Aruba Itinerary: Making the Most of 7 Days in Aruba (+ Tips!)

Are you looking for the best things to do in Aruba (as a first-time visitor)? This guide has you covered! Keep reading!

Aruba is one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands and it is situated far closer to South America than it is to North America – yet it still attracts a plethora of US and Canadian visitors.

This island is renowned for its stunning, pastel buildings as well as its world-class beaches, flamingos, and then some. And, you can see many of these within 7 days in Aruba (but we recommend more, naturally!).

This itinerary will detail how to enjoy a week in Aruba for a first-time visitor.

Did we miss anything on this Aruba itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

About Aruba

Just 15 miles north of Venezuela, the 15-mile-long Dutch Caribbean Island offers beautiful weather for vacationers year-round.

The island offers visitors plenty of white sandy beaches and is one of the Lesser Antilles islands and is known as one of the three ABC islands, with the other two being Bonaire and Curacao.

Many visitors to Aruba either come by way of the weekly cruise shops or one of the 150 weekly flights into the Queen Beatrix International Airport.

A non-stop flight to Aruba from Miami, Florida, USA, will take about 3 hours, while a trip from Amsterdam will take 10½ hours.

To enter Aruba, you will need a valid passport and a completed Embarkation-Disembarkation Card, which can be done online.

How to Get Around Aruba

Rent a Car

The most accessible place to rent a car for either part of or all of your time in Aruba is the Queen Beatrix Airport. 

National companies here include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Thrifty Car Rentals.

Aruba also has several local agencies that often feature lower prices, like Econo Car Rental and Amigo Rent-a-Car.

We recommend booking your car with our trusted partner, Discover Cars. We have used them around the US and around Europe and they will find the best deals for you, and you can even book cheap, full-coverage insurance with them!

>> Click here to check Aruba rental car rates

Explore by Bus

Aruba’s excellent bus service runs Monday – Saturday from 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM, with buses running about every 20 minutes until 6:00 PM, then hourly throughout the remaining part of the evening.

On Sundays and holidays, buses run less frequently, every 30 minutes until 8:00 PM and then every 2 hours until midnight.

Bus fares

• One-way – USD 2.60 or 4.5 Aruban Florin (AWG)
• Round-trip – USD 5.00 or 8.75 AWG
• 1-Day Ticket – USD 10.00 or 17.50 AWG

Alternatively, you can look at your options for getting around by taxi. There is no Lyft or Uber in Aruba, but local taxis have decent fares if you are not traveling too far.

Explore on a Motorcycle, Scooter, or ATV

Many of Aruba’s roads are flat and suitable for moped or motorcycle exploration.

However, if you want to head off-road into the Arikok National Park, you may wish to rent an ATV.

George’s Cycle Center has ATVs for $200-$300, motorcycles for $95, and Scooters for $55 a day.

ScootAruba also offers 1-person electric scooter rentals for $89 a day or $300 a week. HS Rentals Aruba also offers scooters, mopeds, buggies, and ATV rentals.

Where to Stay on this Aruba Road Trip

There are plenty of options for where to stay in Aruba. Here are some of our top picks – taking into consideration every budget!

Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, is located on Aurba’s popular Palm Beach along the northwest coast. The 320-room resort opened in 2013 and features six restaurants, two pools, and a 15,000-square-foot spa.

Upscale: Renaissance Aruba Resort is a modern, beachfront 556-room hotel near the Oranjestad cruise port. The resort features a luxury mall, two casinos, and eight restaurants/bars. The complex has both an adult-only area and a family-friendly area.

The resort also offers a free water shuttle to its private island, Renaissance Island.

Budget: Holiday Inn Resort Aruba is a 590-room hotel with junior suites and standard rooms at the end of Palm Beach.

This resort has five restaurants, complimentary bikes, and an activity center with live entertainment, kid’s activities, and an outdoor pool.

Whole Apartment: Aruba Lagunita offers an apartment within the elegant Mediterranean village. The property has a tropical garden, picnic tables with a BBQ area, and an outdoor pool.

