Tours in Punda, Pietermaai & Otrobanda, Willemstad

Punda, Otrobanda and Pietermaai are the three old neighborhoods at the mouth of Willemstad's harbor, close enough to walk between in an afternoon. This guide goes street by street: what each side of St. Anna Bay is like, how to get from one to the next, where to spend the evening, and which tours start here or pass through by land and by water.

Three neighborhoods around one harbor mouth

Stand at the foot of the Queen Emma Bridge on the Otrobanda side and you can see all three. Straight ahead, across the water, the painted gables of the Handelskade mark Punda. Behind you, Otrobanda's lanes wind away from the bay. And past Punda, out of sight along the coast, Pietermaai runs east beside the sea. Together they form the heart of the historic city that UNESCO added to its World Heritage List in 1997.

This page stays inside those three neighborhoods. For the wider city, from Scharloo and the old country houses to the hotels at Piscadera and Mambo Beach, see our guide to Willemstad as a whole.

Punda, the old trading quarter

Punda, on the east bank of St. Anna Bay, is the oldest part of Willemstad. The Dutch built it in the 17th century behind Fort Amsterdam, and its tight grid of streets was made for merchants. By day it is still the island's busiest shopping district, and many of its inner streets are for pedestrians only.

Fort Amsterdam

Fort Amsterdam stands at the harbor mouth, right beside the Punda end of the Queen Emma Bridge. It dates from the 17th century, it is still the seat of Curaçao's governor, and a church stands inside its walls. You pass it as soon as you step off the bridge into Punda.

The Handelskade from the Punda side

From Otrobanda you see the Handelskade as one long row of color. On the Punda side you walk along it at water level, with café tables facing the bay and the bridge swinging past now and then. Come in the late afternoon, when the low sun lights up the facades and the heat has eased.

Plaza Jojo Correa and the Rumlocker

A three-minute walk from the bridge, at Plaza Jojo Correa 1–5 on St. Anna Bay, AnnaBay Club keeps the Rumlocker. Their weekday rum tasting starts with the story of AnnaBay rum and a close look at how it is distilled and aged in oak. Then you taste the White, the Amber, the Aged 5 Years and a flavored rum, plus rum poured straight from the barrel. It runs Monday to Friday at 3 pm for 45 minutes to 1 hour, with up to 12 guests, at USD 25 per person. You must be 18 or older to taste.

Behind the waterfront

A few streets in from the water stands the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas, known for the sand covering its floor. On Punda's northern edge, the Floating Market lines the Waaigat, the small inlet that separates Punda from Scharloo. Between the two, the shopping streets are worth walking slowly, with an eye on the upper floors, where the old merchant houses keep their balconies and gables.

Otrobanda, the other side

Otrobanda grew up on the west bank in the early 18th century, when Punda ran out of room. It has a different feel: narrower lanes, small squares, alleys that turn off the main streets, and murals on many walls. The cruise terminals are on this side, so for many visitors Otrobanda is the first part of Curaçao they walk through.

Rif Fort and Brionplein

Rif Fort guards the Otrobanda side of the harbor entrance, close to the cruise terminals, with shops and restaurants inside its walls. Brionplein, the open square at the foot of the Queen Emma Bridge, is where most people pause before crossing. From the waterfront between the two you get the classic straight-on view of the Handelskade.

Into the lanes

Turn away from the water and Otrobanda quickly becomes a neighborhood where people live. Museum Kura Hulanda, which tells the history of the transatlantic slave trade, is in these streets, and so are many of the murals the evening ATV tour rides past. Wander a few blocks inland for a quieter side of the old city.

Pietermaai, the restored district

Pietermaai lies east of Punda along the sea. Wealthy merchants built their houses here in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many of them stood empty for years before the district was restored. Today the old houses hold restaurants, bars, cafés and small hotels, and Pietermaai is where much of Willemstad's evening life happens. By day it is quiet and good for a slow walk to look at the facades. After dark the terraces fill up.

Staying near Pietermaai

If you want to walk out for dinner every night, a base nearby helps. Beach House The Strand, an apartment for 4 guests on the Penstraat, is within walking distance of Pietermaai's restaurants, cafés and terraces, and you can walk on to Punda and Otrobanda too. It has its own private beach and a reserved parking space. Stays are at least 4 nights, from USD 300 a night, and you book and pay with the owner, Vincent, directly.

Walking between the three

The three neighborhoods are close together, and walking is the easiest way to get around them.

• Otrobanda to Punda: cross the Queen Emma Bridge, which is for pedestrians only. When it swings open for a ship, free ferries carry people across until it closes again.
• By car or taxi: cars cross St. Anna Bay over the Queen Juliana Bridge, the high road bridge further up the bay, so a short walk on foot can be a longer loop by road.
• Punda to Pietermaai: head east from Punda along the streets nearest the sea. It is a short walk, and you pass from shopping streets into the quieter, restored district.
• From a cruise ship: our self-guided walk for cruise passengers starts at Rif Fort and takes you across the bridge into Punda, with around three hours for walking and photo stops.

