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Things to do

Saved

What it's like

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and the island's main town. Its downtown runs in a fairly straight line, with pastel buildings, boutiques and older landmarks. Fort Zoutman and the Willem III Tower are the oldest buildings on the island, and they stand in the middle of town.

A visit is mostly a walk. Havenstraat, Schelpstraat and Main Street hold the shops, and the Renaissance Marketplace has local goods and souvenirs. The Fort Zoutman complex houses the Historical Museum, and a guided walk can take in more than 30 sites downtown.

Good to know

Avoid the tram tracks downtown; accidents happen when people expect the tram to stop for them.
Bring small U.S. bills for the straw market.

A place to visit:

Town

Oranjestad

Aruba, Aruba

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba, a compact downtown of shops, pastel buildings and historic landmarks.

snorkeling

beaches

volcanoes_geology

Spas and thermal baths

spa_thermal

Local culture and markets

local_culture

Kayaking and paddleboarding

kayak_paddle

Highlights and island tours

island_tour

Caves and cenotes

caves_cenotes

Catamaran and sailing trips

sailing_catamaran

hiking

shopping

land_wildlife

horseback_riding

off_road

scuba_diving

sport_fishing

Sightseeing and scenic rides

scenic_views

Beach clubs

beach_clubs

Old town and historic sights

historic_towns

Ancient sites

ancient_sites

Stingrays, turtles and dolphins

marine_wildlife

Museums

museums

Food tours

food_tours

How to get there

A free trolley also runs along the main street.

Time needed

What it costs

Walking the streets is free; a guided walking tour or museum visits are paid for separately.

Suits

Shoppers, walkers and history lovers

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12.5186111

-70.0358333

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Tours that go here

Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.

Tour

Aruba

Countryside to Northern Coast Horseback Aruban Adventure

3 hours

Small group

(

)

$173

a person

499

shopping

Tour

Aruba

Private Hidden Histories of Aruba

3 hours

Private

(

)

$270

a person

500

shopping

Tour

Aruba

Small Group Aruba Guided Spirits Tasting with Local Sommelier

1 hour 30 minutes

Small group

(

)

$187

a person

502

food_tours

shopping

Next, in

Aruba

All of

Aruba

Museum and fort

Fort Zoutman

Aruba

Fort Zoutman is a Dutch-era fort in downtown Oranjestad, now home to the Historical Museum of Aruba. It sits in the center of downtown Oranjestad, within walking distance of the main streets.

Tours here from

a person

ORAN:fort-zoutman

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12.5176861

-70.0356123

Beach

Eagle Beach

Aruba

Eagle Beach is a long, wide stretch of soft white sand on Aruba's west coast, with wind-bent fofoti trees, palapas and calm water for swimming. It is one of the island's best-known beaches.

Tours here from

a person

ORAN:eagle-beach

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12.546562

-70.0599149

Beach, with reef

Arashi Beach

Aruba

Arashi Beach is a calm, shallow stretch of white sand on Aruba's northwestern coast, near the California Lighthouse. A reef lies about 150 meters offshore, and it is known for snorkeling and diving.

Tours here from

$69

a person

ORAN:arashi-beach

{"acts":["snorkeling","beaches","scuba_diving","island_tour"],"doors":[],"lat":12.6099338,"lon":-70.0531969,"nearby":["ORAN:antilla-shipwreck","ORAN:baby-beach","ORAN:boca-catalina","ORAN:palm-beach"],"offmap":false,"spot":"ORAN:arashi-beach","trips":["CAABEXPLORE"]}

12.6099338

-70.0531969

Wreck, by boat

Antilla Shipwreck

Aruba

The Antilla is a scuttled German freighter lying off Malmok Beach on Aruba's west coast. Snorkelers and divers reach it by catamaran, and the wreck is one of the largest in the Caribbean.

Tours here from

$89

a person

ORAN:antilla-shipwreck

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12.602098

-70.0577618