The Best Walking Tour Willemstad, Curaçao
Updated November 4, 2025
Originally published November 3, 2025
That’s a bold statement to make right? Well, I have been so fortunate to have seen and done so many walking tours around the world and I will say that this is one of the top walking tours I have ever taken anywhere! So yes, it does live up to the hype =) This tour was a fantastic way to soak in the authentic island vibe while learning about Curaçao’s unique blend of European and Caribbean cultures and shed light on what made Curaçao the vibrant and colorful place it is.
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Why Do I Love Walking Tours So Much?
I love to explore places on foot as I have found this to be a great way to really get a feel for a town or city and discover unexpected or hidden gems in a budget-friendly and eco-friendly way. And if a walking tour is available, I will do this the first day I arrive. And why pay someone to take me around? Context and connection. Instead of wandering around aimlessly, I am able to learn so much about a place and getting to understand more of the soul and heart of it and its people.
Sure you can just explore a place and maybe some even plan ahead and download maps/guides but I have never found those to be an adequate substitute for a walking tour. I have brought a few friends on these tours when we travel and they all say the same thing: they wish that they knew about them earlier and had taken them in other cities. You hear stories and the really good guides will structure tours in such a way that things are woven together.
Walking tours are a great way to learn about a place and some are structured differently from others so you can choose one that aligns more with your interests (some are more cultural, historical or niche ie geared towards the macabre-ghost/Jack the Ripper tours or geared towards foods/drinks) so pay close attention to the description.
They are ideal for cruise passengers and independent travelers alike as they have a short time commitment so you will have time to do another activity/excursion after. If you are planning on staying exploring the city, take the earliest/morning tours. Guides will introduce you to places that you can return to explore at your leisure after the tour and many times I will learn about hidden gems from them and this proved so useful on this visit. With the stormy weather, my plan to visit beaches was scuttled but this tour made it easy to pivot for the rest of the day based on what I learned during the tour.
A Quick Note on Street Art
The two big reasons why I chose this walking tour over others was the high rating and the second was the emphasis on street art – remember how I said to read descriptions of the tours?
I know that for some, they just view this still as graffiti but I urge you to look at things differently. Maybe it will help to shed light on why I love street art so much <3
- It’s a large scale and makes art accessible to everyone as murals are painted on buildings
- Context and connection (which is just a theme for me with travel and life in general) but many times, street art celebrates the culture, history and people of a place
- Street art can also be a form of protest and allows people who may not have a voice otherwise to express their feelings / or bring it to a larger audience (which is what much of “graffiti” is)
- Street art can also be a way to make you think and question things ala Banksy and his street art pieces (while they are the most famous example, they are so many examples of this throughout the world – you just need to stop and take a longer look around)
When to Visit Curaçao for the Best Walking Tour Experience
Curaçao enjoys warm, dry weather most of the year.:
- The best time for walking tours is from December through April, during the island’s dry season.
- But note that the day the Divina was docked in Willemstad, the morning was dry during the walking tour but there were sporadic but intense shower storms during the afternoon and this was mid March
- From May to November, expect more humidity and occasional showers, but smaller crowds.
- Winter (November–March): Snow-dusted lava and Northern Lights possibilitie
- If you’re visiting on a cruise stop, most ships dock at the Mega Pier or Mathey Wharf, just a short walk from downtown Willemstad and the starting point of this tour
Tips for Best Walking Tour Willemstad
- Book your tour early especially during summer as tours fill up quickly and are limited to 16 people
- Stay hydrated and bring sun protection as Curaçao’s sunshine is strong year-round
- Carry small cash (Note: I was able to pay with USD for the iced treats)
- Don’t be shy about asking questions during tour – this makes it more interactive and Jacqueline was such a wealth of knowledge.
