Willemstad, Curaçao's capital, is known for the coloured facades of Punda and Otrobanda, joined by the swinging Queen Emma pontoon bridge and listed by UNESCO, while the west of the island is a string of small coves and reef dive sites running up to Westpunt. Curaçao governs itself within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and does not belong to the EU, so Roam Like at Home stops at its shores: even a SIM from the Netherlands is billed at its operator's roaming rates.
Key facts for Curaçao
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: police and fire 911; ambulance 912
- Embassies: none; a US consulate general and the Dutch representation are in Willemstad
The Digital Immigration card
Curaçao asks every international visitor for a Digital Immigration card, or DI card, completed online. The official portal says to fill it in within seven days of departure, and your airline checks the confirmation at check-in. If you are only changing planes, you need it only when you check in again with another airline. Official sources differ on how long visitors may stay, and the answer depends on nationality, so confirm it for your own passport, which must remain valid throughout your visit.
Staying safe
The main tourist areas are generally safe, but petty theft, bag snatching and street crime do occur, and there is violent crime connected with the drugs trade. Keep away from deserted spots, beaches included, once it is dark. Because the island lies on a smuggling route, checks are strict when you leave: never let anyone else handle your bags, expect a possible body scan, and know that the Dutch authorities screen passengers and baggage arriving from the Dutch Caribbean.
Registered taxis carry number plates beginning with TX. Most have no meter, so settle the price first, and do not expect Uber-style apps, which do not operate on the island. Hurricane risk is low: storms in the June to November season usually pass well to the north.
Health, money and ID
The largest of the island's three hospitals, Curaçao Medical Center, has the main emergency department and the only intensive care unit. European and UK health cards (EHIC and GHIC) are not accepted, dengue occurs, and you should always have a copy of your passport's photo page on you.
Since 2025 the local currency has been the Caribbean guilder, tied to the US dollar. Dollars are taken everywhere, while euros have to be changed at a bank.
Getting around
Driving is on the right, and unless signs say otherwise, vehicles coming from the right have priority at crossings and roundabouts. A rental car makes the western beaches easy to reach. Aruba and Bonaire can only be reached by air from Curaçao International Airport, since no ferries run between the islands.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up before departure gives you data from the moment you land at Curaçao International Airport. If your trip takes in Aruba or Bonaire, or you are on a Caribbean cruise, a Caribbean plan covers them all; for Curaçao alone, choose a Curaçao plan. Your own SIM can stay in the phone for bank messages, as long as its data roaming is off.
Local SIMs: Digicel sells short-stay tourist plans lasting from a few days to two weeks.
Consular protection: who to call in Curaçao
- Dial 911 for the police or the fire service and 912 for an ambulance; the coastguard is on 913.
- No country has an embassy on the island. Americans can turn to the US consulate general in Willemstad, Dutch nationals to the Representation of the Netherlands, which has its headquarters there, and British nationals to their embassy in The Hague.
- If your own country has no office in Curaçao, find out before departure which of its missions is responsible for the island.
- Papiamentu, Dutch and English are official, and many people also speak Spanish.
Questions travellers ask about Curaçao
Is Curaçao covered by my Dutch tariff?
Not by the EU roaming rules. The island is outside the EU, so unless your plan explicitly includes Curaçao, your operator bills roaming at its own rates.
When should I complete the DI card?
Before you fly. The official portal asks for it within the seven days before departure, and check-in staff will want to see the confirmation.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Curaçao?
It depends on the plan, with 4G where available.
Are euros accepted?
Not in shops. Pay in US dollars or Caribbean guilders and change euros at a bank.
The short version
Complete the DI card before flying, set up the eSIM at home, take registered TX taxis at an agreed price, avoid empty beaches after dark, keep your luggage with you at the airport, and save 911 and 912.
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