A Self Guided Walk in Paramaribo
The core of Paramaribo is a grid roughly 2 km across, laid out beside the river and almost completely flat. That makes a self guided morning walk easy, with time left over for the market and the fort. The plan below starts early, when the air is cool and the fort is about to open. Paid walking tours with local agencies exist as well and cost about EUR 20 to 25 per person.
Before you set out
- Carry a refillable bottle. Tap water in the city is treated and safe to drink.
- Wear sturdy flat shoes. Pavements are uneven and many streets have open drains called goten.
- Take cash in Surinamese dollars (SRD) for the market and snacks.
- Keep your phone and camera out of sight near the minibus ranks around the Centrale Markt.
07:30 Independence Square
Begin at Onafhankelijkheidsplein, the civic square that faces the river. The white wooden Presidential Palace stands at one end, and the Court of Justice is beside it. Statues of the independence-era leaders Johan Adolf Pengel and Jagernath Lachmon are in the square. The palace is for viewing from outside.
08:00 Palmentuin
Walk around the palace to the Palmentuin, the garden of royal palms with shell paths and benches. Gates are listed as open from 06:00 until 18:00. Walk here in the morning and leave well before dusk, since crime has been reported in the park.
08:20 Cathedral
Follow Henck Arronstraat, a street of white and green timber houses, to Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral. The interior is unpainted cedar. Visit when Mass is not being held, and cover your shoulders.
08:50 Keizerstraat
Turn south to Keizerstraat. Neveh Shalom synagogue and Mosque Keizerstraat stand side by side. Enter the synagogue only by prior arrangement. The outside view is enough for most visitors.
09:15 Waterkant and the market
Head west to the river promenade. Numbers 2 to 8 are a row of 18th and 19th century wooden merchant houses. The Centrale Markt is open Monday to Saturday from 06:00 to 16:00, so it is a good place for fruit and a drink. Street food stalls here usually start in the evening instead.
10:00 Fort Zeelandia
End at the fort on Abraham Crijnssenweg. It holds the Surinaams Museum and Bastion Veere, where fifteen men were killed in December 1982. The bastion is a national monument, and quiet respect is expected. Listed hours are Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 14:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00. It is closed Monday and Saturday, so plan another day if you are walking on those days. Check hours and fees before you set out.
Distance and pace
The whole circuit is about 3.5 km and takes around 2.5 hours at a steady pace with short stops. On a hot day, stop for a drink, as midday sun on the equator is strong. The old town is safe in daylight, but avoid walking along dark riverbanks after nightfall. The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge is for vehicles, so do not plan to walk across it.
Read more: Sightseeing in Paramaribo explains what each building is.
Booking help
For a guide on the same route, compare tours on Viator . Rules on safety and entry are on the UK government travel advice page .