Curaçao is a proper holiday destination – beautiful beaches, excellent diving, a UNESCO-listed historic centre, and enough going on to fill a week (ish, if you like downtime and island vibes…). But its capital – Willemstad – is also one of the most popular cruise stops in the Caribbean, and bizarrely also sometimes a layover city for anyone routing through to Suriname, Bonaire, sometimes Venezuela. Either way, this means a lot of people find themselves here with just a day, or a few hours, to work with.
I was in the layover camp – seven hours en route to Suriname, running on minimal sleep after a night in Bogotá airport. Not the ideal conditions for exploring a new island. And yet, Willemstad completely delivered. It’s compact, walkable, chill, colourful in the most literal sense, and the kind of place where even a few hours feels like time well spent.
Whether you’re stepping off a cruise ship for the afternoon, killing time between flights, or just want to know what to prioritise on a shorter trip – here’s how to spend a day in Curaçao well.
Practical information for visiting Curaçao
Getting in from the airport: Hato International Airport is about 15 minutes from the centre of Willemstad. Taxis are available outside arrivals – expect around $30–35 USD into the city. Negotiate the fare before you get in. The 24/7 Taxi app also works well in Curaçao and is a reliable way to get around during your visit, as well as getting back to the airport from downtown. Many drivers accept card.
Getting in from the cruise port: The cruise terminal is right in Willemstad, within easy walking distance of the historic centre. You can step off and start exploring immediately.
Currency: Curaçao has its own official currency (the Netherlands Antillean guilder), but USD is accepted almost everywhere – ATMs even dispense it and most prices are listed in USD.
Cost: Curaçao is on the expensive side. Drinks run $12–15, a café sandwich around the same, museum entry similar. It’s not the most bank-breaking Caribbean island but prices reflect the tourist traffic, so budget accordingly.
Heat: It was over 32°C during my visit with intense UV. Sunscreen is not optional.
Connectivity: eSIMs work well in Curaçao. Airalo has coverage and also offers a Caribbean-wide eSIM that works well here. Perfect if you’re crusing or island hopping. It is worth sorting before you travel if you want data for maps and getting around.
Bag storage: If you’re on a long layover and want somewhere to freshen up and store luggage, it’s worth contacting a local hostel. Bed n Bike hostel allowed me to book a daytime stay for the same price as a night – shower, rest, bag storage, all sorted. Made a huge difference to the day. I emailed them direct to sort.
Airport Lounge: The lounge at Curaçao airport was excellent, with good food and comfortable seating. Available with Priority Pass. There’s a limit on drinks – 2 alcoholic beverages per person, but honestly after a day of sun, rum and craft beer this wasn’t an issue.
Five things to do in Curaçao in a day
1. Walk around the historic centre of Willemstad
This is the main event. The historic centre of Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – pastel-painted Dutch colonial buildings in pink, yellow, blue, and purple lining the waterfront and streets behind it. It’s genuinely as colourful as it looks in every photo you’ve ever seen, and the street art dotted throughout adds to the atmosphere.
The waterfront area around the Queen Emma floating bridge is especially good for photos, as is wandering the streets of Punda and Otrobanda on either side of the inlet. Give yourself at least a couple of hours just to walk, take it in, and get wildly distracted by murals.
2. Have a rum cocktail (or several) at a street café
Blue Curaçao liqueur is technically the island’s most famous export but in practice, but rum is everywhere. Curbside mojito bars and cafés that look innocent but are full of people drinking rum at 10am are a feature of Willemstad rather than an exception. All have a very specific island-vibe, live-keyboard-player, people-watching energy. And tourists indulging in daydrinking. I was entirely here for it.
3. Visit the Kura Hulanda Museum
Marketed as covering Curaçao’s role in the African slave trade (and the island did play a significant one, as one of the largest slave trading posts in the Caribbean) – the actual experience is a bit… *different* than the marketing suggests. What I saw covered African kingdoms and history in an interesting but scattered way – think maps of Africa, tribal masks, a model wooden boat – bizarre. Worth an hour, but go with adjusted expectations that this is not about the slave trade, and you’ll still find it worthwhile.
4. Curaçao craft beer at Swinging Old Lady Brewery
Spotted across the water while having my morning coffee, Swinging Old Lady brewery did not disappoint. Tropical IPAs in the shade with views back across to the colourful Willemstad waterfront. If craft beer is your thing – and since turning 30 it’s firmly become mine – add this to the list.
5. Lunch or drinks on the Handelskade waterfront
The Handelskade is the iconic strip of pastel Dutch colonial buildings lining the Sint Annabaai inlet – the ones from every photo you’ve ever seen of Curaçao. What those photos don’t always show is that there’s a string of waterfront cafés and restaurants with perfect views out into the harbour, with the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, bobbing boats, and the old town as your backdrop.
Iguana Café is a great spot – right on the water, great food, and one of the better lunch settings you’ll find. Go for the view as much as the food, grab a table outside, and take your time. After a morning of walking the colourful streets this is exactly where you want to end up.
Is a day in Curaçao enough?
For a layover or cruise stop, yes. A day gives you enough time to walk the historic centre, have a proper lunch, a couple of drinks, and see the main sights without rushing. Curaçao as a longer stay has more to offer – beaches, diving, the rest of the island – but for a short visit, Willemstad is the draw and a day does it justice.
FAQ: Curaçao day visit
How do I get from Curaçao airport to Willemstad? Taxi, around $30-35 USD, approximately 15 minutes. The 24/7 Taxi app is also reliable and many drivers accept card. Taxis hailed at the airport typically only take cash so have some on you.
Is Curaçao good for a cruise stop? Yes – the cruise terminal is right in the historic centre and you can start exploring on foot immediately. The colourful waterfront and UNESCO streets are very walkable and easy to navigate in a few hours.
What is the currency in Curaçao? The Netherlands Antillean guilder, but USD is accepted almost everywhere and ATMs dispense it.
Is Curaçao expensive? Moderately. Drinks and food in cafés run $12–15, short taxi rides add up. Factor in a budget for a day out and you won’t be caught short.
What language is spoken in Curaçao? Dutch is the official language, and English is widely spoken. You’ll have no issues getting around in English.
How long do you need in Curaçao? A day is enough for Willemstad’s historic centre and highlights. If you want beaches and the rest of the island, two to three days gives you more breathing room.
Can I visit Curaçao on a long layover? Yes! I did exactly this. Six to seven hours is plenty for the historic centre, a meal, and a couple of drinks. Factor in taxi time to and from the airport and you have a comfortable half day in the city.
Also worth reading:
- Visiting Paramaribo: What to do in Suriname’s capital in a day – if Curaçao was your routing stop on the way there
- What is Paramaribo really like? – the honest version
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