Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

If you're prepared to go beyond a cursory excursion, Belize City will repay your curiosity. Belizeans are natural city dwellers, and there's an infectious sociability on streets like Albert and Queen, the main shopping strips. The finest British colonial houses—graceful white buildings with wraparound verandas, painted shutters, and fussy Victorian woodwork—are on the North Shore, that is, the Fort George area, near the Radisson Fort George, the most pleasant part of the city in which to stroll.

Fort George. The "colonial" section of Belize City is notable for its grand old 19th- and early-20th-century homes and buildings.

Marine Parade Harbor Front. Along the water near the Princess Hotel & Casino and BTL Park, there is more open, public space than there are buildings, making this a pleasant escape from the bustle of the city center.

The Commercial District. On the South Side, mainly on Albert and Regent streets, this is the commercial center of the city.

King's Park. Upscale residences line Princess Margaret Drive, about 2 mi (3 km) north of the city center.

The Northern Suburbs. Located along the Northern Highway between the city center and the international airport, this is the fastest-growing part of the metropolitan area, with middle-class residential sections such as Buttonwood Bay and Belama, some of the city's stores and supermarkets, and several hotels and B&Bs.

The Western Suburbs. Several new tourist attractions have popped up here, such as the Old Belize Museum. This multiuse commercial and residential area along the Western Highway, beginning at "Boot Hill" on Cemetery Road at the intersection of Central American Boulevard, is also on the way to the Belize Zoo, Belmopan, and the Cayo.

Touring Tip

If you're spending time in downtown Belize City, you're better off without a car. Parking is limited, and leaving a car on the street overnight, especially with any valuables in it, is just asking for trouble. Although most residents don't own a car and get around on bicycle or on foot, even a few cars on the narrow streets can cause a traffic backup. There are a few stoplights, but often they're not working, and local drivers seem to know traffic rules that you don't know.