Language, music, food and traditions
Aruban culture is a blend of Indigenous, African, European and Latin American influences. You hear it in the language, taste it in the food and see it at festivals and in the architecture.
Language
Papiamento is the heart of Aruban culture. This Creole language mixes Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English and African elements and is spoken in most homes. Together with Dutch it is an official language.
Music and festivals
- Tumba: a typical music style of the ABC islands, central to Carnival.
- Dande: New Year tradition in which groups go from house to house singing good wishes.
- Carnival: weeks of parades and music in January and February
- Events throughout the year
Food
Try keshi yena (baked cheese filled with spiced meat), funchi (cornmeal) and pan bati (cornmeal pancake). Restaurants like Gasparito and The Old Cunucu House specialise in Aruban cooking.
Museums and heritage
- Historical Museum of Aruba in Fort Zoutman (1798) in Oranjestad
- National Archaeological Museum Aruba, Schelpstraat, Oranjestad
- Aruba Aloe Factory & Museum
- Traditional cunucu houses with thick walls and small windows, found throughout the countryside
- Top 10 cultural experiences
Good to know
Information on this page can change over time, so check official sources for the latest details.
See also: more about Aruba.
Last updated: September 2026.