Belém is a major port city at the mouth of the Amazon River, and the capital of the state of Pará in northern Brazil. It is often known as Belém do Pará, and it has also been called Santa Maria de Belém do Grão Pará. For many travellers it serves as the main gateway into the Amazon region, and that role shapes much of what a visit feels like.
What to expect
The city is set on a broad waterfront where river traffic and the working life of the port are part of the everyday scene. Its historic centre holds a good deal of colonial architecture, and walking through the older streets gives a clear sense of the city's long past as a Portuguese settlement on the river. Visitors who enjoy looking closely at buildings, squares and façades will find plenty to occupy a slow afternoon.
Why visit
- Colonial architecture in the historic quarters, well suited to unhurried walking
- A working river port, where the Amazon's scale is easy to feel
- A practical base for trips further into the Amazon region
- A city with a distinct regional character within Brazil
Because Belém is a working port and a state capital, it has the rhythm of a real city rather than a resort. Travellers who want quiet beaches or a purely scenic stay may find it less suited to them, while those interested in history, river life and the threshold of the Amazon will find it rewarding.
