Resorts and Hotels in Willemstad, Curaçao

About Willemstad

Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao, and its harbor is the first thing most visitors remember: rows of brightly painted gabled buildings facing the water, a historic center recognized by UNESCO, and the floating Queen Emma pedestrian bridge linking the Punda and Otrobanda sides of St. Anna Bay. Around that city core, the island's dry, sunny coastline is known for reef diving, snorkelling and a relaxed, outdoorsy rhythm. A resort stay here can mean a morning swim, an afternoon exploring the old town and a long dinner by the water.

Our Willemstad hotels fall into a few distinct styles. LionsDive Beach Resort, Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort and Papagayo Beach Hotel all have a beachfront with a private beach area. Renaissance Wind Creek is the most resort-scale of the three: a saltwater infinity pool and a fresh water pool, Carnaval Casino, four restaurants plus The Infinity Beach Bar, and a fitness center with a jogging trail. Its resort fee includes bike rental, classes and a street art tour. Papagayo Beach Hotel suits evenings with a happy hour and live music, and also has a casino and a minimarket. Scuba Lodge City Beach has an oceanfront address on Pietermaai in Willemstad, with an infinity pool, a pool bar and a coffee shop.

Divers and water-sports fans have plenty of choice. Sonesta Hotels & Resorts Livingstone Curacao, LionsDive Beach Resort and Scuba Lodge City Beach all offer diving and snorkelling, and LionsDive adds canoeing. Bayside Boutique Hotel sits inside Blue Bay Golf & Beach Resort, so a golf course and private beach area are close at hand, along with water sports, a garden, a terrace and airport pick-up and drop-off. For self-catering, Sonesta, LionsDive and Scuba Lodge have kitchen-equipped apartments or suites, and Sonesta also has villas. Families can look at Sonesta's children's pool and outdoor play equipment, LionsDive's kids' pool or Bayside's Family Rooms for up to five guests. Every hotel here has free WiFi and free parking, and all six have a spa or wellness offering.

When to go

Curaçao is warm and sunny all year, with steady trade winds that take the edge off the heat. It has a drier climate than many Caribbean islands, so beach and pool weather is reliable in most months. When rain does arrive, it tends to come as short showers in the cooler months toward the end of the year. The island also lies outside the main hurricane belt. Sea temperatures stay comfortable year-round, so diving and snorkelling are possible in every season. Busy holiday periods can fill the most popular resorts early, so book ahead if your dates are fixed.

Tips for your trip

• Choose by style first: Renaissance Wind Creek, LionsDive and Papagayo have a beachfront with a private beach area, while Scuba Lodge City Beach has an oceanfront address on Pietermaai in Willemstad.
• If you plan to dive, compare Sonesta Livingstone, LionsDive and Scuba Lodge City Beach, which all have diving and snorkelling. LionsDive also offers canoeing.
• Travelling as a group or for longer? Sonesta, LionsDive and Scuba Lodge have kitchen-equipped apartments or suites, and Sonesta also has villas.
• At Renaissance Wind Creek, check what the resort fee covers: bike rental, classes and a street art tour are included.
• Free parking is available at every hotel here, so a rental car is easy to manage if you want to explore the island at your own pace.

Frequently asked questions