- Guides are great resources for recommendations for food/drink/activities around the island
- As with all walking tours: wear comfy shoes and pay attention to your surroundings ie do not block traffic (sidewalk and streets)
The Best Walking Tour Willemstad
Tour Details
- Overview: You want your visit to Willemstad (Curaçao) to be unforgettable, don’t miss this walking tour! At Dundu Tours you get more than a standard city tour! I not only tell you the fascinating history and true stories behind the beautiful monumental treasures of Curacao. You will also get to know my culture and meet the proud inhabitants of the neighborhoods, while you will be amazed by the beautiful murals in the maze of Willemstad.
- Details: Duration of 1.5 – 2 hours
- Important Notes:
- Small group tour with a maximum of 16 travelers: when you book, your booking will be technically be pending until confirmed by Dundu Tours
- Includes:
- Cold bottle of water
- Not recommended for:
- Travelers with mobility issues that are unable to walk for long periods of time. While the walking tour is by no means strenuous, it is a walking tour that covers multiple areas in Willemstad
My Experience on Best Walking Tour Willemstad
Communication
As the tour is a small group tour, my reservation was pending until confirmed by Dundu Tours. I love that I received an email (notification via Viator) that it was confirmed with detailed information on the tour including start time and emphasis need for punctuality (and information on how to reach Jacqueline if I were to run late), meeting location and who I would be meeting
Meet Up
- This tour does not include an option for pick up
- Meet up details: Begins at 9:30 in Otrabanda at the Riffort Mall / Dr Efrain Jonckheer Statue
- Distance from the cruise port to meeting point is 550 meters / 8 – 11 minute walk (you can put in Dr Efrain Jonckheer Statue in Google maps)
- Note: there are multiple tours that start at this meeting point (and as noted in my confirmation email) so you need to locate the correct guide which if it is Jacqueline she will be wearing a traditional and colorful dress, otherwise her assistant will be wearing a Black Dondu (logo) t-shirt
History of Curaçao and Willemstad
- We learned that one of, if not the earliest mention of Curaçao in history was in 1499 with an emphasis that the indigenous people from Venezuela had already settled in the area
- Founded in the 1630s by the Dutch West India Company, Willemstad quickly became one of the Caribbean’s key trading ports.
- The yellow house (Fort Amsterdam) in the photo on the right above is the oldest and best maintained house and used to house everyone who lived here at the time.
- This is now the official residence of the governess or governor who is appointed by Dutch King and Queen, thus representing the crown but is not involved in daily governmental operations
- The defensive walls to the right of Fort Amsterdam are original and surrounded what was the old city until 1861 when Willemstad was expanded.
- Curaçao’s government structure is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
- What does this really mean: Citizens of Curaçao have Dutch nationality and Dutch passports while Curaçao is an autonomous country with its own government who are voted in by the people of Curaçao (vs appointed by the Dutch crown).
- Curaçao’s flag: The blue represents the sea and sky, the yellow stripe symbolizes the sun, and the two stars represent the islands of Curaçao and Klein Curaçao. The five points on each star stand for the five continents from which the people of Curaçao come ( Africa + Europe + Asia + South America + North America!)
Insight into Culture, History, Buildings and So Much More Gained
Curaçao’s capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its colorful facades — a design choice rooted in legend.
We learned that this happened in 1817 as the then governor ordered all of the houses to be painted as before all houses were white. The lore is that he owned a paint factory and did this to line his own pocked which is untrue. He suffered from migraines and his brother who was an optician, made the suggestion to alleviate those along with it being the trend at time, as a way signify wealth. Centuries later, those hues define the city’s identity.
I love how Jacqueline really dove into giving us some interesting facts. For example, we learned that this mint green house dates all the way back to 1714 and how it was constructed. The wood was treated for two years (one year submerged in sea / one year dried in sand – removes nutrients and becomes undesirable to termites)!
Did you know that Curaçao has the second most monumental buildings in the Caribbean? Yes, 860 and Cuba is first, if you are curious. As interesting is that they are constructed from coral which makes the upkeep insane. They need to be repainted every 8 months due to the moisture!
Jacob Gelt Dekker was a Dutch Jewish self-made millionaire who gentrified neighborhood. While that can have mixed connotation, 40 years ago this was a very rough area but he was able to completely revitalize it: Hulanda village in which he worked with people from the village. Behind the statue is the Kura Hulanda Musuem which he also founded.
