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Best hotels in Curaçao: eight places to stay in Willemstad and on the coast

The houses on Handelskade glow yellow, blue and pink above the harbour in Willemstad, and half an hour to the west lie small coves with turquoise water and sea turtles. Curaçao is a dry, sunny island off the coast of Venezuela, with Dutch heritage, excellent reefs and hotels for couples and families alike.

The colourful colonial houses of Handelskade in Willemstad, Curaçao

If you want to walk to restaurants and cafés, stay in Willemstad, ideally in Pietermaai or near Punda. If you want a beach and a pool, stay on the coast just outside the city, at Piscadera or Mambo Beach. If you want to dive and have peace and quiet, stay on the west coast.

Picolo picks

Avila Beach Hotel by its sheltered bay in Willemstad, seen from the air.

Willemstad

1. Avila Beach Hotel

History and a private beach

Avila Beach Hotel lies just east of Pietermaai and is built around an 18th-century colonial mansion. The hotel has its own beach in a sheltered cove, three restaurants, a beach bar and a spa.

This is our pick if you want to combine the city and the beach. You can walk to the restaurants in Pietermaai, and Handelskade is a short taxi ride away. The hotel suits couples and families, and the beach is calm enough for children. Have dinner by the water in the evening, and stroll the streets of Pietermaai to see the restored colonial houses.

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The pool with a sea view at Saint Tropez Boutique Hotel.

Willemstad

2. Saint Tropez Boutique Hotel

By the water in Pietermaai

Saint Tropez is a small hotel in the middle of Pietermaai, with a pool right by the sea, a bar and a restaurant. From the edge of the pool you look straight out over the Caribbean Sea.

It suits couples and friends who want to stay in the heart of Willemstad and walk to bars and restaurants in the evening. There is no sandy beach at the hotel, so you take a taxi to the beaches. Punda is only a few minutes' walk away, and evenings are best spent in Pietermaai, where the restaurants fill old colonial houses.

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The garden pool at Kura Botanica Hotel in the evening.

Willemstad

3. Kura Botanica Hotel

A garden and calm in the city

Kura Botanica is a small hotel with a lush garden, a pool among the palms and a restaurant serving local food. It has one of the highest guest ratings on the whole island.

This is our pick among the small hotels, if you want calm and personal service within walking distance of Punda. It is not on the beach, so you take a taxi or a hire car to the coves. Walk to Handelskade and the streets of Punda in the morning, before it gets too hot, and watch the Queen Emma bridge swing aside for the ships.

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The pool facing the sea at Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort.

Willemstad

4. Renaissance Wind Creek

By Rif Fort in Otrobanda

Renaissance Wind Creek lies in Otrobanda, next to the old Rif Fort and the harbour entrance. The hotel was renovated in 2020 and has a pool looking out over the sea, its own small beach, a casino and four restaurants.

It suits you if you want a central location with a pool and a beach in one place. Cruise ships dock nearby, so it can be busy during the day. Walk across the pontoon bridge to Punda, and visit the Kura Hulanda Museum on the history of the slave trade, a few minutes away.

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The pool area at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort at sunset.

The coast around Willemstad

5. Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort

Big and family friendly

The Marriott lies on Piscadera Bay, with its own beach, several pools, two beach bars and a spa. The rooms are large, and many have a balcony facing the sea.

This is our family pick, if you want a beach, pools and restaurants without moving around. Willemstad is a short taxi ride away. The hotel is large and can feel less personal than the small hotels in the city, but travelling with children is easy here. Take a day trip to the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, or drive to Shete Boka to watch the waves crash into the cliffs on the north coast.

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The lounge terrace and pool by the sea at Art Hotel Curaçao.

The coast around Willemstad

6. Art Hotel Curaçao

Adults only

Art Hotel Curaçao only takes adults and has an art gallery, a private beach with cabanas and a pool by the sea. The hotel has two restaurants and a spa.

This is our pick for couples, for a honeymoon or a quiet week by the sea. It is a small hotel, so the mood is calm and personal. It lies outside the centre, so you take a taxi to the restaurants in Pietermaai. Book a massage on the beach and stay on the terrace until the sun goes down.

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The beach with parasols at The Kontiki, seen from the air.

