Hostels in PARAMARIBO, SURINAME

City Paramaribo – City and Port with Colonial Buildings

Paramaribo is the capital city and in fact the largest city of Suriname. Located in the Paramaribo District on the banks of River Suriname, the city is also the main port of the country. Museums and a number of colonial buildings make the city an interesting place to visit.

Accommodation Options and Languages Spoken:
Guesthouse is one of the preferred accommodations in the city and one can find many of them. Apart from them, one can choose among budget hotels and apartments. The official language is Dutch, though most of the people can be heard speaking in Sranantongo.

Getting Around:
Cars on rent are available to take the tourists around the city. One can also use the private bus services to move around the city. While exploring the old parts of the city, it is recommended to hire a professional guide.

History:
The area was discovered by Dutch in 1630 to help the trade to flourish through seaways. However, the English overtook the place in the year 1650. Soon, it was recovered by Dutch and in the similar way, it kept on rolling between the two colonial powers. Finally, the Dutch succeeded to rule the region for a longer time till the independence was granted to Suriname in the year 1975. Two fire breakouts in the years 1821 and 1832 influenced major areas of the city. Over all the centuries, people from various countries and cultures kept on arriving at Paramaribo, making it a culturally diverse city, along with other parts of the country.

Popular Places:
As mentioned earlier, the city is famous for its buildings designed using colonial architecture. Though, many of the buildings are not in good state, but they can definitely be visited to experience the colonial charm. St. Peter and Paul Cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions in the city. Historical city centre is another venue to witness the marks of bygone era. Because of various old buildings, the inner city of Paramaribo has been included in the World Heritage List.

Royal Palm Gardens, Suriname Mosque and Houten Church are other landmarks in the city worth visiting. You can also visit Fort Zeelandia and Palmentuin, a park with a number of palm trees. Neve Shalom Synagogue and Numismatic Museum are also preferred by the tourists to explore the history of the place.

Places of Entertainment:
Uitgaanscentrumis literally the ‘moving-out centre’ that accommodates a number of hotels, restaurants and bars. A number of entertainment clubs can also be located in different city parts. One can wish to purchase Chinese jewellery and other items like wooden carvings and handicrafts. Restaurants and cafes are available in plenty to offer great menus.

Currency:
The official currency of Paramaribo is Suriname dollar, further divided into 100 cents per Suriname dollar. Internet is the best source to learn about the news related to the currency’s exchange rate. 

Group accommodation in Paramaribo | Cheap hostels & budget hotels