Welcome to our little tour of things to see in Belize City, Belize, which is a port city (currently a cruise ship stop) and was once the capital of British Honduras. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to see around the largest city in Belize, from the natural beauty of Haulover Creek to the iconic Baron Bliss Lighthouse. These interesting and historic stops would make a great half-day of sightseeing before enjoying museums or other guided excursions. All of these locations are spread out over the city, so it will be best to rent a car, grab a taxi/rideshare, or even take a bus tour.
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Central America is absolutely beautiful with some of the kindest, joy-filled people, and you may be interested to know that English is spoken in Belize so there’s no language barrier! One of our tour guides told us that Belize is the perfect vacation spot for Americans because we can drive (!) there, and we speak the same language. Okay, I just looked it up, and it would take about 45 hours to drive to Belize non-stop from our home state of Mississippi.
Baron Bliss Lighthouse
Belize City, Belize
Address: 4 Fort Street
Baron Bliss Lighthouse is an icon and major tourist attraction of Belize City that was built in 1885. Standing almost fifty feet tall, this red and white tapered lighthouse is well-known around Belize in part because it is featured on the label of Belikin’s Lighthouse Lager.
Belize Welcome Signs
Belize City, Belize
Addresses: Fort Street (next to Baron Bliss Lighthouse) | Sea Shore Drive Area
If you’re looking for a fun and colorful photo op, head to one of the Belize signs where you can pose with large letters spelling out “BELIZE” in a rainbow of colors. One is located near the lighthouse and the other is on the Seashore Promenade. Look for local vendors selling fresh fruit and other treats. These signs are great any time of day, but especially beautiful at sunset!
Pick up a copy of Frommer’s Belize for a guide book and map that you can take with you on your trip to explore Belize.
18th Century Cannons
Belize City, Belize
Address: Near the Baron Bliss Lighthouse
Keep your eyes open for aged cannons around Fort Street near the Baron Bliss Lighthouse. These cannons were used in the Battle of St. George’s Caye, which gave the British their only Central American settlement.
A cannon was found near the Swing Bridge in 2002 where it was excavated and moved to the Museum of Belize. So, keep your eyes peeled as historic artifacts may show up anywhere!
Swing Bridge
Belize City, Belize
Address: Swing Bridge
The Swing Bridge is a popular tourist attraction that connects the north and south sides of Belize City. It was constructed and installed from 1922 to 1933 and is the oldest bridge of its kind in Central America. The bridge is cranked by hand, allowing it to turn and let boat traffic through on the Haulover Creek. It can be see in a 1980 film starring Christopher Walken, The Dogs of War.
Haulover Creek
Belize City, Belize
Stories say that this creek, which is actually an inlet of the Belize River, was named “Haulover” because farmers once had to haul over their cattle by rope before bridges connected the north and south sides of Belize City. This photo was taken from the Belcan Bridge, which is the finish line for the 4-day canoe marathon known as the La Ruta Maya river challenge. The Swing Bridge, mentioned above, also crosses the Haulover Creek.
St. John’s Cathedral
Belize City, Belize
Address: 86 Regent Street
St. John’s Cathedral was built between the years of 1812 and 1820 and is known as the oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America. According to Frommer’s, it is also the oldest standing structure in the country of Belize. It’s no surprise that this historic church is also home to the country’s oldest cemetery (see below).
The cathedral was built by enslaved people using bricks that came from ballast on British ships. According to TravelBelize.com, it is “the only place outside of England where kings were crowned. Four kings of the Mosquito Coast were crowned here from 1815 to 1845.”
Yarborough Cemetery
Belize City, Belize
Address: Albert Street West
Located just a short walk from St. John’s Cathedral, Yarborough Cemetery was the first cemetery created in British Honduras and was in use from 1787 to 1896. In 2009, the cemetery became an archaeological reserve.
Government House
Belize City, Belize
Address: 71 Regent Street
This colonial structure was built in 1814, a home to the governor of British Honduras. The house was in use as a residence for superintendents and governors through 1996 and is now home to the House of Culture Museum.
“The Visible Hand” Sculpture
Belize City, Belize
Address: Intersection of Central American Blvd and Cemetery Rd
This twenty-foot sculpture of a hand holding a leaf is located in the middle of a roundabout in the intersection of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road. As a gift from Taiwan celebrating Belize’s 20th anniversary of independence, it symbolizes the connection between nature and humans, the continued growth of Belize, and also the friendship between Taiwan and Belize. The piece was designed by Joseph Chiang and welded by Shareef Bilal, both eighteen years old at the time.
CARICOM Flag Monument
Belize City, Belize
Address: Pallotti Roundabout
A gift from Barclays Bank, the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Flag Monument is located in the Pallotti Roundabout and is made up of flag of Belize as well as those of the Caribbean Community and Central American Countries. But wait, all the flags look the same in this photo! You’re right! Every September, the flag of Belize is raised on every flag pole in the roundabout to celebrate Belize’s birthday!
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links with no change in price for you.
Ready to explore Belize? Book a tour!
Are you planning a trip to Belize? Would you consider driving to this country all the way from the USA or would you rather fly or cruise there? Which of these points of interest are you most interested in seeing? Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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