There is little shade on the waterfront, so walk in the morning or late afternoon, and save the inner streets of Punda and Otrobanda for the hottest hours.

Evenings in the old city

The old city changes after sunset. The day's shoppers leave, the Pietermaai terraces fill up, and the Queen Emma Bridge is lit up after dark.

Thursday nights and the fireworks

On Thursday nights, fireworks go up over the harbor in Punda, and two evening tours with Living Life Curaçao are built around them. Both start every Thursday at 6:00 PM and last about 3 hours, through Punda and Otrobanda with a local guide, with a stop for the sunset and the fireworks to end the night.

• By ATV: on the Punda Vibes ATV tour you ride your own ATV behind the guide, past historic landmarks, murals and local hotspots. A single-seater is USD 115 and a double-seater USD 170, with helmet, goggles and balaclava included. Drivers must be at least 18 and hold a valid driver's license. The ride starts from Seru Fortunaweg 48, and a hotel pickup costs USD 25 per person.
• By party bus: the Punda Vibes Party Bus Tour has music on board, soft drinks and water, and a free pickup. Adults pay USD 55 and children USD 35.

For both, you send your date to Kua Kaminda, Living Life Curaçao confirm it, and you pay them directly.

Painting with a harbor view

Vibe & Paint Curaçao hold their sessions on the Harbor Restaurant terrace at Harbor Hotel, overlooking the Handelskade waterfront. You choose a pre-sketched canvas or a locally made sculpture and paint it at your own pace, with a welcome drink and a snack platter. It is not a painting class, and no experience is needed. Sessions run on Thursday and Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, at USD 60 per person, paid online once your date is confirmed. Bookings are non-refundable, but you can move your session for free if you ask at least 3 days before. Since the Thursday tours also start at 6:00 PM, the Saturday painting session is the easier one to fit around them.

The old city from the water

Seeing Punda and Otrobanda from a boat in St. Anna Bay shows you how the city grew around its harbor. Three boat trips come in through the harbor mouth.

• Speedboat and Tugboat: Powerboat Caribbean's Tugboat Snorkel tour cruises from Spanish Water along the coast and into St. Anna Bay to the floating bridge for a photo, then snorkels at the Tugboat in Caracas Bay. It takes about 2½ hours, with check-in at 9:45 AM at Surfspot Curaçao or boarding at 10:00 AM at Mood Beach. Adults pay USD 99 and children (6 to 11) USD 88, with unlimited drinks.
• Your own speedboat: with a private speedboat from Powerboat Caribbean you can be picked up at Marichi Pier in Punda. The 2-hour route the crew suggests takes in the Tugboat, Willemstad and Fuik Bay, and the 3-hour route the Tugboat, Willemstad and Kokomo. It costs USD 300 an hour for the boat, for up to 18 guests, and you leave when it suits you, which helps cruise guests who must be back on time.
• A private beach-hopping day: Living Life Curaçao's 41 ft boat leaves Vissershaven in Spanish Water at 8:30 AM for about 6 hours, and St. Anna Bay at the mouth of the harbor is one of its stops, between Tugboat Beach and Kokomo Beach. It is private for up to 14 guests, from USD 1,300 for up to 2.

The old city from above

For the view over all three neighborhoods at once, walk up to Fort Nassau under the full moon with Ingrid Hiking Tours. The hike climbs Seru Sablica, the hill above the inner harbor, to a panorama of Punda, Otrobanda and the Queen Juliana Bridge in the moonlight. It is easy, about 2 hours, for at most 12 people, at USD 30 per person: USD 10 online to book and USD 20 to Ingrid on the day.

On a full island day

Yellow Adventures' Complete Island Tour starts in Willemstad, with the Handelskade on the Punda side and the Floating Market nearby, before it heads to the liqueur factory and on to the west of the island. It runs daily from 9 AM to 3 PM, at USD 79 per person, with pickup at most major hotels. Lunch is not included.

Practical tips

• The Rumlocker is weekdays only. There are no tastings on Saturday or Sunday, so plan a weekday afternoon in Punda for it.
• Book Thursday early. The ATV, the party bus and a painting session all fall on Thursday evening, so request your date in good time.
• Bring your license for the ATV. Drivers need a valid driver's license and proof of age.
• Allow for the bridge. When the Queen Emma Bridge is open, the ferry or a short wait is part of the walk.
• Check your all-aboard time. On a cruise day, keep the walk back to your own terminal in mind.
• Have cash or a card. The evening tours mention optional stops for food, drinks and souvenirs.

More nearby

If rum and history are what draw you here, browse our culture, history and rum experiences. Southeast of the old city, Jan Thiel and Spanish Water are where most boat trips and beginner dives begin.