A popular river port and capital of Para state in Brazil, Belem is a travellers’ delight with monuments, museums and mango canopied boulevards. The city neither has glamorous appeal of Rio de Janeiro nor has the financial might of Sao Paulo, still the city situated on the banks of Para River casts a spell on travellers who keep visiting it pushing the demand for business class flights to Belem. Yes, you can’t expect happening atmosphere of Rio, but it is ideal to spend a couple of days here. The place where Portuguese settled in the early 17th century still enjoys a distinct Portuguese influence which you will notice on arrival.
Useful Information
- The best time to visit Belem is from March to May.
- The city is considered safe during the day but travellers should refrain from travelling alone during the night.
- Drinking of bottled water is recommended to ward off infections.
Be it history, culture, recreation or dining and nightlife, Belem caters to travellers with varying inclination. The slopping central park might be looking desolate during the weekends but it comes alive on weekends when locals and foreigners flock to this place. Being a culture buffs’ haven, the city is teeming with a vast number of art house cinemas and experimental theatres. The museum hoppers can go to Museu de Arte Sacra which is divided into two parts; the impressive Igreja do Santo Alexandre and the adjoining Palâcio Episcopal (Bishop’s Palace). The museum has a decent collection of modern art which they will find interesting. Those who want to shop and have a peek into the day to day life of the people should visit markets like Estação das Docas and Mercado Ver-o-Peso which remains abuzz with activities round the year. There are excellent means of getting around and travellers have options to hire a bike to explore this city on their own. To provide travellers with quality stay there are hotels and dining options of every range and budget.