Belize City Travel Guide, Belize

If you are looking for things to do in Belize City, expect a working port and commercial hub rather than a resort. It is the largest city in Belize, with a population of around 64,000 at the 2022 census, and it sits at the mouth of Haulover Creek, a distributary of the Belize River, on the Caribbean coast.

The city was founded as Belize Town in 1638 by English timber cutters and was the capital of British Honduras until Hurricane Hattie nearly destroyed it in 1961. The government then moved inland to Belmopan, but the city remains the country’s principal port and its financial and industrial centre.

Its value to travellers is practical. It has the main international airport, the water-taxi terminals for the cayes, a handful of museums and a lively local food scene. Visit for a day or a night, take sensible precautions after dark, and use it to reach the reef and the jungle.

Swing bridge over Haulover Creek

The hand-operated swing bridge is the city’s best-known landmark and sits in the middle of the commercial centre. Historically it opened daily to let boats through, though the schedule has changed, so check locally if you want to see it move. Allow 20 minutes, ideally in the morning when the area is busy and safer to walk.

Museum of Belize

Housed in a former colonial prison, this museum covers Maya artefacts, colonial history and the story of independence. It is small and can be seen in about an hour. Opening days have varied over the years, so confirm before you go, and combine it with a walk through the nearby streets in daylight.

Fort George and the lighthouse

The Fort George district is the most pleasant part of the city for a stroll, with colonial-era buildings, embassies and a small lighthouse near the water. Plan an hour. It is also close to many of the better-known guesthouses, so it suits a sunset walk if you are staying nearby.

St. John’s Cathedral

This Anglican church is often described as one of the oldest in Central America and dates from the early nineteenth century. It is a short visit of 20 to 30 minutes. Dress modestly, and ask about access, as it is not always open to casual visitors.

Baron Bliss Lighthouse and park area

The waterfront here commemorates Baron Bliss, a benefactor whose legacy funded public works, and the area is the focus of the annual Baron Bliss Day celebrations in March. Go for a short sea-breeze break and a view of the harbour, not for any long visit.

Cruise terminal and Old Belize area

Cruise ships call at the terminal on the waterfront, and the nearby shopping and food area is aimed at arriving passengers. It is convenient for souvenirs and a quick meal, but prices are higher than in town. Local street food, such as rice and beans with stewed chicken, is better value away from the terminal.

Local food and market streets

Belizean cooking mixes Creole, Garifuna, Maya and Mestizo traditions, and the city is a good place to try it in simple local restaurants. Expect stewed chicken, fry jacks, seafood and fresh juices. Prices are modest, but carry small notes and ask before ordering what the portion includes.

Belize has a tropical climate with a dry season and a wet season, and the city is hot and humid year round. The most comfortable period for most travellers is the dry season, from roughly December to April, when rain is lighter and the sea is calmer for crossings to the cayes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk typically in late summer and autumn. The city is low-lying and has a history of storm damage, so follow local forecasts and consider flexible bookings and travel insurance.

Most visitors arrive at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, around 15 km northwest of the centre. Taxis are the usual way into town and use fixed zone rates, so confirm the fare before getting in. Some travellers connect straight to small domestic flights from the municipal airstrip to the cayes and the south.

Water taxis leave from terminals in the city for Caye Caulker and San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, and crossings generally take from roughly 45 minutes to around 90 minutes, depending on the route. Long-distance buses connect to Belmopan, San Ignacio and the northern and southern highways.

Within the centre, you can walk during the day, but use licensed taxis after dark. Taxis are cheap for short hops, and car hire is useful if you plan to drive inland.

Accommodation is more limited and less atmospheric than on the cayes, so choose by purpose. Fort George and the waterfront area suits travellers who want a short, convenient stay with easy taxi access and a quieter setting, and it is where many mid-range guesthouses and hotels are found.

Hotels near the airport suit early flights and late arrivals, since you avoid the drive into town and the evening transfer. They are usually simple and practical rather than scenic.

If you want beaches and snorkelling, skip the city and sleep on Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, then return for your flight. For jungle and ruins, stay inland near San Ignacio. Book ahead from December to April, and ask about secure parking and the location of the property at night.

One full day is enough for the city itself, and many visitors spend only a night between a flight and a boat. If you want to include the reef or a Maya site, add days elsewhere rather than extending the city stay.

1. Day 1: Museum of Belize in the morning, a walk over the swing bridge and through Fort George, then lunch at a local restaurant and an early evening taxi to your accommodation.
2. Day 2: Take a morning water taxi to Caye Caulker for snorkelling and a relaxed afternoon.
3. Day 3: Visit the Maya site of Altun Ha on a guided tour, or head inland to San Ignacio for caves and Xunantunich.

For a fuller trip to Belize, allow a week or more to cover the cayes, the interior and the south.

Caye Caulker

A small, low-key island reached by water taxi in roughly 45 minutes. It is known for snorkelling, relaxed streets and the channel called The Split. Many visitors do it as a long day trip, though an overnight stay is better.

San Pedro and Ambergris Caye

The largest of the cayes, with more restaurants, dive operators and hotels, and boat trips to the barrier reef. Water taxis or a short flight connect it to the city. It suits travellers who want more facilities and nightlife.

San Ignacio

A western town in the Cayo District, about two hours or so by road, and a base for caves, rivers and Maya ruins. It makes a long day trip, but is better with at least one night.

Belmopan

The small inland capital, around an hour by road, with government buildings and little tourism of its own. It is useful mainly as a bus connection point towards the west.