Just after sunrise, fishermen at the local pier haul in the morning’s catch while pelicans wait on the posts and the first walkers pad along the sand. By evening the same beach turns tangerine, and tables go out onto the sand for candle-lit, barefoot dinners. Palm Beach is the resort strip of Aruba’s Noord district, a place for beach days, boat trips and easygoing nights, suited to couples, families and anyone who wants the sea at the door.
What are the best things to do in Palm Beach?
The best things to do in Palm Beach start with the water: a long beach walk at dawn, a swim or snorkel in the calm shallows, a sunset sail, and a slow dinner with your toes in the sand. After that come the small sidetrips to the beaches and wetlands just up the coast.
The strip is compact, so a day here rarely needs planning. You can pass from sand to beach bar to pier to shop without much more than a stroll, and the evenings reward lingering.
- Walk the beach at dawn or sunset, when the light is soft and the sand is nearly empty.
- Swim and snorkel in the calm water off the resorts, where the sea is comfortable for a long float.
- Take a sunset sail on a catamaran, with the sky turning pink, purple and orange.
- Go parasailing a few hundred yards offshore for a bird’s-eye view of the island.
- Snorkel at Malmok and Arashi, just up the coast, where the water is clear and shallow.
- Eat on the sand at a beach bar such as Moomba, or beside the fishermen’s pier at Hadicurari.
- Visit the Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary and the church of Santa Ana in neighboring Noord.
- Watch the windsurfers and kite boarders at Fisherman’s Huts when you want a different kind of beach.
A good rhythm is to keep mornings for the water, when the beach is quiet and the sea feels freshest. Midday suits shade, a long lunch or the pool. Late afternoon is for a boat or a stroll toward the pier, and the evening takes care of itself with food, music and the sunset. The sections below go through each of these in detail, from the landmarks around Noord to the dishes worth ordering and the evenings along the strip.
Sights and landmarks in Palm Beach
Palm Beach is more a coast than a museum town, so its landmarks are the beach itself, the fishermen’s pier and the high-rise resorts that give the skyline its shape. It is the epicenter of tourism on the island, and the sights nearby are quiet ones: a wetland, a church, a wreck you can look for from the water.
The beach strip and the fishermen’s pier
The beach runs for two miles along the northwest of Aruba, a long band of soft white sand backed by palms, hotels, casinos, piers, beach bars, restaurants and shops. Walking its length is a sight in itself. You pass the glass towers of the big resorts, then the umbrellas and the water sports huts, then quieter stretches where the sand opens out.
The local fishermen’s pier is the most human corner of the strip. Boats come and go, the catch is cleaned on the spot and pelicans hang around for scraps. Hadicurari restaurant sits right beside it, so you can watch the work and then eat fish nearby. Early morning is the best moment, before the beach chairs fill.
Santa Ana Church in Noord
The Roman Catholic church of Santa Ana in Noord dates from 1776 and was rebuilt in 1831, 1886 and 1916, which makes it a living record of the northern settlement long before the resorts arrived. Its altar is the draw inside: solid oak, hand carved, in the neo-gothic style, a surprising piece of craft in a district best known for sunbathing.
Go for the contrast. After mornings among bikinis and beach towels, a quiet church interior gives you a sense of the island’s older, Catholic rhythm. Dress modestly if you step inside, and treat it as a place of worship rather than a photo stop.
Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary
Noord includes the protected wetlands of the Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary, a patch of shallow water and reeds where the dry, scrubby island suddenly turns green. Migratory and resident birds use the pools, and the place is a calm counterpoint to the busy beach only a short way off.
It suits early risers and anyone with binoculars, since birds are most active in the cooler first hours. Bring a hat for the sun. You come for stillness and the sight of waders against a backdrop of cacti and low hills.
The sunken ship off the north end
There is a sunken ship off the north end of Palm Beach, a landmark you meet from the water rather than the shore. Reefs and wrecks nearby also draw divers, and the wreck often figures in the talk of snorkelers and boat crews along this coast. If wrecks interest you, sailing and snorkel cruises along this stretch are the natural way to approach it, and the seascape rewards patience more than speed.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Palm Beach
Palm Beach itself is the headline beach, with white sand and calm water that feels comfortable for swimmers and snorkelers. It is a place for floating, walking and watching the day change. Beyond it, the coast runs north toward quieter sand and clearer snorkeling.
Palm Beach: swimming, floating and watersports
The water off Palm Beach is calm, which suits swimmers and people who simply like to float with a drink nearby. White sand slopes down in front of the hotels, and between the resorts you find water sports concessions offering parasailing, sailing and other activities. Dawn and sunset walks along the waterline are the quiet pleasures of the place.
Hobie Cats can be rented by those who want to test their own sailing, and some operators give sailing lessons. Keep the middle of the day for shade, as the sun on white sand is strong, and return to the water when the light softens.
