Oranjestad is the capital and largest city of Aruba. The city is home to some of the island's local residents and also many governmental buildings. Along the main "drag" (Sasakiweg street) you will find mostly tourist walking around and shopping and can also see the cruise ships that bring more and more external tourism into the island everyday.
Oranjestad has hundreds of local stores that sell tourist keepsakes. Close to the cruise ships is the island's largest marina that provides docking space for sailboats and yachts. Beautiful.... This word alone expresses the weather one will experience in Aruba and in Oranjestad. For example, with an average temperature of practically constant temperature of 82 °F (28 °C). Although there are some cloudy days on, average most days have only a small drizzle of rain in the morning or evening, and the rest of the day is filled with sunshine. For example, the average rainfall is anywhere from 60-70 mm per month.
You can get into the downtown by bike. If the heat is too harsh a cab ride fare usually is only US$8-15. Cabs are always outside all of the resorts. Road signs are in English for the most part. A tram line links the cruise terminal with the city centre along the main Caya G. F. Betico Croes street. Tickets cost US$1.
1 Fort Zoutman/Historical Museum of Aruba. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. The Historical Museum of Aruba is housed inside the oldest building on the island, the Fort Zoutman, which was built in 1798. Here, you will find information about Aruba during the Spanish and Dutch period. You can also climb up the Willem III Tower. $15. National Archaeological Museum Aruba, Schelpstraat 42, info@manaruba.org. M-F 9AM-5PM. The historic Ecury family home is now museum. suggested $5. (updated Oct 2024) 2 Aloe Vera factory, Pitastraat 115, Oranjestad, ☏ +297 5883222, arubaonline@arubaaloe.com. M-F 8AM - 4:30PM; Sa 9AM - 4:30PM; Su 9AM -12:30PM.
Oranjestad is a fun place for water activities such as snorkeling, boat rides, parasailing and fishing. Shopping: Most stores do not have quality products (excluding the famous jewelry stores) and mostly only sell nicknacks and the typical keepsakes. Jewelry stores around the island have prices much lower than in the United States. The leading attraction that Oranjestad holds is its natural beauty: the Caribbean sea and white beaches. There are many carnivals, festivals, and parades that take place throughout the year. For a full calendar look at the event schedule.
While in Oranjestad you can look any which direction and a restaurant is surely to be within walking distance. A local corner place called "Island Breeze" is filled with local flair and has many local dishes. The Paddock has a view of the cruise ships, and the lunch special state (skewers) are reasonably priced.
The legal drinking age is 18 but for many establishments this rule is not guarded at all. The drink of Aruba is Balashi Beer. It is the most popular and most widely consumed alcoholic product on the island. The beer is brewed on the island and is an Aruban product.
Most likely the only crime one may come across is that from other tourists. In Oranjestad the locals do not bother or even pressure tourist into their stores or to buy their products. Also as many people experience in destinations such as Jamaica, Mexico Dominican Republic. Panhandlers are not an issue at all and it is very seldom to be approached by children or homeless people for money. Overall the crime in Aruba is nothing to worry over and it is the safest place in the Caribbean to visit.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Oranjestad typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 15 rainy days.
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