Free things to do · Aruba
9 free things to do in Aruba
Aruba without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Misty Johnson, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Aruba without paying an entry fee: Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Baby Beach and Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi are all free. Visit from May to September, outside the winter season, for noticeably lower hotel rates.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- September–October
Free sights and experiences
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Beach · Eagle Beach
1.Eagle Beach
Arrive early to claim one of the public palapa shelters, and keep clear of roped-off turtle nests.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Beach · Palm Beach
2.Palm Beach
Walk to the northern end near the piers for slightly clearer water and easy access to the snorkel boats.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Active
Beach · San Nicolas
3.Baby Beach
Stay inside the lagoon when snorkelling; strong currents run beyond the mouth of the bay.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Beach · Malmok and Arashi
4.Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi
Bring your own snorkel gear and come before 10am, when catamaran groups start to arrive.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Nature · Savaneta
5.Mangel Halto
Stay inside the reef unless you are a strong swimmer; currents increase beyond it.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Religious site · Noord
6.Alto Vista Chapel
Combine it with the California Lighthouse and the Bushiribana ruins on a north-coast drive.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Historic site · North coast
7.Bushiribana gold mill ruins
The north coast tracks are rough; a jeep or tour is easier than a small rental car.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Central Aruba
8.Hooiberg
Climb early in the morning; the stairs are exposed and hot by midday.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
Neighbourhood · San Nicolas
9.San Nicolas street art
Stop here on the way to Baby Beach, and look for guided walking tours run by local organisations.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Beach | Eagle Beach | Half a day |
| Palm Beach | Palm Beach | Half a day |
| San Nicolas | Baby Beach and San Nicolas street art | Half a day + 1–2 hours |
| Malmok and Arashi | Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi | 2 hours |
| Savaneta | Mangel Halto | 2–3 hours |
| Noord | Alto Vista Chapel | 30 minutes |
| North coast | Bushiribana gold mill ruins | 30 minutes |
| Central Aruba | Hooiberg | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Nature · Northeast coast
Arikok National Park
Go early in the morning with plenty of water; there is very little shade and the midday sun is fierce.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Arikok National Park
Fontein and Quadirikiri caves
Visit Quadirikiri late in the morning, when light beams through the roof openings are strongest.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Nature
- Photo spot
Landmark · Malmok and Arashi
California Lighthouse
Combine it with a swim at Arashi Beach just to the south.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Oranjestad
Fort Zoutman and Willem III Tower
Pair it with a walk along Main Street and the National Archaeological Museum, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Museum · Oranjestad
National Archaeological Museum Aruba
A good choice for the hottest part of the day or a rare rainy afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Zoo · Central Aruba
Donkey Sanctuary Aruba
Buy a bag of feed at the entrance; children love feeding the donkeys by hand.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
More ways to save
- Visit from May to September, outside the winter season, for noticeably lower hotel rates.
- Stay in an apartment in Noord or Oranjestad and self-cater with supermarket shopping to cut costs.
- Eat at Zeerovers, snack bars and food trucks rather than hotel restaurants for local prices.
- Use Arubus along the hotel coast instead of taxis; the buses are frequent and inexpensive.
- Beaches are all public and free, so you do not need to pay for a beach club to enjoy the best sand.
- Check bills for an included service charge before adding a tip.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Aruba expensive to visit?
Aruba is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Aruba?
Eagle Beach: Arrive early to claim one of the public palapa shelters, and keep clear of roped-off turtle nests.