Georgetown
Georgetown is Guyana's capital, known for wooden colonial buildings, street markets and Guyanese cooking, and a practical base for trips into the interior.
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Georgetown is the capital of Guyana, on the Atlantic coast where the Demerara River meets the sea. The city grew under Dutch and then British rule, and its streets still hold timber houses with deep verandas and public buildings from the colonial period. St. George's Cathedral, a large wooden Anglican church, is one of its best-known landmarks. The city is low-lying and crossed by canals, so you will mostly walk or take taxis between sights.
Go for the markets and the food. Stabroek Market, with its clock tower near the waterfront, is where to see daily trade in fruit, spices and produce. Guyanese cooking blends Indigenous, African, Indian, Chinese and European influences, and pepperpot and cook-up rice are dishes to try. The drier months are the most comfortable, and two or three days in the city is enough before you head inland to the interior.
Georgetown in five
- Book the airport transfer before you landCheddi Jagan International Airport is at Ogle, about 40 km from central Georgetown. Ask your hotel to arrange the pickup or agree a taxi fare before you leave arrivals.Getting around
- Carry Guyanese dollars for small purchasesCards work at larger hotels and shops, but many taxis, market stalls and small vendors take cash only. Some hotels quote prices in US dollars, so check which currency a price is in.Money and costs
- Set up offline maps before you go outMobile signal drops outside the center, and some streets are not signed. Download the Georgetown map area while you still have a connection.Phones and eSIM
- Ask your hotel which streets to avoid at nightStreet crime risk varies by neighborhood, and the safe areas change after dark. Use a taxi booked through the front desk for evening trips.
- Pack repellent for dengue seasonDengue is present in Guyana, and mosquitoes bite in the city during the day as well as at dusk. Pack repellent and check your health advice before you fly.
Need to know
- Currency
- Guyanese dollar (GYD)
- Entry
- Visa rules depend on your passport; check before you book
- Emergency
- 911 police; ask your hotel for fire and ambulance numbers
- Tipping
- Check the bill for a service charge before you add a tip
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryShort rains
- FebruaryDrier, hot
- MarchDrier, hot
- AprilRains start
- MayRainy season
- JuneRainy season
- JulyRainy season
- AugustRains ease
- SeptemberDrier, hot
- OctoberDrier, hot
- NovemberRains return
- DecemberShort rains
Right now in Georgetown
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 60%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Georgetown
04:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°27°98%Monday: Rain. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue31°28°57%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Wed32°27°69%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu32°27°61%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Fri32°27°78%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sat33°27°75%Saturday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Sun32°27°86%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 86%.
Updated 04:19 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 209.6 GYD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Georgetown
Rules for Georgetown, checked
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form at arrival or departure. Check the current amount with the Guyana Revenue Authority before you travel.
- Check whether a yellow fever certificate is required for your route, since Guyana is in a yellow fever risk zone. Confirm with your national travel health advice.
- Dial 911 for police. Ask your hotel for the fire and ambulance numbers and save them in your phone.
- Dress modestly when you enter churches, including St George's Cathedral in Georgetown.
Plan around Georgetown
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Guyana trip
Read the guideGetting aroundTaxis and airport transfers from Georgetown
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices for the trip
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and documents to check before you book
Read the guideWhere to stayWhere to base yourself in and around the city
Read the guideGeorgetown FAQ
Is Georgetown worth visiting?
Yes if you want wooden colonial buildings, the Stabroek Market and a walk along the seawall. It has fewer headline sights than the interior, so plan a trip inland for the waterfalls and forest.
How do you get from the airport to Georgetown?
Cheddi Jagan International Airport is at Ogle, about 40 km away. Book a hotel transfer or agree a taxi fare before you leave arrivals, since traffic can make the drive slow.
Do you need US dollars in Georgetown?
You will need Guyanese dollars for taxis, markets and most small shops. Some hotels quote prices in US dollars, so check the currency before you pay.
Is Georgetown safe to walk around?
Walk the busy central streets by day and use a taxi after dark. Ask your hotel which areas to avoid, and keep bags closed in the markets.
How many days do you need in Georgetown?
Two nights cover the market, the cathedral and the seawall at a relaxed pace. Add days if you plan a flight to Kaieteur Falls or a trip inland.
When is the best time to visit Georgetown?
February to March and September to October are the drier months. The main rains fall from May to July, when rain is at its heaviest.