Oranjestad (Oranjestad) - a city named after the ruling royal family of the Netherlands, is located on the south coast of the westernmost of the tiny Antilles. Oranjestad is the capital and largest city of Aruba. Dutch architecture looks colorful on this tropical island, and the city itself harmoniously includes government buildings, a picturesque ocean, and luxury shopping centers.

How to get

At the Queen Beatrix International Airport, airplanes from the USA, Canada and Europe fly (Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt). You can sail to Oranjestad on a cruise ship or own yacht.

The climate of Oranjestad is

March 1, Sunday Partly cloudy, light rain +28 ° С in the afternoon +25 ° С at night ° С water	March 2, Monday Partly cloudy, light rain +27 ° С in the afternoon +25 ° С at night ° С water	March 3, Tuesday Partly cloudy, heavy rain, thunderstorms +26 ° С in the afternoon +25 ° С at night ° С water
Oranjestad weather forecast for 10 days

Transport

If you are planning to stay in Oranjestad, making only short "raids" around the neighborhood and trips to nearby beaches, it's better to take bus routes or taxis.

The bus station is in the center of Oranjestad (on the boulevard Lloyd G Smith). Arubus 10, 10A, 10B buses (tel: 297-588-0616) service hotels around the city, they go every 15-30 minutes from 6-00 to 23-00, travel costs $ 1.3. Buses 1 and 8 run between the airport and the bus station every 30-60 minutes.

Tariffs for a trip to a taxi are fixed. The road from the airport will cost you $ 25 (from the second passenger will take another $ 2), an hour trip by taxi will cost $ 45.

However, for trips to the more wild corners of the island to the North, East, South or Park Arikok, you will need a car - there are no buses going there.

Oranjestad hotels - $

You can stay in the apartments of the Paradarapark. Studios and apartments have separate terraces, are surrounded by a tropical garden, have access to a large swimming pool (prices in the range of $ 70-130). Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino is ready to offer you two swimming pools and a huge private beach (and a casino, of course). Town Hotel and Beach Club is located across the road from Surfside Beach, in the heart of the city.

Beaches

By bus or car from the city in just five minutes you can reach many beaches. The most popular are Arashi Beach and Druif Beach, Hadikurari Beach, Bukuti Beach, Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Roger Beach. All the beaches are municipal - so you have a huge selection of fabulous vacation spots.

You can also swim in the small island of Renaissance, which is located opposite the harbor of Oranjestad.

Shopping

In Oranjestad, a great shopping, starting from the boutiques Guess, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton (prices here are much lower than in Europe, as the port and adjacent areas are a zone of duty-free trade), ending with a wonderful flea market on the waterfront. Small shopping centers are located in the labyrinths of narrow streets in the city center.

Three-storey shopping center Royal Plaza is located next to the harbor and specializes in jewelry, clothing, accessories, bed linen, perfume, cigars and souvenirs.

Rerenaissance Mall sells luxury goods - jewelry, clothing, perfume, beachwear. Rrenaissance Market, located between the marina and Queen Wilhelmina Park, offers a variegated set of various souvenirs. South Beach Mall offers upscale gifts, clothing, jewelry, silver and souvenirs.

Oranjestad Restaurants

In the city there are many restaurants, both international cuisine, and offering local delicacies to visitors. You can enjoy the classics: frog paws, game and foie gras, try local fish: mahi-mahi and wahoo, shawarma from the Middle East, Japanese sushi, Spanish tapas, Indian curry, Maine-style steaks, lobsters and goat stew.

In the shopping center Renaissance Mall, resting from shopping, you can enjoy Belgian chocolate, ice cream, cappuccino or light snacks.

On Paseo-Herencia you can try any food from Belgian waffles and French fries, ice cream, sushi and seafood to hamburgers and fajitas. Enjoying food, you can watch a light show of dancing fountains, performances of local bands and jazz performers.

In South Beach Mall you can visit the Dutch Bar and national restaurants, which serve Indian, Japanese, Chinese and Italian cuisine. This place, with tables on the ocean, is popular with locals and tourists.

Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing of Oranjestad

Visit the original Historical Museum, located in the old Fort Zootman, built in 1796. In addition, you can see the archaeological museum, numismatic museum (part of the collection was raised from wrecks), a geological museum.

In the vicinity of the city (and on such a small island all the way to hand), you can visit the Arikok National Park, go to the cave complex of Gwadirikri (which used to be a secret pirate base), stroll through the romantic Cave of Hulib, otherwise known as the "Tunnel of Love."

Oranjestad is an ideal place for water sports - scuba diving, boating, parasailing and fishing. In addition, throughout the year in the city there are many carnivals, festivals, and parades. The main cultural events of Oranjestad are the Annual Carnival, the Children's Parade, the Bon Bini Festival, the Flare Parade and the Queen's Birthday Parade. Photos of Oranjestad (4)