Shopping Curacao

Curaçao has been an important trading center for many centuries. It will not surprise you that in the stores you will find quality products from around the world. When it comes to shopping, there is no city quite like Willemstad. While bargain hunting in beautiful centuries-old buildings, sea-going ships sail so close through the canal that separates the city in two, you can almost touch them.

Punda is the commercial center of the city with several expensive boutiques selling fashionable designer clothing, perfumes, imported linen and expensive jewelry. Many small stores sell electronics, souvenirs and cheaper clothing. Heerenstraat and Madurostraat are pedestrian-only shopping streets. The main shopping street in Otrobanda, Breedestraat/Roodeweg, is especially crowded on Saturday mornings.

Shopping malls Curacao

If you are lucky, during your visit to Curaçao there will be a street market or, during a holiday, a flea market. When large cruise ships are in port, market traders in Punda organize a festive Bon Biní (Welcome). In several squares and in the circular market, vendors try to sell colorful paintings and carvings from the Caribbean islands. The most popular small shopping centers outside the city center are: Bloempot, Saliña Galleries, Promenade and Shopping Center 77 on the Jan Noorduynweg. The Free Trade Zone, adjacent to the seaport, sells large quantities of electronics and low-priced clothing wholesale.

Store opening hours vary, but generally they are open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. On public holidays, stores and banks are closed. When large cruise ships are in port, stores in Willemstad are sometimes open on Sundays as well. Most stores accept U.S. dollars, international credit cards and some also accept debit card payments; prices are fixed and there is usually no exchange. Clerks are generally fluent in Dutch. Many stores have air conditioning.