Aruba Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Breakfast at Eduardo’s Hideaway, take a morning tour, afternoon at Eagle Beach, dinner at the Local Store
• Day 2: Breakfast at the Local Store, Fort Zoutman Historical Museum, I Love Aruba sign, Atlantis Submarine, Palm Beach, dinner at Passions on the Beach
• Day 3: Breakfast at Craft, explore the Royal Aruba Aloe Factory and Museum Tour, find an idyllic spot at Boca Prins Beach, dinner on the beach at The West Deck
• Day 4: Breakfast at Garden Fresh, spend the day on Renaissance Aruba’s Private Island, dinner at Cuba’s Cookin’
• Day 5: Explore Oranjestad, explore San Nicolas, afternoon at Boca Grandi or Baby Beach, dinner at Zeerovers
• Day 6: Breakfast at the Bugaloe Beach Bar, De Palm Island, dinner at Hostaria da’Vittorio
• Day 7: Breakfast at MooMba Beach Bar, climb the California Lighthouse, take in the view at the Alto Vista Chapel, explore Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, visit Natural Bridge Aruba, dinner at the Barefoot Restaurant

Day 1

Have Breakfast at Eduardo’s Hideaway

Begin your day with breakfast at Eduardo’s Hideaway. Here you can get a delicious plantain waffle, breakfast taco, acai bowls, and one of Aruba’s best smoothies.

Address: Saliña Cerca 9N, Noord

Take a Morning Tour of Aruba

Head to ABC Tours Aruba and participate in the Aruba Natural Pool and Indian Cave Jeep Safari morning tour.

The 4½ tour begins at 8:30 AM and will take you to Ayo Rock Formations, where you can explore the rocks the Arawak people used before heading to the rugged Arikok National Park.

While in the park, you will stop at the beautiful Natural Pool, where you can cliff jump, snorkel, and safely swim as the crashing waves splash over the rocks.

The Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations offer an excellent lookout point over the island and a terrific place to stroll through the rocks and cacti.

If you need more time to explore this area than the tour allows, return another day since it is free to explore, and there is even free Wi-Fi there to catch up on what is happening at home.

The Natural Pool is not accessible by car, and the location is very remote, which makes visiting the Conchi as part of a tour your best and safest route.

The Arikok National Park is easiest explored on tour due to the ruggedness of the land. While in the park, watch for goats, donkeys, iguanas, and the Aruban rattlesnakes.

If you want to explore the park independently, rent an ATV or 4-wheel drive vehicle. If you want to hike, the flora and fauna are impressive along the 20 miles of trails. 

The Fontein, Guadirikiri, Quadirikiri, and Huliba Caves are worth exploring for spelunkers. The sun streams into the Quyadirikiri Cave, and there are Arawak drawings in the Fontein Cave, both of which are even reachable by car.

The non-resident park fee is $15 for those 18 and older, and admission is free for those younger than 18.

>> Click here to check tours rates and availability

Spend the Afternoon at Eagle Beach

In the afternoon, venture to Eagle Beach, which Trip Advisory’s Traveler’s Choice Awards voted it the #1 best Caribbean beach in 2023.

Eagle Beach is Aruba’s widest beach and offers soft white sand, plenty of parking, water sports, and some shady areas.

Along the beach, you will find two of Aruba’s famous fofoti trees that will surely make it into at least one of your beach photos.

While enjoying the water here at Eagle Beach, look for sea turtles. Eagle Beach is home to four species of turtle nests and the most nests of any of the Aruba beaches.

Have Dinner at the Local Store

Head to the Local Store at Palm Beach for burgers and wings with a local Caribbean twist and a wide selection of craft beers.

Choose between 15 types of wings and some funchi fries, fried polenta with melted gouda cheese on top.

Address: Palm Beach 13A

Day 2

Have Breakfast at the Local Store

Head back to the Local Store for their homemade donut holes, banana toast made with plantain bread, or a s’mores waffle tower.

Explore the Fort Zoutman Historical Museum

Begin your day at Oranjestad’s oldest remaining building, the Fort Zoutman Historical Museum. The fort, built in 1796, protected the cost line for many years.  

Today you can explore the historical collections and see how the 17th-century Arabians cooked at the replica kitchen.

The Willem III Tower, built in 1868, was the public clock and lighthouse before being extinguished in 1963.

Come back to the museum between 6:30 and 8:30 PM each Tuesday for the Bon Bini Festival or Island Welcome Party and celebrate Aruba’s history and culture.

Address: GX97+4P3, Zoutmanstraat, Oranjestad

Photograph the ‘I Love Aruba’ Sign

Grab a quick selfie shot of you in Aruba at the I Love Aruba sign. The sign near the cruise terminal is one of Aruba’s most recognized photo ops.

Go on an Atlantis Submarine

Take a 90-minute underwater adventure on Atlantis Submarines.

The excursion will take you down 140 feet below the turquoise Caribbean waters to see the tropical fish, the Barcadera coral reefs, shipwrecks, and amazing marine life, like turtles and barracudas, all while staying dry.

