Plizio Visual Lab
Paramaribo
ℹ️Practical info — Paramaribo
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Explore the historic inner city with its typical wooden buildings early in the morning to avoid the intense heat.
- Use the small buses for cheap travel around the city, but ask the driver about the exact destination beforehand.
- Pay attention to the left-hand traffic when crossing the streets.
- ATMs are available in the center, but bring some cash (Surinamese dollars) for small purchases at the markets.
🍽 Food
Try this typical Surinamese baked dish in the local eateries around the central market.
Taste fresh roti with chicken or lamb in one of the city's many Indo-Surinamese roti shops.
A rich Javanese chicken soup that is best enjoyed at one of the food stalls near the waterfront.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Visit the ground floor for exotic fruits and vegetables, and the upper level for local textiles.
Look for traditional Maroon woodcarvings or indigenous jewelry in the smaller boutiques downtown.
Stroll through this large palm tree park right behind the Presidential Palace, handy for a break in the shade.
Enjoy a late afternoon walk along the waterfront promenade on the Suriname River.
Water temperature…
Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname, is situated on the western bank of the Suriname River, about 15 kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The city's historic inner district was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002, celebrated for its unique fusion of Dutch colonial architecture and indigenous craftsmanship. Geographically, Paramaribo is built on shell ridges that provide natural elevation above the surrounding swampy coastal plains. Historically established by Dutch traders in 1613, it was briefly held by the British before becoming the long-term seat of Dutch power in South America. Today, Paramaribo is the country's multi-ethnic heartbeat, home to more than half of Suriname's total population. The city is famous for its harmonious religious landscape, where grand mosques and synagogues stand side-by-side. Key landmarks include Fort Zeelandia and the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, one of the world's largest wooden structures.
- Location: Suriname
- Top sights: Kwatta Markt · Hindu Cremation Site · Masdjid Al Husnah
- Nearby: Lelydorp (10 km)
- Population: ~223.757 (2019)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Sep–Nov.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Rain mm | 142 | 116 | 111 | 194 | 286 | 251 | 190 | 105 | 53 | 51 | 81 | 165 |
Geography
Facts
- Paramaribo was established as a Dutch trading post in 1613.
- The historic center is primarily composed of white-painted wooden colonial houses.
- The Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral is the largest wooden building in the Western Hemisphere.
- More than 240.000 people reside in the Paramaribo metropolitan area today.
- The city sits at an average elevation of only 3 meters above sea level.
- Paramaribo is one of the few places where a synagogue and mosque share a property line.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Discover Paramaribo's rich culture on foot. Start at Fort Zeelandia and stroll through the cool Palmentuin to the cathedral. Experience the bustling market and Waterkant promenade before visiting Independence Square and the peaceful neighborhood of the synagogue and mosque.
Explore the surroundings of Paramaribo by bike. Visit Peperpot Nature Park and cycle to the mouth of the Suriname River at Nieuw Amsterdam.
Visit the historical Jodensavanne south of the city and then enjoy first-class Indonesian food in the Blauwgrond district.
Sights in the town Paramaribo (8)
Frequently asked questions
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