For many tourists, the first glimpse of Oranjestad is along the busy palm-fringed thoroughfare of L.G. Smith Boulevard , the island's main artery connecting the capital with the hotel district and the northwest and with San Nicholas in the southeast. Running parallel to the harbour, the downtown stretch of the road is lined with shopping malls, boutiques, casinos, government offices and parliament buildings. Unless you plan to shop 'til you drop or while away the hours gambling, the city's sights won't occupy too much of your time. There are, however, a number of interesting cultural attractions, best explored, like the city itself, on foot, as everything you'll want to see is concentrated in a small area.

The picturesque harbour is a good place to begin your wanderings. Starting from the white tourist information booth adjacent to the Atlantis Pier, head east on L.G. Smith Boulevard. Turning left onto Oranjestraat, you'll reach the beautifully preserved Fort Zoutman , the oldest building on the island and perhaps the town's most important landmark. The fort was built in 1796 and played a vital role in securing Dutch interests on the island. Armed with four cannons, it was originally sited along the coast; centuries of shifting currents have changed the coastline so that today the fort now sits some 300m away from the water. The adjoining Willem III Tower was added in 1868 to serve as a lighthouse and the town's first public clock. The fort houses a small historical museum (Mon-Fri 9am-noon & 1.30-4.30pm; US$1.15) displaying an interesting collection of artefacts that trace Aruba's history. Its open-air courtyard also hosts the weekly folkloric Bon Bini Festival (Tues 6.30-8.30pm; US$3), which features traditional music and dance, and is the best place to try local dishes.

One block east of the fort, on Zuidstraat 27, is the fascinating Numismatic Museum (Mon-Fri 7.30am-noon & 1-4pm; free), home to over 30,000 historical coins from Aruba and around the world dating back to 220 BC. Some of the many highlights include a display of Aruban Indian shells used for barter, beads used as money by North American Indians and bills made of silk and linen.

At the north end of the city the tiny Archeological Museum , J.E. Irausquin Blvd 2-A (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-4pm; free), has an impressive array of local artefacts and pottery. The most important exhibits include stone tools from 2000 BC, pottery from the ceramic period (500 AD) and the skeletal remains excavated from an Indian burial site.

Back near the harbour, around the corner from the Seaport Casino, is the quiet Wilhelmina Park , honouring the 1955 visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, a white marble statue of whom dominates the plaza. The park is especially striking when tropical plants are in bloom between June and October. Benches set amongst the shady grove of trees makes this an ideal place to rest after sightseeing or a long day of shopping.