The coast around Willemstad

7. The Kontiki

Beach and beach bars east of the city

The Kontiki sits right on the beach east of Willemstad, not far from Mambo Beach. The hotel has two beach bars, three restaurants, a garden and massages on the beach.

It suits you if you want the beach right outside the door and some life around you in the evening. The beach clubs and restaurants at Mambo Beach are close by, and the centre is a short taxi ride away. Take a boat trip to the uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao, with a white sand beach and an old lighthouse, one of the best day trips on the island.

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Coral Estate Luxury Resort on the coast of western Curaçao, seen from the air.

The west coast

8. Coral Estate Luxury Resort

Diving straight from the beach

Coral Estate lies at Rif St. Marie on the west coast, with villas and apartments on a slope down to the sea. The hotel has its own beach, a spa and a dive centre, and the reef begins right offshore.

This is our pick for divers and anyone who wants peace and nature. It is around half an hour by car to Willemstad, so you need a hire car. Drive north to the coves of Playa Lagun and Grote Knip, and see the sea turtles at Playa Piskado, where the fishermen clean their catch.

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How Picolo chooses

Our editors pick every hotel and experience themselves, and most of them we have tried. Nobody can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Picolo earns a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.

Curaçao is the largest of the ABC islands, together with Aruba and Bonaire, and lies in the southern Caribbean just north of Venezuela. The island is a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The capital, Willemstad, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with colourful colonial houses on both sides of the harbour entrance. Along the coast you find beaches, coves and some of the best dive reefs in the Caribbean.

We have picked eight hotels in three areas and say who each one suits. All have a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link. Curaçao has few large luxury resorts, but many good hotels with their own beach, and prices are lower than on many other Caribbean islands.

How to choose the right hotel in Curaçao

  • City or beach: in Willemstad you can walk everywhere, but the beaches are small. On the coast outside the city you get a beach and a pool, but need a taxi or a hire car.

  • Hire car: the finest coves are on the west coast, about an hour's drive from the city. Rent a car for a few days if you want to see them.

  • Wind and weather: the trade wind blows almost all year, and the island lies south of the usual hurricane tracks. Most rain falls from October to December.

  • Diving and snorkelling: the reefs often begin just off the beach. Many hotels have their own dive centre or work with one nearby.

  • Adults only: several of the newer hotels only take adults. Check this before you book if you are travelling with children.

The areas

  • Willemstad: Willemstad is split in two by the entrance to the harbour. Punda lies on the east side, with Handelskade, markets and shops. Otrobanda lies on the west side, and the two districts are joined by the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, which swings aside when ships come in. East of Punda lies Pietermaai, with restored colonial houses, bars and restaurants.

  • The coast around Willemstad: Just outside the city are the hotels with their own beach. To the west lies Piscadera Bay, a few minutes by taxi from Otrobanda. To the east lie Mambo Beach and Jan Thiel, with beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife.

  • The west coast: The west coast, Banda Abou, is the wild and quiet side of Curaçao. Here you find the well known coves of Grote Knip, Playa Lagun and Cas Abao, Christoffel National Park and the cliffs at Shete Boka. Restaurants are far apart, so you need a hire car.

Frequently asked questions about hotels in Curaçao

How many nights do I need in Curaçao?

A week is a good starting point. That gives you time for Willemstad, a few days on the beach and a trip to the west coast. Many people combine a couple of nights in the city with the rest at a beach hotel.

Where should I stay on a first visit?

Stay in or near Willemstad, in Pietermaai or at Piscadera. That puts the city's restaurants within reach, and you can rent a car for day trips to the coves on the west coast.

How do I get to Curaçao from Europe?

The most common route is via Amsterdam, where KLM flies direct to Curaçao. The flight from Amsterdam takes around ten hours. Remember to fill in the digital immigration card before you travel.

Is Curaçao safe for tourists?

Yes, the tourist areas are considered safe. Use common sense, do not leave valuables visible in a hire car and take a taxi in the evening.

Are hotels in Curaçao expensive?

Curaçao is cheaper than many other Caribbean islands, such as the Bahamas and Barbados. Prices are highest from Christmas to Easter, and lowest in summer and autumn.

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