If you’re planning a trip to Curaçao, this list of the best things to do in Curaçao will help you figure out what’s worth your time and what you can skip. The island is more spread out than people expect, so what you choose to do (and how you group things together) matters. This is based on what I did, what stood out, and what I’d make sure to include if I went back.
If you’re still figuring out your overall plan, check out my guide on how to structure your trip in my full Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors—it’ll help everything on this list make more sense.
If you’re flying in, I usually start with Skyscanner to compare options, then rent a car through DiscoverCars—you’ll need it here.
If you’re short on time, this is what I would prioritize:
That alone gives you a really well-rounded experience of the island.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
This is one of the best things to do in Curaçao.
The west side has the most beautiful beaches, and they’re all close enough to group together into one day.
If I had to pick a few:
You can easily turn this into a full day without feeling rushed.
If you want a more detailed route, timing, and what to expect at each stop, check out my full Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips)—it makes planning this day a lot easier.
This is one of the most unique experiences on the island.
You will see sea turtles—but go early.
It gets crowded quickly, and there are usually a lot of people in the water. If you go first thing, it’s a much better experience (less chaotic, more turtles).
If you don’t want to figure it out on your own, you can book a guided option through GetYourGuide—they handle timing and gear, which helps if you’re not bringing your own.
I always bring my own snorkel mask and a quick-dry towel—those ended up being used almost every day.
This is the best snorkeling spot on the island.
There’s a shipwreck just offshore, and it’s easy to access without needing a boat. You’re basically right on top of it within a few minutes.
There’s a lot to see here—fish, eel, squid, the structure, and enough going on that you’re not just floating around hoping something swims by.
If you only snorkel in one place, this is the one to do.
For a full breakdown of what you’ll see (and exactly how to get to it), see my guide on Best Snorkeling in Curaçao: Top Spots You Can’t Miss.
Walking across the floating Queen Emma Bridge during the day, then coming back at night when everything is lit up—completely different experience.
During the day:
At night, it changes.
One of my favorite moments of the trip was walking around Willemstad at night under the bridge. It felt romantic, and there was a lot going on—locals out, live music, people just hanging out.
Punda and Pietermaai have:
It’s a completely different experience than during the day and worth doing both.
The food in Curaçao surprised me, in a good way!
If you’re planning dinners, these are worth prioritizing:
Make reservations ahead of time—some of these fill up.
If you want exactly what to order at each place, see my full Best Restaurants in Curaçao (Where to Eat + What to Order).
This is one of the easiest viewpoints to get to and one of the best on the island.
It’s a quick stop, but the view is worth it—especially if you’re already driving around the west side.
I’d time this for sunset if you can. We thought we’d be in and out, and ended up hanging there longer than planned.
Standing at the edge at Playa Forti and watching people jump is enough to either convince you to go for it or confirm you’re staying firmly on land. The jump is about 30–40 feet into clear water, and there’s usually a small crowd watching, so it turns into a bit of a scene. You can take your time deciding, watch a few people go first, or just hang back and enjoy it from the edge. There’s also a restaurant right there overlooking the water, which makes it an easy place to stop for lunch (and recover from questionable decisions).
This is one of the more rugged parts of the island.
You’ll see:
It’s a different experience from the beaches and worth adding if you want some variety.
If you prefer structured stops, you can book a guided visit through Viator so you don’t miss the main viewpoints.
This is the most effort-heavy thing on this list.
You’ll want to go early—it gets hot quickly.
The view at the top is one of the best on the island, but you’ll earn it (this is not a casual stroll).
Good shoes and water matter here more than anywhere else on this list.
This is a quick stop and easy to add to your day.
The flamingos are cool to see, but if you’re short on time, I wouldn’t prioritize this over beaches, snorkeling, or Willemstad.
It’s more of a “nice if you’re already passing by” stop.
If you want to mix exploring with relaxing, staying at a resort works well.
Or just browse Booking.com to find hotels near where you’ll be spending most of your time—that made our days a lot easier.
Mambo Beach.
It’s one of the most popular beaches—but it felt more mainstream and crowded than anywhere else we went.
If you’re looking for something more scenic or less commercial, I’d skip it.
Curaçao is an island where you can do a lot—but you don’t need to do everything to feel like you've seen Curacao.
If you focus on:
You’ll have a good trip without overpacking your days.
If you want to see how to organize all of this into a realistic schedule, learn more in my post about Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