We learn more about this part of Willemstad and Otrobanda City. I love tidbits like how the Hulanda village still remains a mixed neighborhood (varying income levels as Jacob Gelt had intended for it to be)
We also gain insight into living here as this building houses four families which you can tell by the four different colors (social houses)
Jacqueline also brings us to an empty/abandoned house that we can walk through to get a sense of the sizes of the houses here
Street Art
And as promised, there was a big emphasis on street art during the tour
showcasing large scale murals
that are part public art project,
part social commentary,
part celebration of the people and spirit of Curaçao
The art is incredible to look at but you learn so much about it and how it tells the story of Curaçao’s culture and people on this tour!
life is a beautiful struggle
hard to choose a favorite or even favorites (even narrowing down/choosing the photos for this post was difficult!) but this one is so imaginative as the eyes are the round windows!
Emancipate Yourself From Mental Slavery Sculpture
To respect the time and dedication that Jacqueline took with this, I will not divulge what she shared with us about this sculpture but I can speak on the depth of research and the passion she spoke with and that this was showcased time and time again during the tour!
So many things to uncover and discover in this piece and around Willemstad – do yourself a favor and take this tour to unlock some of the magic behind this incredible place.
Local Expertise / Attentive + Knowledgeable Guides
I touched on the depth of research and the passion that Jacqueline puts into the tour above with the street art but specifically with the Emancipate Yourself sculpture but she also embodies the openness and hospitality of Curaçao. Here she is purchasing bottles of water for all of the tour using her own money so that we would stay properly hydrated in the heat.
I love that we not only learned about the way of life here but also had a chance to support locals whilst on the tour. One of the highlights was when we were able to purchase locally made ice cream/frozen iced treats in a variety of flavors from the familiar to the exotic for only $2! I tried the pina colada and tamarind flavors and both were delightful!
Final Thoughts – Why You’ll Love Exploring Willemstad on Foot
Willemstad is a city that rewards curiosity. Around every corner is a burst of color, a piece of history, or a piece of art that tells the island’s story. Whether you’re snapping photos along the Handelskade, chatting with local artists in Otrobanda, or simply enjoying the Caribbean breeze, this walking tour offers the perfect blend of culture, color, and connection. One of the reasons why I took this tour was this review: “Beyond the beautiful beaches, Curaçao has a very fascinating history that I believe everyone should take the time to learn a bit about if they’re visiting…..we had so much fun walking through the Otrobanda and learning about parts of the city that you wouldn’t otherwise know about and viewing art that helped tell the story of Curaçao’s culture.”
Jacqueline is an incredible story teller who is so passionate about the island and sharing her knowledge with those on her tour. Her enthusiasm and zest for life were exactly what my soul needed. A walking tour in Willemstad isn’t just sightseeing — it’s stepping into Curaçao’s living, breathing story. Between its Dutch colonial charm, Caribbean rhythm, and bursts of street art, this island capital proves that sometimes, the best adventures really are found on foot.
One of the downsides to visiting a place on a cruise is that the time is too short but at least with a walking tour, I am really able to maximize my time with learning about a place. And the information learned on this one proved to be very timely and valuable with the stormy weather. Others on the cruise complained about the rains but I was able to pivot and dive more into what makes Willemstad and Curaçao the places that they are today. And I was also able to connect with other travelers on the tour and with locals and for me, that’s one of the reasons I love to travel.
Why I Chose to Book This Tour Via Viator
What I Really Spent
- Tour: $35.00 The tour was $28 and I tipped $7 since the tour and Jacqueline were so amazing!
- TOTAL SPENT: $35.00
- I booked via Viator as I was able to triple stack on this spend:
- #1-getting rewards on my credit card
- AND #2-getting Viator rewards (5% on the booking that can be used towards a future booking)
- AND #3-getting miles (using the AA shopping portal at 8 Miles/$1)
- Want to understand more about how I stack offers and maximize spend? Check out this post