Malmok Beach
Just up the coast, Malmok is a narrow sandy stretch laid along a limestone and rocky terrace. Its water is described as crystal clear and among the best on the island, and the shallow Caribbean water makes it a popular snorkeling spot. Catamarans and sailboats stop just off the shoreline for daytime snorkeling.
The beach is slim and rugged rather than groomed, so it feels wilder than the resort sand. Reefs and sunken wrecks nearby afford excellent diving for certified divers. Go in the morning when the water is clearest and the boats have yet to arrive.
Arashi Beach
Arashi lies on the northern tip of the island, just beyond Malmok and on the road to the California Lighthouse. It is a white-sand beach with calm, clear, gentle water, and it offers a beach bar, shaded huts and chair rentals. Access is by car with parking, and public transport also serves it.
It is a good place for a slower day than on the main strip, with a book, a snorkel and a cold drink. The huts give shade when you have had enough sun. Pair it with the lighthouse drive for the northwest corner of the island.
Wind, birds and other outdoor stops
Fisherman’s Huts, in the Noord area, is a windsurfing and kite boarding mecca, where colorful sails skim across the water and spectators watch from the sand. Boca Catalina and Arashi are named as spectacular snorkeling spots, and the sanctuary at Bubali Plas offers a green and birdy break.
These are best treated as short outings from your base on the strip. Combine a morning snorkel with a lunch stop, or a windsurfing watch with an afternoon back at the pool.
Island tours and excursions in Palm Beach
The excursions from Palm Beach are mostly on the water. The beach harbors over a dozen catamarans and sailboats offering cruises, and the speedboats for parasailing leave from the same shore. A few land outings in Noord and along the north coast fill out the picture.
Sunset and snorkel cruises
Sailing excursions come in several flavors: snorkel cruises, sunset sails, booze cruises and dinner cruises. A sunset cruise lets you watch the sun go down with the sky turning pink, purple and orange, while the resort towers fade into silhouette behind you. Daytime snorkel trips head for the reefs and the wreck along the coast.
A sunset sail suits couples, friends and anyone who likes to be on deck with a drink. The snorkel cruise suits those who prefer an active day. Dinner cruises combine the two, with a meal as the light changes. Choose by mood, since the boats differ in style.
Parasailing over Palm Beach
Parasailing here takes place along the scenic coast of Palm Beach. A speedboat takes you a few hundred yards from the shore before you are launched, and from high up you can see Hooiberg, the California Lighthouse and the white sand beaches of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. The flight gives you the shape of the island at a glance.
It is considered among the best in the Caribbean and is enjoyed by guests from all over the world. Featured activities include Aruba Private Charters, Aruba Bob Snorkel & Scuba and De Palm Pleasure. It suits anyone curious to see the coast from above without a plane or a helicopter.
The north coast: Malmok, Arashi and the lighthouse
Heading north from Palm Beach, the road passes Malmok and then Arashi on the way to the California Lighthouse at the northwest tip. This is a morning or afternoon outing that mixes snorkeling stops with a look at the rugged edge of the island.
Take your swimsuit and a towel, and plan the snorkeling for the early hours when the light is clear. The lighthouse makes a fitting end to the drive, and the scenery changes from resort polish to open, windswept scrub.
Noord by car or bus
Noord is reached by driving Route 1 north, or by taking Arubus routes 7A, 7B, 10A, 10B or 10C. Palm Beach lies seven miles from Queen Beatrix Airport, which puts the airport and the resort strip within one short island hop. In Noord itself, the church of Santa Ana and the Bubali Plas wetlands fill a relaxed half day.
Fisherman’s Huts, with its windsurfers and kite boarders, makes a fine addition when the wind is up. The district’s name means north in Dutch, and it covers the northern reaches of the island.
What to eat in Palm Beach
Eating in Palm Beach means fresh fish, long dinners on the sand and a mix of cooking traditions that came together on a small island. The home cooking of Aruba was shaped by Amerindians, European colonial settlers, African slaves, merchants and Eastern and Asian immigrants, and you can taste that blend in the dishes.
Seafood and the island’s old staples
The first people on Aruba were the Caquetio natives, originally from South America, whose meals consisted of freshly caught fish and conch, and both are still found on today’s menus. Order whatever came off the boats that morning, grilled simply or served in a stew with island spices. Conch, when it appears, usually arrives in a rich, peppery preparation.
Near the fishermen’s pier, Hadicurari restaurant offers fresh seafood, pizzas and pasta, and also a vegan menu, so a table of mixed tastes can eat well together. Sitting beside the working pier adds a sense of where the fish comes from.
Beach bars and breakfast
Moomba Beach Bar & Restaurant stands between the Marriott and Holiday Inn hotels on Palm Beach. Its open-air restaurant serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, which means you can start the day with the sea in view and the sand a few steps away.
Beach bars along the strip turn from breakfast spots into lunch counters and evening hangouts as the day moves on. A cold drink and a plate of something fried or grilled, eaten with sand on your feet, is the classic midday meal here.
