Best 10 Places To Visit In Aruba - Updated 2024

Irene
Irene 
Updated
| 5 min read

The island of Aruba is one of the most visited islands in the Southern Caribbean. Aruba gets to enjoy a large number of visitors yearly thanks to the miles of amazing white-sand beach, several fancy all-inclusive resorts, and Aruba’s cute capital, Oranjestad, which is favoured by most cruise-ship passengers thanks to its short strolls and endless shopping opportunities. You will love everything here from the culture to the architecture to the weather. Spending a holiday in Aruba is all about the sun, the fun and spending money. In case you are in Aruba and you run out of ideas on what to do, check out the list below to learn about the best places to visit in Aruba.

1. Oranjestad (from USD 41.0)

best places to visit in aruba | oranjestad

If it is your first time in Oranjestad, Aruba, you have to grab this opportunity and learn more about the culture and history of Aruba in just 3 hours or less. During the tour, you can choose to have a professional guide who will tell you more about the attractions and landmarks of Aruba in a fun and informative commentary. Some of the must-see sights you will come across as you explore Aruba includes the Aloe Vera Factory and Museum, the Casibari Rock Formation, the Natural Bridge and California Light House. Oranjestad has a lot to offer and to make this experience last, remember to bring your camera along.

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3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour

Duration: 3.5 hour

91 reviews

2. Palm Island (from USD 141.0)

When you are done exploring Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba, you can make the most of your trip to Aruba by enjoying a private island adventure to De Palm Island. At De Palm Island you will get to experience the thrill and beauty of an underwater wonderland. De Palm Island is famous for its coral reefs, tropical fish and the lounges on sandy shores making it the perfect place to relax during your vacation. Apart from snorkelling, travellers can also enjoy other activities such as zip-lining and bungee jumping. Make sure you enjoy the local delicacies and the sweet tropical beverages as you kick back on a sunny hammock.

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Aruba All-Inclusive De Palm Island Experience with Transfers

Duration: 6 hours

1054 reviews

3. Paradera (from USD 34.0)

best places to visit in aruba | paradera

When you are done playing with water at SS Antilla, it is now time for you to discover other fun activities to indulge in while you are in Aruba. One place to consider while looking for other fun activities is the Ostrich Farm. Here, you can explore sprawling grounds as you discover more than 40 herds of the largest bird in the world. Through an informative tour guide, you will get to learn more about the physiology and survival instincts of the ostrich and also enjoy close-up encounters with the birds. Apart from the birds, you will also love the panoramic views of the island which reflects on the series of natural diversity that you have encountered over the day.

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Paradera: Aruba Ostrich Farm Entrance with Tour and Lunch

4 reviews

4. Noord

Berea di Piscado, Noord, Aruba - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user James Martins used under CC BY 3.0

When in Aruba, there is no perfect better place to visit than Noord. In Dutch, Noord means north and as its name suggest, the town is located north of Aruba. Most travellers find Noord to be a very favourable destination because of its accessibility to various attractions such as Palm Beach, Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary, world-class restaurants, nightclubs and bars, and unique shopping experience. Apart from exploring the town, visitors also have the option of enjoying various sports activities such as windsurfing at the Fisherman’s hat, snorkelling at Malmok, or just enjoying the amazing scenery on the north coast where you will find limestone cliffs. While you are here, just make sure you go for a leisurely stroll as you explore all the fun things that you can do in Noord!

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5. Arikok National Park (from USD 125.0)

If you fancy a unique off-road adventure during your visit to Aruba, then you have to enjoy a ride in a 4x4 Land Rover designed to traverse the rugged terrain of Arikok National Park, a protected preserve that occupies 20 per cent of the island. During this activity, you will get to stop by historical landmarks such as the Natural Bridge and California Lighthouse, and even have some free time to swim and snorkel at the Natural Pool and Baby Beach. During the tour, you can choose to have an educated guide who can share with you interesting facts about the nearby attractions.

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Aruba Off-Road Island Tour: Arikok National Park, Baby Beach

Duration: 8 hours

5585 reviews

6. Baby Beach (from USD 109.0)

Spending time at Baby Beach is a fun activity to indulge in any time you visit Aruba. Visiting this part of the Island will give you the opportunity of enjoying great snorkelling sessions just offshore using the provided snorkel gear. If you are not into snorkelling, the beach also gives you the option of just stretching out on the sugary white sand and relaxing. There are also plenty of fancy restaurants just next to the beach, where you can enjoy a delicious meal. This activity is for those who just want to relax in a cool and friendly environment away from all the hustles and bustles

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Baby Beach Off-Road Safari

Duration: 7 hours

1418 reviews

7. Natural Pool (from USD 140.0)

If you are bored and are looking for something fun to take part in, then you should try out horse riding through Arikok National Park to a local natural swimming hole to cool off. The horseback riding experience normally begins at Rancho Loco where you will be matched with a horse based on your skills and abilities. You will then ride through Arikok National Park as you enjoy the stunning views of the island. Finally, you will ride down the sand dunes and reach the beach, where you will ride along the shoreline to a natural pool. Here, you can spend up to half an hour exploring the area and swimming in the natural pools.

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Natural Pool Horseback Riding Tour in Aruba

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

764 reviews

8. Natural Bridge Aruba (from USD 60.0)

Natural Bridge Aruba is one of those places you have to visit every time you come to Aruba. This is a stunning geological formation caused by years of erosion from the sea. Unfortunately, the largest and most visited Natural Bridge located between Andicuri Beach and Bushiribana gold mine collapsed in 2005 but the remains of the bridge are still a major tourist attraction. The area also hosts other gorgeous natural bridges which can be found in the southern area of the island at Wariruri Beach and near Black Stone Beach. The Natural Bridge area also has a snack bar and a souvenir shop where visitors can refresh and buy souvenirs to take back home

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Aruba: Natural Bridge, Alto Vista, Aloe Factory, Ostrich Farm

Duration: 4 hours

97 reviews

9. SS Antilla (from USD 65.0)

If you feel like you have completely explored every highlight of Aruba and you still have some time to spend here, you have to check out SS Antilla. Initially, this was a cargo ship built for trade between the Caribbean and Germany in 1939, but it was scuttled a year later. Currently, the location of SS Antilla is used as a snorkelling point where you can discover various species of coral and tropical fish. When you are done with your snorkelling sessions, you can always climb back on the boat and enjoy delicious local lunch and drinks from the open bar.

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Aruba Snorkeling: S.S. Antilla, Malmok, Boca Catalina, Lunch

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

55 reviews

10. Bushiribana Ruins (from USD 90.0)

For this activity, you will get the opportunity of exploring all of Aruba’s highlights in just four hours. You will encounter some of the famous attractions in this area including the California Lighthouse, the Natural Bridge, Ayo and Casibari rock formations, and the Alto Vista Chapel, before reaching the main attraction, Bushiribana gold mine ruins. Bushiribana is a historical site that was used as a gold mine in 1824. Through your educated local guide, you will learn more about the mines as well as other attractions and cultures of Aruba. Unlimited drinks are offered throughout the tour.

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Aruba 4x4 Tour: Bushiribana, Alto Vista, California Lighthouse

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

13 reviews

Visit, explore and enjoy Aruba

It might not be one of the most visited places in the world but Aruba is truly beautiful. Given the number of attractions found in this area of the world, one might be confused about where to start. For that reason, check out the list above and make sure you visit all the places listed.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Irene Mwikali is a graduate student in Kenya who has a passion for travelling and exploring the world. Currently, her love for travel has taken her to several destinations including South Africa,...Read more

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