check) | Cheap trips along the hotel strip |
| Rental car | US$50 to 90 a day | Arikok and the south-east |
| Scooter or ATV | US$50 to 100 | Not recommended |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Taxis have zone fares: agree the amount before you ride.
- Late at night
- No rail; buses and taxis run into the evening, and taxis are scarce late.
See and do
01Fort ZoutmanFort Zoutman
The island's oldest building, with a tower.
Hours: best Before 10:00 · Price: about US$5 · Time: 30 to 45 minHours: best Before 10:00 AM · Price: about US$5 · Time: 30 to 45 min · 12.5227, -70.0328
02National Archaeological MuseumMuseo Arqueologico Nacional Aruba
The Caquetio and the island's start.
Hours: best Late morning · Price: small fee · Time: 45 to 60 min · 12.5184, -70.0380
03The marina at sunsetRenaissance Marketplace
Boats, light and dinner.
Hours: best After 17:30 · Price: free; dinner US$30 to 70 · Time: 1 to 2 hHours: best After 5:30 PM · Price: free; dinner US$30 to 70 · Time: 1 to 2 h · 12.5238, -70.0345
04The waterfront walkLloyd G. Smith Boulevard
A flat harbour walk.
Hours: best 08:00 · Price: Free · Time: 20 to 40 minHours: best 8:00 AM · Price: Free · Time: 20 to 40 min · 12.5265, -70.0335
05Wilhelmina ParkWilhelminapark
A shaded pause.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 15 to 30 min · 12.5228, -70.0335
06Main StreetCaya G.F. Betico Croes
Pastel frontages and lunch.
Hours: best Before noon · Price: Free · Time: 30 to 60 min · 12.5183, -70.0398
07ZeeroversZeerovers
Fried fish by the sea.
Hours: best Early lunch · Price: US$15 to 28 · Time: 1 to 1.5 h · 12.4757, -69.9835
08Keshi yena lunchCunucu-style kitchens
One proper Aruban meal.
Hours: best Lunch · Price: US$18 to 34 · Time: 1 to 1.5 h · 12.5177, -70.0385
09Arikok National Park
Caves and the wild coast.
Hours: best Morning · Price: US$90 to 130 with a tour · Time: Half day
10A snorkel sail
Clear water and reef fish.
Hours: best Morning · Price: US$70 to 120 · Time: Half or full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arikok National Park | Jeep or guided tour, about 25 to 35 min from town | Half day |
| Baby Beach and San Nicolas | Car or taxi about 35 to 45 min south-east | Half or full day |
| Palm Beach and Eagle Beach | Bus or taxi 10 to 20 min | Half day |
| Hooiberg hill | Car or taxi about 15 min | 1 to 2 h |
| De Palm Island or a catamaran sail | Boat 20 to 30 min | Half or full day |
| Curaçao | Flight about 30 to 40 min | 2 to 3 nights |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastechi and bakery counters | Two pastechi and a coffee · Main Street | US$4 to 8 | Budget |
| Main Street lunch counters | A plate of the day · Main Street | US$8 to 14 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Fruit, bread and cheese · Citywide | US$8 to 15 | Budget |
| Zeerovers (Savaneta fish shack) | Fried fish plate · Savaneta | US$15 to 28 | Mid-range |
| Aruban home-cooking restaurants | Keshi yena or fish with funchi · Town | US$18 to 34 | Mid-range |
| Marina and waterfront restaurants | Steak or fish with a drink · Marina | US$45 to 90 | Splurge |
| Resort restaurants on Palm Beach | Tasting menu or steak · Palm Beach | US$60 to 150 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in US dollars. Addresses and hours change; check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | US$90 to 170 double | Oranjestad town and side streets | Guest houses and small hotels |
| mid | US$200 to 400 | Eagle Beach | Beach hotels and condo-hotels |
| splurge | US$450 to 1,200+ | Palm Beach | Resorts |
Per room per night in US dollars, 2026 estimate; peak season (Dec to April) adds 20 to 50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Bon diabohn DEE-ah; say it before asking for anything |
| Good afternoon | Bon tardibohn TAR-dee |
| Good evening | Bon nochibohn NOH-chee |
| Thank you | DankiDAHN-kee; masha danki means thank you very much |
| Welcome | Bon binibohn BEE-nee |
| Please | Por faborpor fah-BOR |
| To this address, please | To this address, pleaseEnglish is widely spoken; show the hotel name |
| Goodbye | AyoAH-yoh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say good morning or good afternoon before asking for anything.
- Dress: Cover up in town, shops and restaurants; beachwear is for the beach.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people.
- Tipping: Check the service charge; otherwise tip about 15%.
- Pace: Service is unhurried; patience works better than pressure.
- Environment: Do not touch coral or take shells or sand from the beach.
Red lines
- Cover up outside the beach: swimwear only at the beach.
- Do not leave bags in parked cars at the waterfront.
- Ask before photographing people.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed drivers or 'free' tours offered at the cruise terminal: use the taxi desk and the posted fare card.
- Jet-ski or parasail operators who quote a low price and add fees or a damage claim afterwards: use a licensed operator and get a written price.
- Timeshare or 'free breakfast' presentations offered by street promoters: politely decline; they take hours.
- Bags left in parked cars or on the beach: thieves target rental cars near beaches, so keep nothing visible.
- A tour seller on the pier who promises a full-day trip: check the operator's licence and the inclusions first.
One and two days
1 day
A cruise stop or a short stopover. Skip: Zeerovers and Arikok unless you have a car.
- 08:008:00 AMFort Zoutman
- 09:309:30 AMWilhelmina Park
- 10:3010:30 AMThe archaeological museum
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch on Main Street
- 17:305:30 PMThe marina at sunset
2 days
The usual town stay. Skip: A boat day and the fort on the same morning.
Day 1: Fort, museum, lunch
- 08:008:00 AMFort Zoutman
- 10:3010:30 AMThe museum
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch
Day 2: Marina and dinner
- 09:009:00 AMWaterfront walk
- 17:305:30 PMThe marina and dinner
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Aruba Tourism Authority (official): www.aruba.com/
- Queen Beatrix International Airport (official): www.airportaruba.com/
- Wikivoyage — Oranjestad: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Oranjestad
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Oranjestad (Aruba)Oranjestad
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Fort ZoutmanFort Zoutman and Willem III Tower
- Museo Arqueologico Nacional ArubaNational Archaeological Museum Aruba
- Renaissance MarketplaceRenaissance Marketplace and the marina
- Lloyd G. Smith BoulevardWaterfront promenade and cruise terminal
- WilhelminaparkWilhelmina Park
- Caya G.F. Betico CroesMain Street (Caya G.F. Betico Croes)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Write your embassy's phone number below and save your insurer's line.
English is widely spoken; show the hotel name to the taxi driver.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/oranjestad). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.