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Top Aruba Attractions
The first time you visit Aruba, or any new destination,
the question asked isn’t usually what attractions should be
scene but what attraction to see first, what to expect, how to get
there, and how much time is needed. We’ve provided tips, advice,
and other information about the top tourist attractions in Aruba
to help with your itinerary planning.
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Archaeological Museum of Aruba
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| Address |
J. E. Irausquinplein 2A |
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| Admission |
Free |
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| Hours |
Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1-4pm |
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| Phone |
297/582-8979 |
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There are very few places on the island to see the history and
culture of Aruba. The Archaeological Museum of Aruba is squeezed
between St. Franciscus Roman Catholic Church and the parish rectory.
The small museum emphasizes Aruba’s Amerindian heritage. When
you go inside the museum you can expect to find a variety of pottery
vessels, shell and stone tools, burial urns, as well as skulls and
bones on display. Even though this museum is not as exciting as
the Louve, it is something to do if you don’t want to spend
all your money or all your days out on the beach.
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Fort Zoutman, Willem III
Tower, and Museo Arubano
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| Address |
Zoutmanstraat z/n |
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| Admission |
$2 |
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| Hours |
Mon-Fri 9am-noon and 1-4pm |
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| Phone |
297/582-6099 |
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Aruba’s oldest example of Dutch architecture, Fort Zoutman,
Willem III Tower stands on what was once the shore (landfill construction
in 1930 altered the coastline). To defend Aruba from the pirates
menacing Oranjestad's harbor by raiding horses and anything else
of value, the Dutch constructed Fort Zoutman in 1796. Over the years,
the site has served as an aloe garden, jail, courthouse, junk room,
and tax office. Since 1992, the complex has housed the modest Museo
Arubano, which displays prehistoric Caiquetio artifacts and remnants
from the Dutch colonial period. On Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm,
the museum hosts the Bon Bini Festival, a fair with local arts and
crafts, food, music, and dance. Not one of the best tourist activities
that ever existed, but good enough to spend a low cost day and enjoy
a good cheap buy at the Bon Bini Festival.
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Butterfly Farm
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| Address |
J. Irausquin Boulevard Z/N, Orangestad |
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| Hours |
Open all year, daily from 9am until ...check
local times! |
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| Phone |
+297-586-3656 |
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Located on Irausquin Blvd, across from the Divi Phoenix Hotel the
Butterfly Farm is a 3000-square-foot mesh-enclosed garden with waterfalls
and stocked fish ponds. This is a great place to take the kids or
spend a romantic day on the island admiring the most fragile and
beautiful creatures that fly. Walk through the garden as hundreads
of majestic butterflies from all over the world flutter and flap
their wings to show you their beautiful exotic color scheme. The
farm is open daily, 9am-4pm, with the last tour at 3:30pm. Music
is played throughout the garden to make your experience and visit
to the garden enchanting. Who knows if you’re lucky a butterfly
might even land on your nose as it waves its wings to say Bon Bini.
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Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is one of Aruba's most popular attractions. The
area is always filled with tour buses any given time of day that
stop and allow their passengers to take pictures and admire this
natural formation.. The bridge is a formation of coral limestone
cut out by years of pounding surf, and is one of the largest of
these types of spans in the world. The Natural Bridge stands over
23 feet (7 meters) above sea level and spans more than 100 feet
(30 meters) in distance. There is no admission fee or set hours
for visiting. Anyone visiting on the island can go and visit this
formation. The location is romantic for couples so bring a blanket
and look at the ocean as you dig your feet in the sand, while the
sun sets, and the natural light from the moon shimmers on the bridge.
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Natural Pool
Aruba has many fun and interesting natural locations. One of these
locations happens to be a natural pool. This small rock-enclosed
seawater pool is difficult to enter and exit, and not worth the
trouble, unless you just want to cool off from the hot sun. However,
the natural pool is worth climbing on top of. If you can climb onto
the top of the boulder you can watch and take a few cool pictures
of the ocean surf break over the rocks and cascade into the basin.
Snorkeling and other water activities are not allowed at the natural
pool since the water is too churned up. Many people come to the
natural pool for its magnificent views. Other than that, save the
trip and stay at your local beach, there are more water activity
options available there.
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Aruba Travel Guides
 Frommer's Aruba
Lonely Planet Aruba
Let's Go Aruba
Fodors Aruba
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