Getting around · Aruba
Getting around Aruba
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SIryn, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Aruba is small: Oranjestad to Palm Beach is about 15 minutes by car and the island's southeastern tip about 40 minutes. Public buses cover the hotel coast well, but a rental car or jeep for a day or two is the easiest way to see Arikok, the north coast and Baby Beach. Not for a beach-hotel stay on the west coast, where buses and taxis cover everything.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- AUA
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Bus
Arubus runs frequent services from the main terminal in Oranjestad along the hotel coast to Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Malmok, with routes to San Nicolas and Baby Beach.
Buses on the hotel route are frequent during the day; services thin out in the evening, so check the last bus before heading out.
Car
Rental cars are widely available and roads are generally good; driving is on the right. Roundabouts are common on the main roads.
Rental contracts often exclude off-road driving; book a 4x4 or a guided tour for the Conchi natural pool.
Taxi
Taxis are unmetered and charge set fares by destination; ranks sit outside the airport, cruise terminal and major hotels.
Confirm the fare with the driver before setting off.
Scooter
Scooters, UTVs and open-top jeeps are rented in Palm Beach and are popular for exploring the north coast tracks.
Wear sun protection and a helmet; the sun and wind are stronger than they feel.
Boat
Catamarans and sailboats leave from the Palm Beach piers for snorkel trips to Boca Catalina and the Antilla wreck.
From the airport
Queen Beatrix International Airport is on the south coast about 4 km from Oranjestad. Taxis reach Eagle Beach in about 15–20 minutes and Palm Beach in about 20–25 minutes; most hotels can also arrange transfers.
Do you need a car?
Not for a beach-hotel stay on the west coast, where buses and taxis cover everything. A car or jeep for a day or two makes it easy to see Arikok, the north coast, Savaneta and Baby Beach.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast coast: Savaneta, San Nicolas and Baby Beach | About 40 minutes by car from Palm Beach | Rental car or Arubus to San Nicolas |
| Arikok and the east coast by jeep | About 30 minutes to the park entrance from Palm Beach | Guided jeep or UTV tour, or a rented 4x4 |
| De Palm Island | About 25 minutes by road, then a short ferry | Hotel pick-up included in day passes, then ferry from the De Palm pier |
| Curaçao | About 30 minutes by plane | Short regional flight to Curaçao International Airport |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Aruba?
Not for a beach-hotel stay on the west coast, where buses and taxis cover everything. A car or jeep for a day or two makes it easy to see Arikok, the north coast, Savaneta and Baby Beach.
+How do you get from the airport to Aruba?
Queen Beatrix International Airport is on the south coast about 4 km from Oranjestad. Taxis reach Eagle Beach in about 15–20 minutes and Palm Beach in about 20–25 minutes; most hotels can also arrange transfers.
+What is the best way to get around Aruba?
Bus: Arubus runs frequent services from the main terminal in Oranjestad along the hotel coast to Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Malmok, with routes to San Nicolas and Baby Beach.