Paramaribo & the city
A wooden city centre on the UNESCO list
Paramaribo is the only capital in the world where a mosque and a synagogue stand peacefully side by side on the same street. The historic centre has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2002: a run of white wooden colonial buildings around Independence Square, with Fort Zeelandia on the river as the oldest structure.
The city has more than two hundred thousand inhabitants and is by far the largest in the country. Creole, Hindustani, Javanese, Chinese, Indigenous and Maroon communities live side by side, which you see in the markets, the places of worship and above all in the food. Almost every journey through Suriname begins and ends here.
Our tours in and around Paramaribo
Your journey, just the way you want it
Whether you dream of a private snorkeling tour, a surprise trip for a special occasion or just want to be completely unburdened, we will arrange it! Together, we’ll put together a unique experience that perfectly suits your needs. Personalized, flexible and organized to perfection.
Veelgestelde vragen
Why is Paramaribo on the UNESCO list?
The historic centre has been on the World Heritage List since 2002, for its unique timber architecture in which Dutch building styles meet local materials and techniques. Nowhere else has this survived on this scale.
How much time do you need for the city?
Half a day covers the main buildings and Independence Square. If you also want the markets, the inside of Fort Zeelandia and a cooking workshop, allow two days.
Can you make day trips from Paramaribo?
Yes, the city is the logical base. Commewijne is a fifteen-minute boat ride away, Brownsberg a two-hour drive, and most interior tours leave from here early in the morning.
Where do you see the sloths?
In the trees around the city and along the Cultuurtuin. Our sloth tour goes to the places where they spend the day; a guide points them out, because on your own you look straight past them.
Is Paramaribo safe?
In the tourist areas during the day, yes. In the evening the same applies as in any large city: take a taxi rather than walking, and leave valuables at the hotel.
What should you taste in Paramaribo?
Roti, pom, bami and moksi-meti. The Central Market is the cheapest and often the best place to eat; at a cooking workshop you learn to make it yourself.
Read more about Paramaribo
Fort Zeelandia tour: zo wandel je door 350 jaar Surinaamse geschiedenis
What you see of the historic centre in a day, and why Fort Zeelandia is the starting point.
Hoe een Paramaribo City Tour er echt uitziet
What a city tour looks like in practice: the route, the buildings and the markets.
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