Quick Facts

Belize City is the largest city in this Central American country. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean and many cruise ships dock at its port. The city has historically been beset by tragedy. First, in the 18th century, the city was abandoned after an attack by the Spanish. Massive fires razed much of the city in the 19th century, and 2 deadly hurricanes caused major damage to the city in 1931 and 1961.

Despite previous tragedy, the city remains the urban heart and soul of Belize.

Getting There & Other Transportation

The major airport in Belize is the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport. The airport is roughly 30 minutes drive from Belize City’s Center. The best way to get from your flight to the center of the city is via taxi. Airport bus services do exist, but they are infrequent and unreliable. Your best bet is to take a taxi.

Once you are in the city, the streets are easy to navigate by foot. If you want to venture out of the busy streets, it is advised to take a taxi for safety purposes. Taxis in the city are inexpensive and are clearly marked in some form or another with a roof ornament (although there is no standardized look or color). There are not always meters in the taxis so be sure to negotiate your fare before entering the cab.

As far as public transit goes, there is no metropolitan bus system in Belize City.

Hotels & Places to Stay

If you don’t want to stay at an all-inclusive resort, here is a list of popular hotels in Belize City:

Belcove Hotel

Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel

Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina

Chateau Caribbean

Coningsby Inn

St. George’s Caye Resort

Dining & Nightlife

In Belize City, there is a varied selection of dining options. However, the most popular is the Belizean cuisine and fresh seafood. Other options such as Chinese, Indian and other international restaurants are available in the city as well. Keep in mind that when the cruise ships dock, the restaurants get very busy (especially for lunch).

In the Fort George area, some popular restaurants are:

Harbour View

Le Petit Café

The Smokey Mermaid

Wet Lizard

In the business district and around town, check out:

Big Daddy’s Diner

Marcy’s

Chon Saan Palace

Jambel’s Jerk Pit Too

Riverside Tavern

Sibun Bite Bar & Grill

As far as nightlife goes, there is not a ragging club scene in this city. However, there are a few bars that locals and visitors can enjoy (some of which are hotel bars). These include:

Riverside Tavern

Club Calypso

Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina

Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza

Princess Hotel & Casino

Attractions

The downtown core of Belize City is very compact and easy to walk around. This means, that you can take yourself on a self-guided tour to visit the city’s attractions. In the city, check out The Museum of Belize, Old Belize, and St. John’s Cathedral. For expeditions outside of the city, public transportation allows you to access the close by Mayan ruins of Altun Ha and Lamanai. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, the Belize Zoo and the Community Baboon Sanctuary (no actual baboons are here, but it is the local name for the black howler monkeys who reside here) are all popular destinations within reach of the city.

Currency, Culture and Language

The official language of Belize, the former British colony, is English.

The official currency in Belize is the Belizean dollar (BZD).