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The Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao -- known for its centuries-old, brightly colored
architecture -- is located in the Caribbean Sea, about 45 miles north of Venezuela.
Cruise ships dock in the Capital city of Willemstad, which had its historic city center selected
as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997.
While some smaller ships dock in the harbor of St. Anna Bay, most dock at the Mega Pier.
Both are within walking distance of the city’s shopping and tourist areas.
If you’d like to know where your ship is expected to dock, a port schedule is available
online.
In this video, we will explore Curacao by foot, starting from the Mega Pier
Before you leave your ship, be aware of a few things.
First, Curacao is typically very windy, so keep that in mind as you’re deciding what
to wear while in port.
Second, bring your ID and Ship’s Card as you’re required to have them to re-enter
the port area.
And -- finally -- many merchants close their stores by 6 in the evening and many shops
are only open from 10 to 2 in the afternoon on Sundays, so plan accordingly if shopping
is on your to-do list.
When you exit the ship, you’ll quickly find a “Welcome to Curacao” sign.
If the photo op is crowded early in the day, just wait until later when it’s less crowded.
An information desk with a taxi rate sign is located nearby.
The sign lists fares from the cruise terminal to a large number of beaches and other points
of interest.
Other signage directs visitors to restrooms, tour buses, taxis, security, and downtown.
A handful of shops are also located in this area.
Be aware that the waterfront seating for some venues may get wet from waves crashing into
the shoreline.
Before you exit the cruise port gate, you’ll find a map of the area which is great for
getting your bearings.
From there, follow the brick path along the waterfront, which will take you to an area
full of shops, restaurants, and bars.
Along the way, you’ll pass the start of a self-guided historical walking tour.
Seven signs present the story of Curacao in English and Spanish.
There are more than 30 shops, over a dozen restaurants and bars, and a few public restrooms
in the Renaissance Mall and Rif Fort area.
The Rif Fort -- easily identified by its large stone walls -- was originally built in 1862
and once housed 56 cannons to defend the city against pirates and invaders.
It was transformed into a shopping and entertainment center in 2001.
Signage is plentiful and helpful for exploring the four levels of the fort which are connected
by many stairways and pedestrian bridges.
For a scenic view of the water and the city, climb the stairs to the historic Rif Fort wall.
You’ll find signage pointing the way.
As you exit the fort, you’ll be on the western shore of St. Anna Bay in an area known as
Otrobanda which means “The Other Side”.
Several waterfront shops selling clothing, trinkets and hand-crafted items line the pathway.
Pay attention to the splashing water from the bay as you pass by!
To avoid getting splashed, we recommend avoiding the wet bricks.
Ahead of you, you’ll see two bridges.
The bridge in the background is the Queen Juliana Bridge, which is touted as the tallest
bridge in the Caribbean.
It is not open to pedestrian traffic.
The other -- closer -- bridge is the Queen Emma Bridge, which is pedestrian-only and
connects Otrobanda to Punda, the oldest part of Willemstad.
Also known as The Swinging Old Lady, the bridge consists of 16 pontoons that allow it to swing
open for marine traffic.
We saw the bridge do this quite often during our visit.
In fact, one of the highlights of our visit to Curacao was staying on the bridge as it
opened to allow boats to pass through.
If the bridge is not operating, free ferries are available just a short distance North
of the bridge, taking passengers between the Otrobanda and Punda districts.
Once you’re in the Punda District -- which means Point -- your first stop should be the
Love Lock Heart Sculpture, located next to the Queen Emma Bridge.
Unveiled in 2017, the sculpture is designed for lovers to attach padlocks with their names
written on them.
We attached our pink JellyBeans lock and we encourage you to bring your own, to lock in
your love in Curacao.
Across the street from the Love Lock Heart Sculpture is one of the most photographed
buildings in Curacao.
The Penha Building, a merchant’s store, dates back to the 1700’s and is considered
a great example of architecture from the Baroque era.
From here, continue walking along the waterfront in a clockwise direction, enjoying the vibrant
architecture of the area known as Handelskade.
The bright, sherbert-colored buildings reportedly became a local tradition in 1817.
It is said that the Governor general at the time passed a law that the buildings must
be painted, because he attributed his headaches to the glare from the previously white finish.
Along the waterfront you’ll find the other ferry terminal, restaurants, and some opportunities
for kitschy cutout photo ops.
You’ll also pass several pedestrian-friendly roads lined with shops.
As the road turns right near the canal, you’ll quickly find Curacao’s popular Floating Market.
Boats from Venezuela dock here and sell produce and fresh coconut water.
The merchants accepted US dollars on our visit.
If you look around the back of the market, you can see the merchants’ boats.
Behind the Floating Market, you can see the Queen Wilhelmina footbridge, which was built
in 1928 to connect the commercial areas with the residential areas.
Continuing down the road, you’ll come to a round building known as the New Market.
The Old Market is roughly a block further away.
However, during our visit, there were renovations underway, so most vendors were found outside,
on the sidewalks.
Turning right and heading southwest from the markets, you’ll soon find Queen Wilhelmina Park.
The park features a few play areas, a statue of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands,
a large “Curacao” sign, and a large “Dushi” sign.
“Dushi” is a common positive phrase in Curacao and it essentially means “all good
things in life.”
To reach Fort Amsterdam from the park, continue walking back towards the harbor and turn left,
just before reaching the Queen Emma pontoon bridge.
The entrance to the fort’s courtyard is through the archway that leads to a small road.
The fortification was built in 1635 and was later converted into the Governor's residence,
the Ministry, and several government offices.
Fort Church -- Curacao's oldest Protestant church -- is at the rear of the courtyard.
Embedded in the wall of the church is a cannonball fired by a British Royal Navy ship during
a brief attack in 1804.
If your cruise ship has a late departure from Curacao, we highly encourage you to venture
out after dark.
Not only is it a great opportunity to take a nighttime photo of your ship, but the city
itself takes on a more lively atmosphere.
Although we did find quite a few of the shops were closed, many restaurants and bars were
still open after six in the evening, as was the waterfront market.
During our visit, the Queen Emma Bridge was illuminated with mutli-colored lights, which
made for a memorable experience.
And -- of course -- we enjoyed another bridge ride.