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Georgetown

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Stock photo of a historic wooden church in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, South America

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Overview

Standing proudly where the mighty Demerara River pours into the Atlantic, Georgetown is by far Guyana's biggest city and a place all visitors will spend at least some of their time. With its dilapidated architecture, wild parks and vibrant street life, Georgetown has a laid-back feel and considerable charm in parts, even if there's little to see beyond a smattering of museums, churches and colonial curiosities. Home today to the Caricom economic community, and thus a kind of Brussels of the Caribbean, Georgetown is no backwater, and its restaurants and nightlife reflect that, lending a distinctly cosmopolitan edge to the general chaos of a modern Guyanese city.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Exterior of St George's Cathedral.

    St George's Cathedral

    Georgetown

    The most impressive building in town is the white-painted, Gothic-style St George's Cathedral, said to be the world's tallest wooden building. It was…

  • Botanical Gardens

    Botanical Gardens

    Georgetown

    Georgetown's Botanical Garden is a pleasant open space with a huge range of tropical plants, trees and flowers in it, including the Victoria Regia Lily,…

  • Promenade Garden

    Promenade Garden

    Georgetown

    During daylight hours, the Promenade Garden in Cummingsburg is a quiet place to relax, read and enjoy the flowers and tropical birdlife. Its tranquility…

  • Botanical Gardens Zoo

    Botanical Gardens Zoo

    Georgetown

    Georgetown's zoo, inside the Botanical Gardens, desperately needs some investment, but it has a decent collection of creatures nonetheless. You'll see…

  • City Hall

    City Hall

    Georgetown

    The distinctive neo-Gothic City Hall, inaugurated in 1889, has a 23m tower where colonial-period wives apparently watched for their husbands' ships to…

  • Stabroek Market

    Stabroek Market

    Georgetown

    One of the city's most prominent landmarks is Stabroek Market, a cast-iron building with a giant corrugated-iron clock tower. This frenetic and colorful…

  • Castellani House

    Castellani House

    Georgetown

    This gorgeous wooden building, erected in 1877, is home to the National Art Gallery and rotating art exhibits, many by local artists. To get here from the…

  • National Library

    National Library

    Georgetown

    This fine timber building was paid for by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1909. As well as being the national library of Guyana, it is a normal…

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