ADVANTAGES OF THIS LOCATION: All of them!

Being in the center of Willemstad will allow you to enjoy the atmosphere of Curaçao in all its forms and also without missing the possibility of taking a guided tour or a bus to visit what is needed.

Otrobanda bus station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oiW6KQS8mBz96EcT8
From this station you can take a mini bus or a konvoi to visit other areas or to go to the beaches on the West/Westpunt side of the island, such as: Kenepa Grandi.

You can explore and plan bus routes here.

In the following image, for example, you can see how the 3C bus route can take you from Otrobanda to the Lagun and Knip (Kenepa) beach area.

Riffort welcomes cruise ships arriving in St. Anne’s Bay. It is one of the island’s eight forts and is part of the Willemstad harbor complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside you will see live music, dancing, food, souvenirs and much more.

The Queen Emma Bridge is the floating bridge linking the eastern district of Punda and the western district of Otrobanda in Willemstad. The bridge periodically separates from the eastern side of Sint Anna Bay to allow boats to pass into the bay. When it opens, one is “stuck” in the middle. You cannot exit from either side until it reopens. The best moment: At night! The arches of the bridge are illuminated in all colors.

The brightly colored and varied colonial buildings and houses are one of the main attractions. Legend has it that Curaçao’s buildings used to be white, but a former governor concluded that the headaches were due to the sun reflecting off the white buildings. His solution was to paint them in other colors.

Art and urban style is what you can find in the center of Willemstad. From souvenir stores, murals, to snack kiosks where you can buy a “pastechi”, a typical Dutch snack like“frikandel” or Kaasbal, but also empanadas, arepas, juices, soft drinks, and refresh yourself while walking through the city center.

Did you think there were no beaches in the center of Willemstad? The Marichi Pier is only a 10-minute walk from the Queen Emma Bridge. This place goes a bit unnoticed, as it is behind a parking lot in the Pietermaai district. Generally, you won’t see many tourists but local residents and some young interns living in the area. The pier offers a relaxing place to enjoy the crystal clear aquamarine waters of the Caribbean.

Here are my 6 recommended places to stay in the center of Willemstad and experience Curaçao without a car:

ADVANTAGES OF THIS LOCATION:

Boutique hotels, small stores, cozy cafés and first-class restaurants are all found in this neighborhood, ideal for walking.

From Punda to Pietermaai is about a five minute walk. Pietermaai offers a home to entrepreneurs and those who come for a quick coffee or come to work, students and interns can be found in the colorful Nieuwestraat, where most of the student houses are located, but also locals and artists feel at home here.

Music plays an important role at Pietermaai. Almost every night there is live music. It is usually at the famous Mundo Bizarro, where in addition to the Caribbean sounds you can enjoy a good drink. A day at the beach, but in the middle of the city? Then you can go to the Ávila Hotel. There’s plenty of jazz here too, and it has previously hosted artists such as Percy Sledge, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Candy Dulfer. At Bijblauw, the boutique hotel, you can stay and dine in style.

And speaking of restaurants: Pietermaai has so many (very good) restaurants that you’ll need a vacation to try them all. For example, Restaurant Oliva is distinguished by “an authentic taste of the Mediterranean”. No exclusivity or star rating here, but very high quality in a unique location: Oliva is part of the hotel ‘t Klooster in a, you’ll never guess, former monastery. Want a quick but delicious Dutch snack? Then visit Eetcafe Old Dutch. Ginger is for Asian cuisine, and Kome is the ultimate if you want to dine inside, air-conditioned.

Would you like to explore for yourself the unique cultural footprint of three different centuries? Then you can walk the street from the Plaza Bieu Market to the Avila Beach Hotel. If you stay in this area, you will discover why this neighborhood is called the SoHo of Curaçao.

ADVANTAGES OF THIS LOCATION:

– Punda Bus Station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bj4Dk43FvdMcnfEE9
From this station you can take a mini bus or a konvoi to visit other areas or to go to the beaches on the east side of the island, such as: Mambo Beach, Seaquarium, Lions Dive or Jan Thiel.

You can explore and plan bus routes here.

In the following image, for example, you can see how bus route 6A can take you from Punda to the Mambo/Seaquarium and Jean Thiel area.

