A yellow sauce made from fermented, cooked manioc juice, central to Belém's signature dish, pato no tucupi (duck in tucupi).
Discover Local Belém: What to Do Around Mercure Belém
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Belém, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Belém in 5 picks
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.
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.
Where to sleep
See Mercure hotels in Belém, all within reach of these picks.