Trips depart three times daily, 11:00, 12:00, and 1:00. Tickets are $114 for those ten and older and $95 for children 4-9.

Address: L.G. Smith Boulevard 82, Oranjestad

Relax at Palm Beach

An afternoon at Palm Beach will have you enjoying the island’s bluest water and gorgeous white sand.

The one downfall of Palm Beach is that it is usually windy, and sand is known to fly.

Many of the hotels along the beach and Delphi Watersports Aruba have all your watersports rentals and tours covered.

Along the beach, you will find plenty of restaurants, shopping, and even the Old Dutch Windmill near the southern end of the beach.

Stay until sunset since this west-facing beach is a prime place to watch one of the world-famous stunning sunsets.

Enjoy Dinner at Passions On The Beach

Come early, watch the sunset from Passions On The Beach as you dine, then stay late and enjoy a drink or two by the light from the tiki torches once the sun goes down.

Dine at tables in the sand as you listen to the soothing sound of the waves as you enjoy a romantic dinner of seafood, steak, chicken truffle pasta, or an excellent selection of vegan dishes. Try the lemon mango sherbet or the chocolate brownie al a mode for dessert.

One of the most romantic things to do in Aruba, dining at Passions on the Beach, is for the lovebirds or those celebrating a special occasion.

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 252, Noord

Day 3

Have Breakfast at Craft

Begin your day at Palm Beach’s Craft Coffee and Bar’s terrace-café for some Panther Coffee and an açaí bowl, Belgian waffle, or a savory egg skillet.

Since you are on vacation, why not do a breakfast dessert of their mouth-watering deep-fried Oreos?

Cocktails are served throughout the day, and they even have a Brunch Club bottomless bubbles for $20 until 10:00 AM on Sundays.

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 348A, Noord

Explore the Royal Aruba Aloe Factory and Museum Tour

After breakfast, head to Royal Aruba Aloe, where you can visit the Aruba Aloe Museum, where you will learn the history of Aruba Aloe.

During the free tour, you will learn about the benefits of aloe as you walk through the factory, where you will see the aloe cutting room, labs, packing, and storage facilities.

In the on-site store, purchase all-natural sun cream, lotions, gels, and hand sanitizer made from Aruba aloe.

Tours occur every 15 minutes from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. On the weekend, tours begin at 9:00 AM and end at 4:30 PM on Saturday and 12:30 PM on Sunday.

Address: Pitastraat 115

Find an Idyllic Spot on Boca Prins Beach

During the afternoon, test out some of that aloe sun cream from Royal Aruba Aloe at the tiny, secluded Boca Prins Beach on the northeast coast of Aruba next to the Arikok National Park.

The wooden staircase will lead you to the pristine bay and the rugged coastline.

The white sand and rocky shores at Boca Prins are the perfect spot for an afternoon of lazing the day away on the sand since the undertow and currents are too strong for swimming and watersports.

Even though snorkeling is out for the day, explore Aruba’s largest sand dunes and the breathtaking scenery.

Enjoy Dinner on the Beach at The West Deck

Have dinner along the Governor’s Bay at The West Deck, one of Aruba’s top restaurants.

The tables on The West Deck’s wooden deck are beachfront, where you can watch the airplanes take off and land at the Queen Beatrix International Airport or enjoy the sunset views over the ocean at Surfside Beach with a cruise ship in the background.

The menu offers an eclectic array of Caribbean fare, including local fish, BBQ ribs, grilled shrimp, Keshi Yena (meat-filled cheese shell), and fried funchi topped with pulled pork.  

The West Deck is also known for its West Indian samosas and its legendary “Beer-Ritas.”

Address: Lloyd G. Smith Blvd, Oranjestad

Day 4

Start the Day with Breakfast at Garden Fresh

Garden Fresh, located beside Playa Linda Resort along Palm Beach, is the perfect place to get a breakfast made of all fresh and organic ingredients.

Their menu features waffles made with almond flowers, croissants with Nutella, Acai bowls, avocado toast with poached eggs, or fetta cheese. The menu also includes the popular Create Your Own special, where you can create your own wrap, panini, fruit salad, or acai bowl to meet all your dietary needs.

Smoothies and iced coffees are also popular additions to your breakfast.

Whether you order your meal to go, eat inside in their air-conditioned dining room, or outside in the courtyard, you will be satisfied with the freshness and delicious flavors.

