Paramaribo’s UNESCO-listed old town is flat and compact, which makes it one of the easiest colonial centres in the Americas to cover on foot. A loop of about 3.5 km takes roughly 2.5 hours with stops. Local agencies also run guided walks, at about EUR 20 to 25 per person. The self guided route below starts at the river fort and ends at the market. The route Fort Zeelandia. Start at the brick bastions on Abraham Crijnssenweg.

Paramaribo’s Historic Inner City became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. It is a compact grid of painted timber buildings, mostly white with dark green or charcoal trim, standing on red brick foundations beside the Suriname River. The main sights are close together, and most visitors cover them in a day. The details of the UNESCO listing are on the UNESCO World Heritage page . Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral The cathedral stands at Henck Arronstraat 22 to 24.

Paramaribo is a romantic city in a quiet, unhurried way. The setting is a wooden old town beside a wide brown river, with warm evenings and good food. It is not a beach destination. The coast is mud and mangrove, and swimming in the Suriname River at Paramaribo is dangerous, so romantic plans here centre on boats, dinners and slow mornings. Prices are in Surinamese dollars (SRD), but boat and lodge operators often quote in euros.

Suriname’s interior is reached from Paramaribo by road and river. The three classic multi day trips are a stay at a Maroon river lodge, an expedition into the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and a turtle-watching trip to Galibi. Each is sold as an all-inclusive package, and prices are usually quoted per person in euros. Use an established operator, as the UK government advises for central Suriname. Upper Suriname River A 3 or 4 day stay on the Upper Suriname River is the standard interior trip.

Paramaribo suits families who like animals and boats. The main outings are a river cruise, a flat forest trail, a small zoo and a day at a blackwater creek. The city is hot all year, with highs near 32 degrees Celsius, so plan outdoor time for the morning or late afternoon. Prices are in Surinamese dollars (SRD) unless an operator quotes in euros or US dollars. Dolphin trip from Leonsberg Boats leave the Leonsberg jetty, about 15 minutes by taxi from the centre, for Guiana dolphins in the Suriname estuary.

Paramaribo works well as a base for day trips. The Commewijne river and its old plantations are a boat ride away. The Brownsberg plateau and the Jodensavanne ruins are a drive south. Prices below are per person and are often quoted in euros or US dollars. Treat them as a guide and ask your operator what is included. Commewijne plantation cruise This full-day trip takes six to eight hours and leaves from the Leonsberg jetty on a covered wooden boat.

The attractions around Paramaribo are a fortress museum in the old town, two sites across the river in the Commewijne district and a UNESCO-listed ruin about 50 km south. Plan around opening hours, which differ from site to site, and check them before you go. Fees are quoted in Surinamese dollars (SRD), but tour operators often price in euros or US dollars. Fort Zeelandia and the Surinaams Museum Fort Zeelandia stands on the riverbank at Abraham Crijnssenweg 1.

Paramaribo sits on the west bank of the Suriname River, about 15 to 20 km upstream from the Atlantic. It is hot and humid all year, with temperatures of 26 to 32 degrees Celsius. The city has no ocean beaches, because the coast here is mangrove and mudflat. The best days out are on boats, in markets and at the weekly bird contest. The local currency is the Surinamese dollar (SRD), and tour operators often quote in euros or US dollars.