Queen Emma Bridge

Built in 1888, Queen Emma Bridge is a stop on many of the walking tours of the city’s historic quarter. With the colorful buildings that line the waterfront, it offers one of the best backdrops in Willemstad. Locals and visitors alike fill the cafes and restaurants on either side of the bridge in the evening, while the bridge itself is illuminated by sparkling lights. You’ll find Rif Fort (a popular outdoor pavilion for shops and restaurants) a 5-minute walk away, while the impactful Kura Hulanda Museum is a 5-minute walk in the other direction.

• Don’t forget your sunscreen—Curacao gets more than eight hours of sun a day on average, and the bridge is uncovered.
• The bridge swings open and closed to allow marine traffic to the bay—but don’t worry, the process only takes a few minutes.
• Be sure to bring cash if you want to shop from street vendors. While most hotels and restaurants take cards, informal merchants are less likely to do so.

The pedestrian-only Queen Emma Bridge connects two of Willemstad’s most popular neighborhoods, so the bridge is hard to avoid. Punda is east of the bridge, while Otrobanda is to the west, and it’s located a short walk away from many of Willemstad’s main attractions, including the Old Market, Rif Fort, and Kura Hulanda Museum.

Queen Emma Bridge is beautiful at all times of the day, but it’s best to avoid the middle of the afternoon, when the sun is high and temperatures peak. Instead, opt for the morning when the softer light produces better photographs, or in the evening when the cafes and restaurants start to fill with life.

While the bridge is open, a free ferry service runs between Punda and Otrobanda. If you want a unique view of the bridge, wait until a boat is entering the harbor so you can enjoy a short boat ride across.