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 87, Noord

Spend the Day on Renaissance Aruba’s Private Island

Going to Flamingo Beach to see the flamingos and enjoying the turquoise lagoons is much easier to accomplish if you stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort since is water ferry to the island is part of your room amenities.

However, the pristine sandbar and nature trails are not out of your hands if you are not staying at the luxurious resort.

• You can always purchase a day pass the day before online. A pass that includes transportation and lunch for a maximum of five guests is $130.
• The second way to get a pass is to book a spa treatment, and the ferry ride to the private island is part of your Okeanos Spa treatment.

Once you have a ticket, the island is only an 8-minute boat ride to a day of palm trees, thatched-roof cabanas, pristine sandbars, and beautiful flamingos.

On the island, you will find two private beaches. Flamingo Beach is an adult-only beach perfect for a couple’s romantic getaway. Iguana Beach is family-friendly, where you will surely see iguanas coming out of the bushes throughout the day.

You will also have opportunities to snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, play tennis, laze the day swinging in a hammock, or explore the island’s walking trail.

Food and drinks are available at the Papagayo Bar and Grill and the Mangrove Beach Bar.

Renaissance Island is open daily from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM.

Have Dinner at Cuba’s Cookin’

After a busy or relaxing day on Flamingo and Iguana Beaches, head to Cuba’s Cookin’ in the Renaissance Marketplace for dinner.

Even if you stay on the private island until it closes at 7:00 PM, the intimate Cuba’s Cookin’ restaurant is open until 11:00 PM daily.

Walking in, you will feel like you were transported back to old Havana in 1959 with the wall decorations, collectibles, and retro tables.

Choose a table on the outside terrace where you can dine on mouth-watering Caribbean fish, seafood, and steak before doing some salsa dancing on the dance floor.

After dancing, you will be hungry for the 3 Milk Pound Cake or the Taster’s Trio (your choice of three desserts).

Address: Lloyd G. Smith Blvd 9, Oranjestad

Day 5

Explore Oranjestad

This morning, take time to explore Oranjestad’s shops and artwork.

Begin by taking the free tourist trolly from the cruise terminal souvenir stalls.

The trolleys begin at 10:00 AM and continue every 25 minutes. You will see Fort Zoutman, the Archaeological Museum, the House of Parliament, and Huisje Wild along the route loop.

The tram makes six stops along the way, so feel free to hop off, explore, and then hop back on the next trolly.

Explore the luxury Renaissance Mall. Here you will find apparel, jewelry, and perfume store such as Gucci, Michael Kors, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Kate Spade.

This mall is a shopper’s paradise and is open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.

Discover San Nicolas

On your way to San Nicolas and Baby Beach or Boca Grandi, in southeast Aruba, stop at the huge Red Anchor for a photo op.

The Red Anchor is a memorial for all the seamen lost at sea.

Then spend about 30 minutes marveling at all the street art along a five-block area around Main Street. 

Along the street, you will see cacti and seashell angel wing sculptures, two-story flamingos, the 3-d iguana clinging to the side of a building, colorful carnival-like faces, and all the fantastic artwork left from the 2016 Aruba Art Fair.

If you get tired and need a break, sit on the beautiful mosaic benches around town.  

The Aruba Art Fair is now a yearly event. Check out the detail for the next fair.

Choose Between an Afternoon at Boca Grandi or Baby Beach

Go kite surfing at Boca Grandi Beach or laze the day away at Baby Beach, just minutes from San Nicolas.

Boca Grandi is a long white sandy beach where all the kite surfers and spectators hang out. 

The surf and undertow are strong here, so no swimming, but the array of driftwood is quite interesting.

Baby Beach is at the southern tip of Aruba and offers bath-like water in a protected bay. This beach has a long, shallow sandbar perfect for sitting in the water, allowing it to wash over you.

Have Dinner at Zeerovers

Zeerovers, on the Savaneta Wharf, is the perfect place to stop for a casual dinner when you return from San Nicolas.

The restaurant is on the water and serves the freshest Aruba seafood; it is literally right off the boat.

As you walk in, place your order from the menu on the wall for a massive bucket of prawns of flash deep-fried fish and fries or the “Catch of the Day.”

If you are not sure how much to order, ask to see the bag sizes. For a side, try the delicious red onion salsa.

Choose between eating under the roof or on the pier at the picnic tables and benches and watch the day’s catch brought to shore. Be prepared to eat with your fingers, although forks are available.

Notes:

• Closed Mondays
• Cash only (USD or Aruban florins)

Address: Savaneta 270, Savaneta

Day 6

Have Breakfast at the Bugaloe Beach Bar

Begin your day at the Bugaloe Beach Bar on the water at Palm Beach with a fresh fruit smoothie and an American or Caribbean breakfast platter.

