A yellow sauce made from fermented, cooked manioc juice, central to Belém's signature dish, pato no tucupi (duck in tucupi).
Discover Authentic Belém: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
No stock lists here. Recommended by the team at Mercure Belém Boulevard. What follows is their actual advice for Belém — the spots they'd send a friend to, not what ranks well online. Find our picks below, an interactive map, and the FAQs travellers ask us most.
Our map pins local favourites such as Estação das Docas, Utinga State Park and Remanso do Peixe, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Belém
Mercado Ver-o-Peso
The largest open-air market in Latin America, its iron market hall shipped over from Europe in the late 1800s. Wander past mountains of Amazonian fruit and fresh river fish, then sit down for pato no tucupi at one of the market's popular restaurants.
Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré
The spiritual heart of Belém and the finish line of the Círio de Nazaré procession, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world every October.
Estação das Docas
Restored century-old port warehouses turned into a riverside strip of restaurants and bars - a good spot to watch the sunset over the Guamá river with a cold beer.
Mangal das Garças
A garden park where herons and scarlet ibises nest right in the city, with a lookout tower for river views.
Casa das Onze Janelas
A restored colonial-era building overlooking the Guamá river, now an art space next to the Forte do Presépio. Time it for late afternoon and the view over the water rivals anywhere in the city.
Explore Belém's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Belém
We've mapped local spots in Belém, from the old port to the flavours of the Amazon.
Culture & waterfront
Estação das Docas
Three 19th-century warehouses on Guajará Bay, reborn as shops, stages and restaurants. Try regional dishes such as tacacá and maniçoba, then stay for the music, dance or theatre.
Old port, Guajará Bay · Waterfront complex · Perfect for food and evenings
Casa das Onze Janelas
In the historic Cidade Velha, the 18th-century House of the Eleven Windows is now a centre for modern Brazilian art – with its cannons still facing the bay.
Cidade Velha · Art centre · Made for art lovers
Pará State Museum
Inside the neoclassical Lauro Sodré Palace, once the seat of the state government. Wander ornate period rooms full of regional history, art, photography and furniture.
Cidade Velha · Museum · Ideal for history
Icoaraci waterfront
On Marajó Bay, a craft market of ceramics inspired by the ancient Marajoara culture, with easy-going places to eat along the water.
Icoaraci · Waterfront and craft market · Perfect for local ceramics
Feira de Artesanato do Paracuri
A craft market in Icoaraci devoted to ceramics inspired by the ancient Marajoara culture. Pick a piece and ask about its patterns.
Icoaraci · Craft market · Great for souvenirs
Nature & food
Utinga State Park
4 km of trails past woods and lakes – keep an eye out for capybaras. Feeling energetic? Try zip-lining, rappelling, canoeing or hire a bike.
Belém · State park · Great for outdoor activities
Remanso do Peixe
A family-run restaurant serving home-style Pará cooking born from the Amazon. Order tucupi broth with jambú, smoked pirarucu, and a sip of jambú cachaça – it tingles.
Belém · Restaurant · Made for Amazonian cuisine
Casa do Saulo – Onze Janelas
Amazonian dishes such as tambaqui ribs and pirarucu carpaccio, at tables looking out over the bay.
Cidade Velha · Restaurant · Perfect for regional food
Manjar das Garças
In the Mangal das Garças gardens, overlooking the Guamá River. Settle in for Pará classics such as maniçoba.
Mangal das Garças · Restaurant · Ideal for lunch
Delícias do Bosque
Homemade breakfast and lunch in a garden on the edge of the forest, 25 minutes from the centre. Worth the trip.
Outskirts · Restaurant · Great for home cooking
Amazon Beer
A waterfront craft brewery putting Amazonian fruits such as taperebá into its beers. Curious? Start with a tasting flight.
Waterfront · Brewery · Made for craft beer fans
Bar do Parque
A terrace bar by Praça da República and the Theatro da Paz. Order Marajoara buffalo cheese and a jambú cocktail, and watch the square go by.
Historic centre · Bar · Perfect for drinks
FAQ
Every October, ending at the Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré - it's one of the largest religious processions in the world.
It's Belém's most visited attraction and busy with locals doing their daily shopping - go during the day, stick to the popular food stalls, and keep valuables close as in any busy market.
Remanso do Peixe serves family-style Pará dishes such as tucupi with jambú and smoked pirarucu. Estação das Docas also has restaurants serving tacacá and maniçoba.
Estação das Docas, three restored port warehouses on Guajará Bay, has restaurants, shops and live shows.
Utinga State Park offers trails, lakes and activities such as zip-lining and canoeing.
Where to Sleep in Belém
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Belém Boulevard