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With its palm-fringed boulevards, candy-colored buildings, and shopping malls that look more like fairy tale castles than fashion emporiums, Oranjestad offers a charming introduction to Aruba. As the island's capital and main cruise port, Oranjestad is the entry point to Aruba for most visitors, and it makes a lively base from which to explore. Discover traces of Dutch colonialism as you ride a traditional trolley bus around the town, watch the sunset over the marina from one of the waterfront seafood restaurants, then hit the beach to live out your Caribbean fantasies, sipping rum punch as you lounge on the white sands or diving in to snorkel among schools of exotic fish.
Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba, a main cruise port, and the entry point for most visitors. It is known for its palm-lined streets and candy-colored buildings. As Aruba’s largest city, Oranjestad also is home to plenty of nightlife options, restaurants, cafés, and casinos, as well as bustling shopping areas.
...MoreYes. The cruise port is located on the northern end of downtown Oranjestad, about a five- to 10-minute walk to Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard, the island’s main thoroughfare. A tram also runs from the cruise terminal into the center of town and makes stops at monuments, museums, and shopping areas.
...MoreYes. As a major point of entry to Aruba, Oranjestad serves as the perfect starting point for a range of tours on and off the island. It’s also where you’ll find shops—from high-end boutiques to flea markets—and a variety of restaurants, many located at the Renaissance Marketplace on the waterfront.
...MoreYes. Aruba is considered one of the safest spots in the Caribbean. Violent crime rates are low compared to other islands; however, petty crime such as pickpocketing still occurs, so be mindful of your surroundings, avoid taking valuables to the beach, and stay away from remote, deserted areas at night.
...MoreTop attractions include the King Willem III Tower at Fort Zoutman, Oranjestad’s oldest building. The tower once served as a lighthouse, and today it houses the small Aruba Historical Museum and hosts the Bon Bini Festival every Tuesday, which features a cultural program with costumed dancers, local art, and food.
...MoreIt depends on preference. Using US dollars in Aruba is widely accepted, although some shops will not accept large bills and give back Aruban currency (florin) as change. Banks exchange currency; major credit cards are accepted; and ATMs in the hotel areas dispense local currency as well as US dollars.
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