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 79, Noord

Day Trip to De Palm Island

Take a day trip to De Palm Island and enjoy an action-packed day of fun in the sun.

The island has beachfront cabanas to relax in, banana boat rides, giant waterslides, and a chance to do some snorkeling or SNUBA.

The great thing about De Palm Island is that your admission fee includes almost all of the activities on the island, along with food and drinks from the island restaurants.

Looking for flamingos, De Palm Island is home to a dozen light pink Chilean Flamingos.

De Palm Island ticket prices:

• With round-trip bus transportation from the hotel to the ferry – $129 – Ages 10+, $109 – for children 3-9, and children 2 and younger are free.
• No bus transportation – $119 – Ages 10+, $104 – children 3 – 9, children 2 and younger are free. 

Have Dinner at Hostaria da’Vittorio

When you are looking for a change of menu from Caribbean and seafood, Hostaria da’Vittorio is just the place. As you enter the doors of Hostaria da’Vittorio, you will feel like you are in Italy.

Master Chef Vittorio Muscariello offers authentic Italian dishes that include linguine dello Scoglio, Nodino di Vitello Alla Parmigiana, and an always-changing “chef’s recommended” menu.

Begin your meal with the creamy Burrata, and don’t forget to get the tiramisu for dessert.

If you enjoy watching the chef prepare dishes, sit in the main dining room with the open kitchen. You can also enjoy the Caribbean weather and sit on the Piazza or on the glass-enclosed porch.

Address: L.G. Smith Blvd 380, Noord

Day 7

Breakfast at MooMba Beach Bar

MooMba Beach Bar and Restaurant at Palm Beach offers great views from every seat in their outdoor seating area.

The breakfast buffet is served daily from 8:00 – 11:00 AM and offers omelets your way, fresh fruit, pancakes, bacon, sausage, cereal, bread, and much more.

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 230, Noord

Climb the California Lighthouse

A trip to Aruba wouldn’t be complete without climbing the 119 steps to the top of the white California Lighthouse.

From the top of the 98-foot lighthouse, the island’s highest structure, you have an incredible 360-degree view of the island from the observation deck.

Take in the View at the Alto Vista Chapel

Visit the Alto Vista neighborhood in Noord, where you will find the Our Lady of Alto Vista or the Alto Vista Chapel and a beautiful view. The yellow chapel with amphitheater-style seating was built in 1750 by Spanish missionaries.

On Tuesdays from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, the chapel is open, and at 5:30 PM, a 35-minute Roman Catholic service is held each week for anyone who wants to attend.

Beside the chapel, you will find the Peace Labyrinth, where you can walk and meditate.

Explore the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins

From 1824 through 1916, Aruba produced over 3 million pounds of gold on the island. Today what remains is the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, which once was a gold production facility. 

Today you can walk around the remains of the building and enjoy the marvelous views.  

Across the road, you will also find a variety of rock cairns.

Visit the Natural Bridge in Aruba

Continuing along Aruba’s rugged northern shore, you will see a variety of large and small natural bridges that the pounding waves and relentless winds have slowly created.  

You can walk across the Baby Bridge, enjoy the landscape, and explore the souvenir shop and snack bar at the Natural Bridge Aruba site.

The larger natural bridge, which was 25 feet high and 100 feet long, that this site was named after, collapsed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. You can still see the remains of the larger bridge.

Head to the Barefoot Restaurant for Dinner

In 2010 the fine dining establishment Barefoot Restaurant opened at Oranjestad’s Surfside Beach.

At this beautiful restaurant, you can enjoy a meal by candlelight under the palapa palm trees while digging your toes in the sand and looking out on the Caribbean Sea.

The garlic shrimp is a must for dinner, but if you want something different, they also have tenderloin and truffle, forest mushroom risotto, and a wide variety of fish.

Address: L.G. Smith Boulevard 1, Oranjestad

Have More Than 7 Days in Aruba?

If you have more than 7 days in Aruba… lucky you! There is still a lot more of the island to explore!

Here are a few additional things you can do to occupy your time, including a couple of worthwhile tours!

• Explore the island aboard the Kukoo Kunuku Party Bus
• Go on a dolphin snorkeling cruise
• Shop The Village Mall at Palm Beach
• Take a sunset cruise
• Explore the Arikok National Park on horseback

Did we miss anything that is a ‘must’ to include on this Aruba itinerary? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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