15 Things to Do in Paramaribo, Suriname
I spent a week walking Paramaribo’s streets before dawn and strolling its riverfront at dusk, and I can tell you this: the city rewards the slow traveler. It is not a place you rush. The wooden architecture, the mix of cultures, the heat that slows your pace to a natural rhythm. Here are the things I actually did and would do again.
Walk the Historic Centre
The UNESCO listed historic centre of Paramaribo is best seen in the cool morning light. I started at the Onafhankelijkheidsplein, the vast green square where the Presidential Palace sits behind its neat fence. The pale wooden colonial buildings along Waterkant shimmer with that distinctive Dutch Surinamese style, white columns and low eaves designed to catch the breeze. Take your time. The wooden facades are fragile works of art, and each one tells a story about the traders and planters who built this riverside capital.
Tour Fort Zeelandia
Fort Zeelandia anchors the east side of the old city, a star shaped fort that guarded the mouth of the Suriname River from the 17th century on. I wandered its brick ramparts and looked out over the water, imagining the ships arriving with timber, sugar and rum. The fort now holds a small museum with artifacts from the colonial era, and the courtyard is a quiet place to sit when the heat builds. Take time to read the exhibits honestly; the 1982 December murders that marked modern Suriname are remembered here, and the weight of that history belongs in your visit.
Browse the Central Market
Just across the water on the south bank, the Central Market vibrates with color and noise. I bought piles of fresh fruit for a few cents each, soursop, passionfruit, mangoes so ripe they stained my hands. Vendors smile and call out in Dutch, Sranan Tongo and Hindustani. Fish glistens on ice near the river end. Go in the morning before the stalls empty and the heat peaks.
Eat at the Maroon Market
Not far from the Central Market, the Maroon Market is a fire pit of aromas. I tried peanut sauce over grilled meats, fried plantain and cassava bread, all cooked over glowing coals. The women who run the grills are friendly and generous with samples. It is messy, loud and unforgettable. Bring small bills.
Ride the Ferry Across the River
For a dollar the public ferry carries you across the Suriname River to the small town of Meerzorg. The ride takes maybe ten minutes and gives you the best view of Paramaribo’s skyline, the wooden rooftops rising above the trees. On the far side I rented a bicycle and pedaled along the quiet dirt roads, past riverside houses and grazing cattle. It felt a world away from the capital.
Stroll the Waterkant at Sunset
The waterfront road is where the city comes to relax. As the sun dropped, families spread blankets on the grass, teenagers kicked a football and vendors sold cold drinks. I sat on the low wall and watched the ferries and fishing boats move across the copper water. It is the simplest pleasure in Paramaribo and the one I miss the most.
Visit the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral
Deep in the old town stands the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, one of the largest wooden buildings in the Western Hemisphere. I am not religious, but I walked its aisles quietly. The warm timber interior, the soft light through high windows, the sense of age. It is easy to find, hard to forget, and free to enter.
Tour the Jodensavanne Ruins
A short drive south of the city, the ruins of Jodensavanne mark one of the first Jewish settlements in the Americas. I walked the empty streets and the roofless synagogue in near silence. The jungle is slowly reclaiming the brick arches. It is a poignant and peaceful half day trip, best done with a guide who can bring the history alive.
Try Surinamese Street Food
Every corner seemed to have a cart or a window selling roti, pom, bami or fried snacks called bakabana. I made a habit of ordering something I could not pronounce and was rewarded almost every time. The food blends Indonesian, Indian, Chinese and Creole cooking into something entirely its own. Eat often.
Explore the Palmentuin
The Palmentuin, a palm filled municipal park behind the Presidential Palace, surprised me. I stepped off the busy street and into a grove of towering palms where birds argued overhead. Green iguanas lounged near the paths. It is a cool, shaded place to rest a hot afternoon and a perfect pause between stops.
Visit the Surinaams Museum
Inside a former plantation building, the Surinaams Museum packs Suriname’s story into a few airy rooms: indigenous crafts, colonial furniture, Maroon culture and more. I came away with a clearer sense of a country shaped by many peoples. It is small, honest and worth an hour of your time.
Drink at a Wooden Bar
As night fell I found the backstreets full of wooden bars glowing with colored lights. The music drifted out over the gravel: kaseko rhythms from live bands, reggae and Dutch pop. I ordered a Parbo beer, cold and local, and watched the city’s social life unfold around tables of laughing friends.
Shop for Craft in a Market Stall
Carved calabash bowls, woven baskets and hand dyed fabrics fill the craft stalls near the historic centre. I bought a small calabash bowl painted with geometric Maroon patterns. The artisans will often show you how the design is painted. A good, original souvenir.
Take a Day Trip to a Plantation
Watch the River at Night
My last night I walked the Waterkant after dark. The lights of the city reflected in the black river, a warm breeze coming off the water, and the sounds of laughter drifting from the town behind me. That is Paramaribo: an old, slow, friendly capital you will not want to leave in a hurry.
