Places to Visit in Oranjestad, Aruba, America

Places to Visit in Oranjestad, Aruba, America

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba placed 4 meters above the mean sea level. It is the largest city of the island widely known for its spectacular beach and harbor. Oranjestad is home to 3 famous educational institutions such as Universiteit van Aruba, Colegio Arubano and f Xavier University School of Medicine. Tourism is the backbone of the economy of Oranjestad.

Geography of Oranjestad:

Oranjestad is situated on the western end of the island between 12.519° N latitude and 70.037° W longitude.

History of Oranjestad:

Oranjestad takes its name from King Willem van Oranje-Nassau, the first successor to the Dutch House of Orange. The town of Oranjestad was established after the construction of Fort Zoutman in 1796.

How to reach Oranjestad?

Oranjestad is catered by Queen Beatrix International Airport which is located 2.5 km away from the heart of the city with scheduled flights from and to international locations such as Atlanta, New York, Toronto, Amsterdam and many Caribbean destinations. The major airlines that serve QBIA include Gol Airlines, Sunwing Airlines, Dutch Antilles Express, Aruba Airlines and Air Canada.

Tourists can rent taxis or cars to move within the city and to reach airport and tourist destinations. There are bikes available for jolly riding at the local travel agencies, advance booking is also offered.

Food and Shopping in Oranjestad:

The prime restaurants in Oranjestad are as follows:

Que Pasa Restaurant Bar & Art Gallery
Yemanja Woodfired Grill
Pinchos Grill & Bar
Windows on Aruba Restaurant

The major shops in Oranjestad include:

Plaza Book Shop
La Bodega Wine Store
Sams Store
Bula Surf Shop

Things to do in Oranjestad:

Snorkeling
Boat riding
Parasailing
Fishing
Swimming
Kayaking

Places of interest in Oranjestad:

Fort Zoutman:

Fort Zoutman is the prime attraction of Oranjestad and the oldest structure on Aruba Island. It was initially constructed during the Dutch colonial period in 1798 and later it was changed as a Historical Museum of Aruba. Tourists are allowed between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM from Monday-Friday. On every Tuesdays, there is Bon Bini Festival to be organized in Fort Zoutman from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Willem III Tower:

Willem III Tower was added to the west side of Fort Zoutman after the 70 years of the construction of the fort in 1868. It is also considered as one of the major landmarks of Oranjestad.

The New Protestant Church:

The New Protestant Church is the religious site widely known for its unique construction and its interior is designed with superior architecture that really catches the eyes of the tourists.

Other places of interest in Oranjestad are:

Oranjestad Harbor
Seaport Crystal Theatre
Alhambra Casino
Lourdes Grotto
Saint Franciscus Church
Museo Arubano
Wilhelmina Park
Beth Israel Synagogue
De Man Shell Collection
Balashi Gold Mill Ruins
Access Art Gallery
Numismatic Museum

Best time to visit Oranjestad:

The months between April and August will be the ideal time to visit Oranjestad.

Accommodation options in Oranjestad:

Oranjestad houses many renowned accommodation centres offering top class facilities and services for the visitors who check-in such hotels during course of their stay in Oranjestad. Some facilities offered by Oranjestad hotels are swimming pool, TV & DVD player, A/C, cabanas and hammocks and much more. List of major resorts and hotels in Oranjestad include: