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Paramaribo is a colonial, but also very tropical city. Everyone knows everyone and the rhythm of life is wonderfully slow. Have a beer on the Waterfront, walk through the colorful inner city and take a trip to Fort Zeelandia.
Paramaribo is the only significant city in the South American country and it is here that all planes and boats arrive.
Suriname is a former Dutch colony so it’s no surprise that Dutch airline companies like KLM offer flights to this destination on a regular base.
The Surinamese Aviation Company, also known as Surinam Airways, is the national airline of Suriname. It is the most used airline company for domestic flights.
From New York, Paramaribo can be reached in 9 hours and 20 minutes with a stopover. London has a flight time of 10 hours and 55 minutes. This requires a stopover in Amsterdam.
The most beautiful and important street in the city runs parallel to the Suriname River. Trade ships arrived here in the past. Large colonial houses dominate this street which was largely destroyed in 1821 by a major fire. Many expensive merchant houses were lost.
This fort, which today serves as a museum, was founded around 1600 by Dutch people. From here they traded and defended their settlement against attacks from outside. After several conquests by, among others, the English and the French, the fort became a barracks and prison years later. At this place are a number of beautiful officers' homes and a former powder house which now serves as a pharmacy.
The most important buildings of the city are located on this green square in Paramaribo. Here you will find the Ministry of Justice & Police, conference hall, governor's house, Ministry of the Interior and the presidential palace. If official events take place, it will usually be on this square.
If you spend a few days in Paramaribo before traveling further, stay in a small local hotel instead of big international resort. Also there are several local tours available to see and experience the city.