Places / North & Central America / Belize
Belize City
Visited in January 2020
At a glance
- Country
- Belize
- Region
- Belize District
- Population
- 63,999
- Best time to go
- December to April
- Main airport
- Philip S. W. Goldson International (BZE)
- Coordinates
- 17.50°N, 88.19°W
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Overview
Belize City is the country's largest town and its main transport hub, a low-rise port of wooden houses and canals where the Haulover Creek meets the Caribbean.
Most visitors pass straight through on their way to the cayes, the reef or the jungle, but it is worth a day. The old colonial district around Fort George is pleasant to walk, the people are friendly, and the mix of Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna and Maya cultures is part of what makes Belize distinctive.
Things to see
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Photo: Haakon S. Krohn, CC BY-SA 3.0 Swing Bridge
A hand-operated swing bridge over Haulover Creek, the heart of town, still turned by hand to let boats through.
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Photo: Adam Buhler from Lawrence, KS, United States, CC BY 2.0 St John's Cathedral
The oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America, built of brick brought over as ships' ballast.
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Photo: Psubhashish, CC BY-SA 4.0 Museum of Belize
A former colonial prison now telling the story of the country, from Maya jade to the logwood trade.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 Fort George seafront
Stroll the breezy seafront past the old lighthouse and the tomb of Baron Bliss, the city's great benefactor.
Things to do
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Photo: Dronepicr, CC BY 3.0 Water taxi to Caye Caulker
Fast boats run from the terminal to the laid-back island of Caye Caulker in under an hour.
Find tours -
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC, Public domain Snorkel the Barrier Reef
Join a boat trip to the reef for coral, nurse sharks and rays in clear, shallow water.
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Photo: Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0 Altun Ha
A compact Maya site with tall temple-pyramids, about an hour north of the city.
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Photo: BzeZoo, CC BY-SA 4.0 Belize Zoo
Native animals in natural enclosures, about 45 minutes inland along the Western Highway.
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Where to stay
Fort George
The quiet seafront district with the best hotels and restaurants; the obvious base.
Hotels in Fort GeorgeNear the water taxi terminal
Handy for an early boat out to the cayes.
Hotels in Near the water taxi terminal
Getting around
The old centre is small and walkable by day, but take taxis after dark and stay in the main districts, as some neighbourhoods have a reputation for crime.
The international airport is about 20 minutes from the centre by taxi; small planes from the municipal airstrip serve the cayes and the south.
When to go
December to April is dry, sunny and breezy. June to November brings heavier rain and the hurricane season, with the highest risk from August to October.
Plan your trip to Belize City
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.