Best places to stay in Aruba
- The Local
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Wondering where to stay in Aruba? From Palm Beach’s nightlife to San Nicolas’ street art, here’s how to pick the perfect base for your island trip.
Where should you stay in Aruba?
Aruba may be small, but it feels bigger once you’re here. Every neighborhood has its own rhythm. Some hum with casinos and cocktail bars until 2 a.m., while others quiet down by sunset, leaving you with nothing but the sound of waves against the shore. Where you stay shapes your whole trip, so let’s find the corner of the island that fits your style.
Palm Beach: best for nightlife & convenience
Palm Beach is Aruba’s glossy postcard, and the stretch you’ve probably seen on Instagram and travel websites. Resorts tower over white sand, beach bars spill music into the night, and the smell of sunscreen mingles with freshly grilled seafood.
It’s busy and buzzing, with shopping malls, casinos, and restaurants stacked back to back. Everything you need is within a short walk, but the crowds mean you won’t exactly have the beach to yourself.
Stay here if you want Aruba at full volume.
Hotels to look at: Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Playa Linda.
Eagle Beach and Manchebo: best for relaxation
Drive a few minutes south and the energy changes. Eagle Beach and Manchebo are quieter, flatter, more open. The sand stretches wide, framed by those famous fofoti trees bent toward the water like they’re permanently mid-sway.
Here, mornings start with calm swims and evenings end with pink sunsets that feel like they belong only to you. The resorts are low-rise, the pace is slower, and the beach is often ranked among the world’s best for a reason.
If your ideal holiday includes naps under an umbrella and long, barefoot walks with no soundtrack but the surf, this is your place.
Oranjestad: best for culture & shopping
In the capital, the island’s Dutch roots meet Caribbean flair. Pastel-colored buildings line the streets, balconies draped in flowers overlook bustling markets, and the smell of fried pastechis (local pastries) float out from bakeries.
By day, the city fills with cruise passengers hunting souvenirs. By night, it’s quieter, with locals spilling onto patios for dinner. You won’t find beaches right in the center, but if you a lively city feel, Oranjestad delivers.
Options range from boutique hotels tucked above shops to budget guesthouses.
Noord: best for long-term stays
In Noord, the resort shine fades and the island feels more lived-in. Villas and Airbnbs sit along quiet residential streets where you’ll hear roosters in the morning and neighbors chatting as the day winds down.
It’s close enough to Palm and Eagle Beach for daily swims, but without the high-rise price tag. You’ll need a car, and nights are calm rather than lively, but that’s exactly why people settle in here - especially digital nomads and families on extended stays.
San Nicolas: best for local life & art
Drive south until the road thins out and you’ll reach San Nicolas. San Nicolas is more rough around the edges than Noord, but it's a place full of culture and history (and seriously delicious food). Stunning murals climb across walls in every shade imaginable, and it's your gateway to Baby Beach; shallow, sparkling stretches that locals treasure.
This isn’t resort territory. You’ll find small guesthouses and family-run B&Bs, and prices are easier on the wallet. If you're feeling adventurous and you're looking to immerse yourself in Aruba's culture, then San Nicolas is the place to be.
Savaneta & Paradera: best for peace & nature
For travelers who want Aruba to feel like their private retreat, these areas deliver. Savaneta is an area where you can have dinner with your feet in the sand, the waves lapping just below your table. Paradera, tucked inland, is greener, quieter, and central enough to explore in every direction.
The trade-off is fewer hotels and the absolute need for a car, but if your dream is to wake up to silence broken only by birdsong or ocean, it’s worth it.
Final thoughts
Aruba may be compact, but its neighborhoods each tell a different story. Palm Beach is for the nightlife crowd, Eagle Beach is for slow mornings and long swims, Oranjestad is for culture hunters, Noord works for longer stays, San Nicolas pulls you into local life, and Savaneta and Paradera are where you go to disappear for a while.
Pick the one that matches your style, and you’ll find the island feels made for you.
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