– Walking and sightseeing opportunities: Colorful buildings, unique architecture, more than 25 murals painted by local artists, Queen Emma Bridge, Museums, Terraces to eat or enjoy a cocktail, restaurants, brand stores, souvenir stores.

– Events and Happy Hours: Every Thursday night, Punda Vibes is celebrated, on this day, many stores and restaurants stay open late to kick off a festive weekend atmosphere. You can also enjoy Happy Hours in almost all the bars and terraces of the area every night.

– Food at good prices: In the Plaza Bieu market and the Plaza Nobo market you can buy local food at good prices. The floating market consists of small boats that bring fresh fruits and vegetables from Venezuela and cost less than in supermarkets.

Tip: in the afternoon hours, many vendors offer you more for the same price because some fruits may be damaged if they are not sold.

– Opportunities for a relaxing afternoon: From the numerous cafes along the Handelskade you can spend hours watching the huge cruise ships docking in Santa Ana Bay. One of everyone’s favorites is Iguana Café. The staff of this restaurant speaks perfect Spanish and will provide you with a cozy atmosphere for an afternoon without pressure.

ADVANTAGES OF THIS LOCATION:

– Beaches: Like Mambo Beach, here you will also find many hotels, restaurants and beach clubs. Everything is a little smaller and less massive than Mambo Beach, but certainly no less crowded.

If you had to choose between Mambo Beach and Jan Thiel, I would say that Mambo Beach is a more practical choice if you want easy access to the city. However, Jan Thiel offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere if that’s what you’re looking for.

– Shopping: Jan Thiel focuses mainly on Dutch tourism, so here you will even find an Albert Heijn (Van den Tweel) supermarket and clothing and accessories stores of European brands. One of the most prominent is Dushi Store, where you can buy T-shirts, towels, hats and bags for the beach. Another store is Beach Shop Summer Breeze, where you can get a new bikini, beach sandals or sunscreen of excellent quality.

– Events and Happy Hours: Every night there is an atmosphere on Jan Thiel beach. Guests from the area often come to Jan Thiel’s restaurants for meals, as they prefer to use the day to take tours, see the island or take advantage of the beach. Tip: On Wednesdays there is live music and pizza special at the Zanzibar restaurant.

– Restaurants: There are 4 restaurants in Jan Thiel to suit all tastes. Zest Restaurant and Zest Beach Café offer Mediterranean food, Zanzibar Beach & Restaurant has varied food, from burritos, hamburgers or nachos to oriental style salads. For more Latin flavors, you can visit Tinto Bar y Cocina. Or visit Koko’s for more casual fare like sandwiches, tacos and quesadillas.

– Water activities: If there is one thing that makes Jan Thiel beach special, it is the impressive diversity of marine life that can be found there. If you are a snorkeling or diving lover, you will be fascinated by an encounter with colorful tropical fish and impressive coral formations. You might even see sea turtles or rays during your visit to the marine world of Jan Thiel. In addition, Jan Thiel beach is home to several excellent diving schools and instructors. Whether you want to take your first diving lesson or perfect your skills, this is the best place to do it.

ONLY DISADVANTAGE:

– Transfers/ Transportation: Mambo beach and Jan Thiel bay seem to be close, but as the salt pans are in the way, you have to detour quite a bit on the Caracasbaai road. It is 8 kilometers in total, but but during rush hour there is a lot of traffic congestion and this stretch can sometimes take up to 30 minutes. This takes you relatively far away from the rest of Willemstad and should be taken into account when planning how to get around Curaçao.

Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why I recommend this area if the transfer / transportation is a disadvantage. The truth is that many people are looking for an area where they can have everything at hand without having to move by bus or car and just relax and enjoy the best of Curaçao: The beaches. Jan Thiel offers everything you need if going to the city is not an essential plan for every day. For example, from Jan Thiel you can take boat tours, such as the Klein Curacao tour with Mermaid Boat trips.. Or you can take a bus and visit the city for a day. You can also hire our tour to go to the beaches of Westpunt for a day and our guide will pick you up and our guide can pick you up at your hotel and bring you back at the end of the tour.