Holiday in Paramaribo

About Paramaribo

Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world — and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002. In this small city at the mouth of the Suriname River, Dutch colonial architecture, a synagogue next to a mosque, Hindu temples, Javanese warungs, and Creole culture coexist in close quarters. The Inner City (UNESCO World Heritage) preserves wooden colonial buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries: white-painted facades with green shutters, wide verandas, and tropical gardens. The St. Peter and Paul Cathedral is the largest wooden church in the Western Hemisphere. Paramaribo's culinary scene is as diverse as its population: Javanese Bami, Indian Roti, Creole Pom, Chinese Bakmi — all on one street. The Centrale Markt and the Waterkant along the riverside are the best places for this culinary melting pot experience. From Paramaribo, the rainforest is accessible: The Brownsberg Nature Park (2 h) offers hiking trails with waterfalls and monkeys, and the Maroon villages along the Upper Suriname provide insight into the culture of the descendants of escaped slaves who have lived in the rainforest for 300 years.