Willemstad, Curacao - Otrobanda, Punda, and the Queen Emma Bridge
Blog Post - November 11, 2022
Willemstad, Curacao has two really cool neighborhoods called Punda and Otrobanda, which are connected by a floating bridge called the Queen Emma Bridge.
This blog post will take you on a tour of all three and shows you where you can park for free.
This is the view of Punda, which is on the south side of the Queen Emma Bridge.
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/72b03c7-d0f5-e6a6-eca7-fde75aa307a_2_1080.jpg)
We parked on the Otrobanda side in a free parking garage.
![Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/8d2d1-533b-e60d-8377-e67d85bc8_3_1080.jpg)
![Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/b84120-6584-06f8-06c1-c23275b5dd4_4_1080.jpg)
We parked at the Renaissance Parking lot on the Otrobanda side. This parking lot is free.
![Renaissance Parking Lot, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/37852c3-b231-2ac-d8fa-5226575caa5_5_1080.jpg)
![Renaissance Parking Lot, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/67ae31-c564-1fa8-b60f-4cd6bf666c52_6_1080.jpg)
From the parking lot, you'll walk over to Rif Fort. This old fort has been converted to a shopping center. You'll walk through the tunnel and to the other side.
![Rif Fort, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/83e2f1-6ec-eb7f-eef0-325cd2ca0c1_7_1080.jpg)
![Rif Fort, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/c6726e4-0e51-63da-04c0-b288eeff81_8_1080.jpg)
On the other side, you can climb up the stairs and look out the fort window to see Punda on the other side of the Queen Emma Bridge.
![Rif Fort, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/b2e8df-54d-b768-00ef-016c431712_9_1080.jpg)
![Rif Fort, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/7c2bdf-6b6c-cb4e-1d-32ff71b03f7_10_1080.jpg)
This is an aerial view of Rif Fort.
![Rif Fort, Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/f83f71-c055-74b-1d55-efdd614fed_11_1080.jpg)
We walked up the sidewalk to the floating bridge. The Queen Emma Bridge was made so it can float open when boats need to come through.
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/d62b737-072a-b345-3ee7-53481bc3f1d_12_1080.jpg)
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/5c06367-ee5c-8f30-be7-06c284426ed_13_1080.jpg)
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/50567f-6833-08f3-ff88-ca5a2c36007_14_1080.jpg)
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/228f2b6-65b0-c284-ce5b-ef4c764ce61d_15_1080.jpg)
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/cab0d47-7866-3a72-0a17-60284aa3beae_16_1080.jpg)
![Queen Emma Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/520fa61-8c8-c2d4-eeb-42df0cb606f8_17_1080.jpg)
Once we crossed the bridge over to the Punda side, we saw these really cool Punda Love Hearts. They are covered with locks.
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/1614731-5016-51f-d472-faf554820e6_18_1080.jpg)
Once we walked over to the Punda side, the bridge started to open for a boat. This is what it looked like:
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/ec7cd66-e3f-fdd-3656-c2b8ea656fbf_19_1080.jpg)
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/6b3ed84-781c-1270-f8f-232745705402_20_1080.jpg)
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/56f1ac4-40b8-6cb-da8a-6cb4cfd845b_21_1080.jpg)
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/8ce21ca-3c88-daaf-50b6-6576ee3072ce_23_1080.jpg)
We loved the old Dutch architecture in Punda.
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/0f2a8e-fbe2-815-a432-a83587e67dab_24_1080.jpg)
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/625163-a404-acc8-aeb3-efd2cefe5f8e_26_1080.jpg)
We walked down the road to the Curacao and Dushi signs to take some pics.
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/51dc5d7-dd01-cef7-2ed3-af5fbfc602df_27_1080.jpg)
In Curacao, the word Dushi means something sweet or good.
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/4f5e04d-258-e70b-58dd-1f64d0cda57e_28_1080.jpg)
![Punda, Willemstad, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/b2f6a-726e-1a6-c1f-328dd7eabc_29_1080.jpg)
We had a great time exploring Punda, Otrobanda and walking across the Queen Emma Bridge. We highly recommend visiting these neighborhoods in Willemstad on your next trip to Curacao.
MAPS:
PRICING:
The parking is free. We parked at the Renaissance Parking Lot in Otrobanda.
Total Cost: $0
![Renaissance Parking Lot, Otrobanda, Curacao](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/themes/2148220110/settings_images/7e531e0-1a1-701c-a0e2-56d3ae5ac8fc_e967bdea-0e9c-4457-adde-6c683bca95c2.jpg)
CHECKLIST:
These are the checklist items I recommend:
- Bring a hat to keep the sun off of your face.
- Bring sunscreen
- Bring some cash for shopping and eating