Loading...
Loading...
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad is one of the most photogenic cities in the Caribbean, its waterfront Handelskade displaying a row of Dutch colonial buildings painted in vivid reds, yellows, blues, and greens that have become the island's signature image. The Queen Emma pontoon bridge connects the two halves of the city — Punda on the east and Otrobanda on the west — and swings open for ship traffic, creating an ever-changing urban spectacle. Punda's compact grid of streets offers shopping, restaurants, and the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest continuously used synagogue in the Americas. The floating market, where Venezuelan boats sell fresh produce, adds Caribbean flavor. Otrobanda's Kura Hulanda Museum tells the powerful story of the Atlantic slave trade. The Pietermaai District has been revitalized with boutique hotels, beach clubs, and restaurants in restored colonial mansions.
explore by interest
Willemstad's center is compact and flat, making it easy to walk. The pontoon bridge closes periodically for ship traffic — enjoy the show and use the free ferry nearby if you are in a hurry.
Curacao sits outside the hurricane belt and enjoys dry, sunny weather year-round, with January through September being the driest months for walking.