Discover San Nicolas from several perspectives: through its community history, Aruba’s history, murals and a monthly market. Each offering has a different focus. Museums turn the spotlight on community and history, while art tours center on murals and the market brings together local art, produce and entertainment. You can choose what to focus on during your visit based on your interests.
Museums and History
The San Nicolas Community Museum is housed in the restored Nicolaas Store, a landmark in the center of San Nicolas. Its exhibition is dedicated to authentic aspects of the San Nicolas community. The building and exhibition therefore offer two different ways to explore the town: its historic architecture and the life of the community as an exhibition theme.
In the San Nicolas Water Tower, the Museum of Industry presents the history of gold, aloe, phosphate, oil and tourism in Aruba. Detailed exhibits and multimedia installations showcase these subjects. Compared with the Community Museum, the focus here shifts from the San Nicolas community to themes from Aruba’s history.
A historic episode connects San Nicolas with migration and the Lago oil refinery: a large parade celebrated the Allied victory in World War II. It was attended mainly by English-speaking Caribbean immigrants who had come to Aruba to work at the refinery. The parade adds a social context from the town’s history to the museums’ subject matter.
Murals and the Art District
ArtisA (Art is Aruba) organizes the Aruba Art Fair and was among the pioneers who helped develop San Nicolas into the art district it is today. Murals created for the Aruba Art Fair in recent years are the focus of Aruba Mural Tours. The tours take visitors to these works, offering a different way to experience art than the museum exhibitions.
Depending on the tour booked, Aruba Mural Tours covers an average of 20 to 40 murals. The number therefore depends on the tour you choose. Special tours combined with workshops are available on request. If you are interested in combining a tour with a workshop, be sure to request this option.
Market and Local Food
The San Nicolas Pop-up Market takes place monthly at Plaza Lolita in San Nicolas. Vendors and artisans offer local art and crafts, food, drinks and locally grown produce. The market also features live steelpan music, an emcee and a DJ. While museums and tours each showcase their own subjects, the market brings commerce and live entertainment together at one venue. For your plans, it’s worth checking that the monthly date aligns with your travel dates.
Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolas serves beer and small dishes, including shrimp and scampi dishes, fresh Caribbean catch and vegetarian specials that change daily. Menu details may change, so ask about the current selection if you plan to eat there.
Getting Around
The San Nicolas Visitor Information Center offers a range of local tips and information about San Nicolas. It also serves as a starting point for exploring the town on foot. This makes it a practical place to get your bearings, complementing the museums, market and art tours.
Discover more destinations: Palm Beach, Santa Cruz, Savaneta, Paradera, Oranjestad, Noord.
Go to the main travel overview: Aruba.
