Free things to do · Curaçao
8 free things to do in Curaçao
Curaçao without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Charles Hoffman from New York, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Curaçao without paying an entry fee: Handelskade, Queen Emma Bridge, Playa Kenepa and Fort Amsterdam are all free. Hire a car for the length of your stay; daily taxis to beaches add up quickly.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- September–October
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Punda
1.Handelskade
For the classic photo, cross the Queen Emma Bridge to the Otrobanda side and shoot back across the water in the late-afternoon light.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- History
Landmark · Punda
2.Queen Emma Bridge
Stay on the bridge when the warning signal sounds and ride along as it swings open — it is allowed and a memorable short ride.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
- Photo spot
Beach · Westpunt and Banda Abou
3.Playa Kenepa
Arrive early on weekends, when the beach fills with local families, and bring snorkel gear for the rocks on either side.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Historic site · Punda
4.Fort Amsterdam
Walk through the gate to the inner courtyard and look for the cannonball in the Fortkerk's façade.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Otrobanda
5.Rif Fort
Climb onto the ramparts at sunset for views of Handelskade, then eat at one of the restaurants inside the fort.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Shopping
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Punda
6.Scharloo
Walk along Scharlooweg in the early morning when the light is soft and the street is quiet.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Westpunt and Banda Abou
7.Playa Piskadó
Keep a respectful distance from the turtles and never feed or touch them; the fishermen's pier is a working area.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou
8.Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pans
Stop on the way to Westpunt in the morning, and bring binoculars or a zoom lens; never walk out into the pans.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Punda | Handelskade, Queen Emma Bridge, Fort Amsterdam and Scharloo | 30–60 minutes + 20 minutes + 30–45 minutes + 1 hour |
| Westpunt and Banda Abou | Playa Kenepa, Playa Piskadó and Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pans | Half a day + 2–3 hours + 20–30 minutes |
| Otrobanda | Rif Fort | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Punda
Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue
Visit outside service times and allow time for the small museum in the courtyard, which explains the sand floor.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou
Christoffel National Park
Start the Christoffelberg climb as early as the park allows; access to the summit trail is usually cut off later in the morning because of heat.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou
Shete Boka National Park
Visit on a windy day for the biggest waves, and stay behind barriers; swimming is not possible on this coast.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Hato
Hato Caves
Ask your guide about the Caquetío rock drawings on the trail outside; many visitors miss them.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Experience · Jan Thiel
Tugboat wreck at Caracas Bay
Go on a calm morning and with a dive or snorkel guide if you are unsure of the entry; the wreck is a short swim along the shore.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Salinja
Landhuis Chobolobo
Book the cocktail workshop rather than just the short tour if you want to taste more than one flavour.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Hire a car for the length of your stay; daily taxis to beaches add up quickly.
- Eat lunch at Plasa Bieuw or local snèks rather than resort restaurants.
- Public beaches such as Playa Kenepa are free; managed beaches charge entry or loungers.
- Refill bottles with desalinated tap water instead of buying water.
- Travel between April and November, excluding summer holidays, for lower accommodation prices.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Curaçao expensive to visit?
Curaçao is expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Curaçao?
Handelskade: For the classic photo, cross the Queen Emma Bridge to the Otrobanda side and shoot back across the water in the late-afternoon light.