By Daniela Martina, Curaçao Travel Editor · Updated July 2026
Quick answer: For a first trip to Curaçao, base yourself in or near Willemstad, the colourful capital, ideally the walkable Pietermaai district for dining and boutique hotels. For a beach-and-resort holiday, pick Jan Thiel in the south-east, with calm beaches, restaurants and nightlife. Divers and anyone chasing the quietest, prettiest beaches should head to the west end (Banda Abou). Willemstad is about a 15-minute drive from the airport, and you will want a rental car wherever you stay, because the best beaches are spread along the coast.
Curaçao is small but its neighbourhoods feel very different, from a UNESCO-listed harbour city to quiet coves at the western tip. Where you stay shapes your whole trip: nightlife and culture, an easy beach base, or remote snorkelling. Here are the main areas and who each one suits.
At a glance
| Area | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pietermaai (Willemstad) | Restored old town, bars, boutique hotels | First-timers, dining, nightlife |
| Punda & Otrobanda | Historic harbour core, shops, museums | Culture, city walkers |
| Jan Thiel | Beach resorts, restaurants, relaxed nightlife | Beach holidays, families, couples |
| Piscadera & Blue Bay | Resort hotels near the city | Resort comfort close to town |
| West end (Banda Abou) | Quiet, remote, best beaches | Diving, snorkelling, seclusion |
Willemstad: Pietermaai, Punda and Otrobanda
The capital is the classic first-time base. Pietermaai is the boutique quarter, a restored grid of pastel townhouses now full of small hotels, seafront bars and some of the island's best restaurants, all walkable. Across the floating bridge, Punda and Otrobanda form the UNESCO-listed harbour core, handy for museums, markets and the famous Handelskade waterfront. Staying here means you rarely need to drive in the evening, though the nearest good swimming beaches are a short drive away.
Jan Thiel: the beach base
About 20 minutes south-east of the city, Jan Thiel is the island's main beach-resort area: a cluster of hotels and apartments beside calm, swimmable beaches, with a strip of restaurants and easygoing nightlife. It suits couples and families who want to walk to the sand and to dinner, while still being close enough to visit Willemstad. Nearby Mambo Beach and the Sea Aquarium area are livelier still.
Piscadera and Blue Bay: resorts near town
Just west of Willemstad, Piscadera and Blue Bay hold several larger resort hotels with their own beaches and pools, a good middle ground if you want resort facilities but still want the city only ten minutes away.
The west end (Banda Abou): beaches and diving
The western half of the island has the postcard beaches, Cas Abao, Grote Knip, Playa Kenepa, and the best shore diving, but few large hotels; expect villas, guesthouses and dive lodges. It is the choice for a quiet, water-focused stay, though you will drive 45 minutes or more to reach Willemstad, so it works best as a second base or for a return visitor.
How to choose, and getting around
If it is your first visit and you want a bit of everything, stay in Pietermaai and take day trips to the beaches. If you mainly want sun and sea with less driving, choose Jan Thiel. If diving and quiet beaches are the point, base in the west. In every case, rent a car: taxis are expensive and the beaches are spread out, so a car is what turns a good Curaçao trip into an easy one.
