Georgetown travel guide

Georgetown, Guyana

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Georgetown

Introduction

Georgetown is the capital and largest city of Guyana, set in the Demerara-Mahaica region on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Demerara River. It carries the nickname the "Garden City of the Caribbean", and it serves as the country's retail, administrative and financial services centre.

As the hub of national commerce and government, the city accounts for a large share of Guyana's GDP, so your time here puts you at the centre of Guyanese public and business life.

Getting around

Georgetown has no metro, tram, or national passenger rail, so getting around means minibuses, taxis, and, on the water, ferries and speedboats. Central Georgetown is walkable during daylight hours, roughly from early morning until around 6pm, in the main tourist and business districts. Pleasant areas on foot include Main Street and Camp Street, with their colonial buildings, City Hall, and St. George's Cathedral; Waterloo Street, lined with hotels, restaurants, and bars; and the Seawall, an Atlantic promenade popular for sunset walks and jogging. Promenade Gardens and the Botanical Gardens are also good on foot, though both close at dusk and the Botanical Gardens' zoo may be closed. Keep phones, cameras, and jewellery discreet, stick to main streets, dress casually, and watch for uneven sidewalks and traffic that doesn't always yield. Kingston, Cummingsburg, and Bel Air are tourist-friendly; take more caution around the crowded Stabroek Market area, best avoided after dark, and around Tiger Bay and Albouystown.

Minibuses are the main public transport: small privately run buses on fixed routes, leaving from informal roadside parks around Stabroek Market and Regent Street and radiating along the East Bank, East Coast, and West Coast Demerara corridors as well as across the city. Flag one down, state your destination to the conductor, and pay in cash — there are no cards or passes, and passengers often pass fare forward. To get off, ask the conductor or tap the roof or side. There are no strict schedules; if a bus is full, wait for the next. Fares are very low, but buses can be crowded, driven at speed at peak hours, and play loud music, and they suit late nights and heavy luggage poorly. Private taxis are the most comfortable option, especially for airport transfers, night travel, and unfamiliar areas; official taxis carry yellow "H" plates, meters are not standard, so agree the fare before getting in and carry small bills. Hotels and guesthouses can usually recommend a reliable driver. Ride-hailing is limited and growing, with local apps, dispatch taxis, and WhatsApp-based drivers rather than Uber, Bolt, or Grab; some apps take card or mobile wallet payments, but many drivers prefer cash. Shared taxis follow minibus routes at higher prices. Self-drive hire is available, and note that Guyana drives on the left with right-hand-drive vehicles. For evening travel, take a private taxi rather than walking to or waiting at minibus stops after dark.

Three days in Georgetown

Day one: Start in Central Georgetown, where the streets are laid out in a grid and the character shifts from block to block. Walk Main Street and Camp Street, taking in City Hall and St George's Cathedral, then continue to Waterloo Street. Spend the afternoon along the Seawall, watching the Atlantic, and finish in the Promenade Gardens. In the evening, eat Guyanese food in Cummingsburg or Kingston.

Day two: Head to the Botanical Gardens, then browse Stabroek Market and the surrounding streets. Walk through Tiger Bay and Albouystown to see a different side of the city, and use minibuses along Regent Street to get around. Fares are low, and routes run to the East Bank, East Coast and West Coast Demerara. In the afternoon, cross the Demerara River to reach the Atlantic coast at Mahaica.

Day three: Slow down in Bel Air and Pleasant, where the streets are quieter and the architecture is worth a look. Return to the Seawall for a last view of the Atlantic, then spend your remaining time in Central Georgetown before heading out. Georgetown is known as the Garden City, and the green spaces are part of what makes it distinct in the Caribbean.

About this place