Tanjung Pandan is Belitung's main town and the practical base for visiting the island. It is not a destination in itself, but the town centre has some character: a compact district of Chinese shophouses from the colonial tin-mining era lines the main street, and the waterfront market is lively in the early morning. Most restaurants, guesthouses, and tour operators are based here.
The Museum Tanjung Pandan at the edge of town has a collection focused on the island's tin-mining history, including traditional tools, antique tin-ware, and material on the Laskar Pelangi story. The market sells local produce including Belitung pepper (once among the most valued in Asia), dried seafood, and the local mie Belitung (noodles in a prawn-and-tofu soup), the island's signature dish.