Paramaribo and the Suriname River

Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname and lies on the left bank of the Suriname River, a few kilometres from the Atlantic. The centre was laid out by the Dutch from the 17th century, and the streets still feature white wooden houses with steep roofs, green windows and front stairs, set on brick bases. The ensemble has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.

The centre is best explored on foot. Forte Zeelandia, on the riverfront, houses the Suriname Museum. Behind the presidential palace are the palm trees of the Palmentuin, and the Waterkant, the riverside street, leads to the Central Market. On Gravenstraat, the Cathedral of São Pedro e São Paulo is entirely wooden. On Keizerstraat, the mosque and the Sinagoga Neve Shalom sit side by side, a portrait of a city where descendants of Indians, Javanese, Africans, Chinese, Jews, indigenous peoples and Europeans live together.

On the other side of the river is the district of Commewijne, with old sugar and coffee plantations, Forte Nieuw Amsterdam and boat trips where gray dolphins often appear. To the south, about a hundred kilometres in a straight line, Brownsberg Nature Park rises to a forested plateau above Brokopondo Lake.

The official language is Dutch, sranan tongo is widely heard in the streets and many people speak English. The currency is the Surinamese dollar, and cars drive on the left.

This destination brings together 1 city: Paramaribo.