Candle-lit dinners and island flavors
Dinner is the high point. Tables are set on the beach for candle-lit, barefoot dining as the tangerine sunset fades, and the setting does half the work. Keshi yena, a baked cheese-filled dish, and pastechi, the crisp little pastry turnovers, are the Aruban flavors to look for beside the more international menus of the resort strip.
Each October the culinary event Autentico celebrates the island’s fusion of flavors and authentic food, so a stay in that month may overlap with tastings and special menus. Ask at your restaurant what the kitchen is proudest of, and let the local dishes lead.
Things to do in Palm Beach at night
Evenings in Palm Beach are lively yet laid-back, a stretch of local dining and nightlife where people stroll between restaurants, bars and casinos in light clothes. The mood is relaxed, with music from beach bars and the hum of conversation over dinner.
Sunset first, then dinner
The night begins with the sunset. Walk down to the water an hour before dark and watch the sky turn from gold to tangerine, then pink and purple. Many people take a drink along the sand, or book a sunset sail for the full view from the water.
After dark, tables on the beach glow with candles and the surf goes quiet. A barefoot dinner is the signature evening, slow and unhurried, with the lights of the resorts glittering along the shore.
Live music and beach bars
Moomba Beach Bar & Restaurant features live bands and deejays several nights a week, so it is a natural stop when you want music with your sea breeze. The setting is open-air, with the sand at your feet and the water just beyond.
Other beach bars along the strip offer their own mood, from quiet cocktails to livelier crowds. Wander and listen, and stay where the sound suits you.
Casinos and quieter evenings
Casinos sit among the high-rise resorts, and the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino is among them, just a few steps from the beach, dining, shopping and nightlife. They give you a bright, air-conditioned alternative if you want slot machines and tables after dinner.
For a quieter night, walk the shore after dinner, sit on a resort terrace or watch the lights of boats out on the water. The strip stays easygoing, and the pace is yours.
Things to do in Palm Beach with kids
Children in Palm Beach spend most of their time in and beside the water, with a beach of white sand and calm water that the resorts are built around. The strip is made for families, and a few resorts add their own programs.
Beach days and shallow play
The calm water makes Palm Beach comfortable for swimmers and floaters, and young children can paddle and build in the sand while adults sit under an umbrella. Walks at dawn and sunset are gentler for little legs than the midday hours, and the light is lovely for photographs.
Sun on white sand is strong, so plan shade breaks and keep a hat and water within reach. Stay close to children in the sea, as with any beach.
Family-friendly resorts
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino offers family rooms and a kids club for families traveling with little kids, while its spa, fitness center and casino are for guests old enough to use them. It sits just a few steps from Palm Beach, dining, shopping and nightlife.
Playa Linda Beach Resort can house a group of 8 people in one room, which suits big families and groups traveling together. Palm Beach is home to the high-rise resorts, so staying here puts the beach and restaurants within reach.
Boats, birds and wind
A catamaran or sailboat outing gives children a day on the water, with snorkeling stops on the daytime trips. Watching the pelicans at the fishermen’s pier is a free show, and the Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary offers a quiet nature stop for curious young eyes.
At Fisherman’s Huts, windsurfers and kite boarders make a colorful spectacle from the sand. Older children may enjoy the watersports concessions, where activities are on offer along the beach.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Aruba Level 1, ‘Exercise normal precautions,’ and says Aruba is generally a safe destination for travelers, with petty crime the main concern in popular tourist areas.
Palm Beach lies on the northern side of Aruba, seven miles from the airport by road, and its strip is easy to cover on foot. Arubus routes and Route 1 link it to the rest of Noord. The best time to visit Aruba in general runs from February to August, while the peak season falls from December to April.
Sources
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Palm Beach (https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/palm-beach), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Noord region (https://www.aruba.com/us/our-island/regions/noord), checked October 9, 2026
- Wikivoyage, Palm Beach (Aruba) travel guide (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Palm_Beach_(Aruba)), checked October 9, 2026
- Wikivoyage, Noord (Aruba) travel guide (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Noord), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Malmok Beach (https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/malmok-beach), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Arashi Beach (https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/arashi-beach), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority blog, Beach bars and restaurants (https://www.aruba.com/us/blog/aruba-bars-restaurants-on-the-beach), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Sailing (https://www.aruba.com/us/things-to-do/on-the-water/sailing), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Parasailing (https://www.aruba.com/us/things-to-do/on-the-water/parasailing), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority blog, Palm Beach family resorts (https://www.aruba.com/us/blog/palm-beach-family-resorts-in-aruba), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Local Aruba cuisine (https://www.aruba.com/us/things-to-do/dining/local-aruba-cuisine), checked October 9, 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authority, Best time to visit (https://www.aruba.com/us/our-island/one-happy-island/when-is-the-best-time-to-visit-aruba), checked October 9, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Aruba Travel Advisory, Level 1, issued August 19, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.abw.html), checked October 9, 2026