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For centuries the capital and still the country's largest urban area, Belize City has a lot to offer for visitors. The commercial hub of the nation, Belize City is a thriving port with some of the best bars, restaurants, and museums. International visitors arriving by air or onboard a cruise ship disembark in Belize City, a lively town with a long history, beautiful colonial era buildings, and a sparkling waterfront.
Things To Do in Belize City
Definitely don't miss the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, built to the exact specifications of Belize's eccentric benefactor, a rich Briton who spent many months in the waters offshore of Belize but never set foot on land. Other popular attractions include St. John's Cathedral, a still-functioning Anglican house of worship that has seen the coronation of six different kings.
Also downtown is the Museum of Belize, restored in 2002 and now dedicated to chronicling the history of the peoples of Belize, starting with the ancient Maya that once thrived here and continuing up to the present day and the nation's rich mix of different indigenous peoples, culture, music and language. The building that houses the Museum of Belize was originally built in 1857 to serve as a prison but was shuttered after independence.
The historic center of Belize City is also a great opportunity to tour the factories where some of the country's most popular drinks are made. Belikin Brewery, makers of the nation's most popular beer, and Traveller's Liquor, distillers of the famous One Barrel Rum, both offer tours and tastings.
Other nearby attractions include the Belize Zoo, a wildlife sanctuary and rescue center, Crooked Tree National Park, and the Maya ruins of Altun Ha, home of the Temple of the Masonry Altars which appears on the label of every bottle of Belikin beer.
Top Things to do in Belize City
Long the capital and still the largest city in the country, Belize City is a popular tourism destination with many top attractions in and around the city.
The Belize Zoo
An educational center and wildlife refuge, the Belize Zoo was founded in 1983 to provide a home for rescued animals. Today, the Belize Zoo serves a dual purpose: to educate the people of Belize on the importance of preserving and protecting the wild heritage of their country and to serve as a home for abandoned and abused animals that are native to Belize.
Altun Ha
One of Belize's most recognizable landmarks, Altun Ha is the name of the ruins of an ancient Maya city that once dominated the important trade routes in the area. The site is home to the pyramid named "The Temple of the Masonry Altars" that is used on the logo of the domestic brewer Belikin Beer.
Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley
A protected natural habitat of the Belize Barrier Reef, the waters of Hol Chan lie above a natural cut in the reef that draws in large schools of fish and marine animals who use it to cross between the protected western side of the reef and the open waters of the Caribbean Sea on the eastern side. Shark Ray Alley earns its name by the large number of native rays that congregate in this section of the reserve.
Community Baboon Sanctuary
This educational center and natural history museum is dedicated to protecting the animals known locally as "baboons" and elsewhere as black howler monkeys. The sanctuary was established in 1985 to protect the indigenous primates from encroachment by agriculture, hunting and logging.
Lamanai
Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Lamanai has buildings and artifacts dating from its foundation in the Early Preclassic period continuing right up through the Spanish colonial era.
Belize Tourism Village
Located on the southwest tip of Belize City where it meets the sea, the Tourism Village gives visitors disembarking from cruise ships and other tourists a chance to peruse a rich assortment of vendors selling handmade goods, traditional handicrafts, and other souvenirs.
Old Belize
The Old Belize Museum and Cucumber Beach is a combination of amusement park, restaurant, beach, and museum just outside of the city limits of Belize City. Ideal for a family outing, starting with a tour of the museum's rainforest exhibit followed by a sampling of the local foods and riding the various attractions in the park.
Goff's Caye
Goff'a Caye is an excellent place to experience the magic of a postcard-perfect tropical island. Located just a few minutes from Belize City, the island is an acre of sand and palm trees fronting beautifully transparent waters home to an abundance of colorful marine flora and fauna.
The Black Orchid Resort
Located just 15 minutes from the Belize City International Airport, the resort of Black Orchid is a beautiful and tranquil oasis on the banks of the Old Belize River near the village of Burrell Boom.
With an onsite spa, restaurant, pool, and elegantly appointed rooms, suites and villas, the eco-friendly resort of Black Orchid is a great place to unwind and relax. Conveniently located in the heart of Belize, Black Orchid is a great place to explore attractions in Belize City, nature parks and reserves, and some of the most popular Maya ruins.