One of the most popular questions asked in forums and Facebook groups is “What do you recommend I do during my cruise day in Curacao?” If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Curacao is an excellent destination to spend a day during a port stop. There are very few other places where you can walk off your ship and have a taste of Europe in the Caribbean.

That said, there is so much to do on the island. If you only have 6-12 hours to spend on this tropical gem, I highly recommend prioritizing! A lot of the advice I give prospective travelers coming to the island is to decide which areas they have more interest in. Should they be focusing on art? Culture? History? Food? Adventure? If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably say “a little bit of everything”.

I’ve broken down my recommendations by areas of interest for easier planning, but pay attention to my number one tip: I highly recommend hiring a private tour guide to take you around the island. This is hands down the best way to make use of your short amount of time. Not only will your guide/driver pick you up so transportation is taken care of, but your guide can cater your sightseeing to your interests and plan the most efficient routes. Take a look at this Viator experience to see the highest rated tour offering on the website.

Pro Tip: When planning your day, pay special attention to the opening hours as many places will close for 1-2 hours during the afternoon for lunch.

A Day in Curacao for: The Artist

For the art lovers, there are plenty of places to see and experience art on the island. I’ve put together a Google Maps list of the below must-see attractions.

Must-Do Attractions:

• Street Art Tour in Punda and Otrobanda
• Landhuis Bloemhof: see the Cathedral of Thorns exhibition
• Gallery Alma Blou: The largest and oldest art gallery in Curacao
• Nena Sanchez Gallery: See colorful paintings from local artist Nena Sanchez
• Paint a Chichi at Serena’s Art Factory

A Day in Curacao for: The History Buff

For the history lovers, there are a number of museums that showcase the complex history of Curacao. Most of these museums are quite small which means you can knock them out quickly with time for more activities. I highly recommend hiring a guide to walk you through some of these museums for additional context. Here’s my Google Map List!

Must-Do Attractions:

• Curacao Museum: view the history of Curacao in a historical setting
• Jewish Cultural History Museum: you can see Jewish artifacts next to an old synagogue
• Kura Hulanda Museum: Documenting the history of the slave trade in the Caribbean and its relation to Curacao
• Kas di Pal’I Maishi: A small museum and adobe hut demonstrating the way Afro-Curacaoan’s used to live
• Savonet Museum: Newest museum on the island. Showcases the evolving lives of Curacao residents starting from the Arawak Indians.
• Tambú Museum Shon Cola: Learn about the artistic expression of tambu through music and dancing

A Day in Curacao for: The Foodie

For the fellow food lovers traveling to Curacao, you’re in luck! The island is rich in various cuisines due to its colonial history. The best place to see the local cuisine in one place is Plasa Bieu and it is walking distance from the port. If you’re more of a hands on traveler, a cooking class will be right up your alley. If you’d like a local to provide additional context for the cuisine and how Curacao’s history contributed to the dish, definitely hire a local guide!

Must-Do Attractions:

• Visit Plasa Bieu: Immerse yourself in local cuisine from 6 local vendors in an open air market. Cash only.
• Take a Curacao foodie tour
• Participate in a Caribbean Cooking Class with a beloved local chef
• Eat Iguana Soup at Jaanchie’s in Westpunt
• Get a fresh coconut from any street side batidos (shake) stall

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A Day in Curacao for: The Nature & Adventure Lover

When you approach the island from your cruise ship, you’re going to see beautiful green foliage (don’t be fooled, it’s mostly cacti!) and azure blue waters near the shore. For you adventure and nature lovers, your first instinct will be to see all of the beauty the island has to offer. I don’t blame you! Keep in mind that where the cruise docks in Willemstad is more developed than the rugged natural west side. Most of the activities below are going to be on the west side, around a 45 minute drive out from the port. Here is my Google Maps List!

Must-Do Attractions:

• Explore Shete Boka National Park
• Swim with turtles at Playa Grandi
• Take a boat out to snorkel
• Participate in a stand up paddle boarding experience through mangroves
• Take an e-bike ride throughout the island
• See the beach pigs at Playa Porto Mari

The Ideal Curacao Cruise Day Itinerary

Okay, so say you’d like a mix of everything but you don’t have much time – how would you best spend your time on the island? Here is what I would do (and the Google Maps link):

• Hire a guide/driver to pick you up at your port stop OR get a taxi from the port.

• Head to Shete Boka (about 45 mins drive) and explore the various “Bokas”. This will take about 1.5 hours depending on how many Bokas you’d like to see. Some of them you’ll need to walk a bit to.

• Head to Grote Knip (15 mins drive) to see (arguably) the most beautiful beach on the island. This would be a great spot for snorkeling. Optional: Get the famous banana bread from the smoothie stall near the beach entrance.

• Drive to Restaurant Playa Forti (5 mins drive) and get a table overlooking the water. Try a local dish – it’s a great place for seafood. Alternatively: Drive 5 mins to Jaanchies and get the Iguana Stew.

• On the drive back east, stop by Williwood (25 mins drive) to see the Flamingos.

• Return to Willemstad (30 mins) and have a talking tour of the city seeing the historical buildings and street art. Optional: Snack at Plasa Bieu (local marketplace) before returning to the port.

At a minimum, this day trip would take about 6 hours, but it can be longer if you have the time. Some cruisers just prefer to get a taxi to a nice beach and relax which is totally doable too! Can this itinerary be done with just a taxi? Yes, but you’ll end up spending a lot for a taxi. Why not use that money toward a licensed tour guide with a car who can provide additional context and local flair for what you’re seeing?

Final Thoughts

Curacao is such an interesting island with rich culture and history that I would recommend seeing the highlights for your first visit. This itinerary doesn’t even cover all there is to see on the island! Many people who come to the island say that they stopped here on a cruise years ago and have always promised to come back and explore the island. I promise, once you see these highlights you’re going to want to come back and spend at least a week exploring everything there is to see.

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Have you been to Curacao before? What was your experience? Comment down below!