Things to Do in Suriname

From Paramaribo's wooden colonial old town to the depths of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Suriname is South America's smallest country and its only Dutch-speaking one, with a genuinely unusual multicultural mix of Dutch, Javanese, Indian, African and indigenous influence visible throughout Paramaribo. Its interior holds one of the largest protected areas of untouched rainforest in the world. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🏛️

Paramaribo Historic Inner City

A UNESCO World Heritage old town with distinctive wooden Dutch colonial architecture, a rare urban planning style blending Dutch and local building traditions.

📍 Paramaribo

🚉 The Dutch wooden centre is walkable: the Waterkant, the Presidential Palace and the cathedral are within a few blocks, and shared minibuses run from Heiligenweg for the outer districts.

🌳

Central Suriname Nature Reserve

A UNESCO World Heritage rainforest reserve covering roughly 10% of the country, protecting one of the largest intact tracts of untouched Amazonian rainforest anywhere in South America.

📍 Central Suriname

🚉 The reserve is reached by light aircraft to the Raleighvallen or Kayser airstrips, or by a long boat journey up the Coppename - both are arranged through the tour operators in Paramaribo.

🐢

Galibi Nature Reserve

A coastal reserve known for sea turtle nesting, including leatherback turtles, which come ashore to lay eggs primarily between February and August.

📍 Galibi, Marowijne District

🚉 Buses run from Paramaribo to Albina on the Marowijne river, about three hours, then a boat trip of 90 minutes downriver to the turtle beaches, which is the only access.

🕌

Paramaribo's Mosque and Synagogue

A mosque and synagogue standing directly beside each other in Paramaribo, sharing a parking lot - a small but genuine symbol of the religious diversity that defines the city.

📍 Paramaribo

🚉 The two stand side by side on Keizerstraat in the centre of Paramaribo, a 10-minute walk from the waterfront - a photograph that visitors come specifically to take.

Mark Suriname, get the stamp

🇸🇷SURINAMEVISITED

🇸🇷SURINAMELIVED

🇸🇷SURINAMEWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Suriname?

A week lets you combine Paramaribo's old town with a multi-day trip into the Central Suriname Nature Reserve or a river lodge in the interior.

What's the best time to visit Suriname?

August-November and February-April have somewhat drier conditions, though Suriname's equatorial climate means rain is possible at any time of year.

Is Suriname good for a first-time visit?

Yes, particularly Paramaribo, which is easy to navigate - the rainforest interior is typically visited through an organized eco-lodge or tour operator given the remote logistics.

Do I need a visa to visit Suriname?

Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online in advance for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: gov.sr.

What are some things to do in Suriname on a tight budget?

Walking Paramaribo's historic inner city costs nothing, local Surinamese food (reflecting its Javanese, Indian and Creole influences) is inexpensive, and joining a shared-group rainforest tour costs less than a private lodge stay.

Can I rent a car in Suriname, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and it works well along the coastal road between Paramaribo, Nieuw Nickerie and Albina - but the interior has no roads at all, and the rainforest reserves are reached by boat and light aircraft. A foreign licence is accepted for visits of up to six months when carried with an International Driving Permit; the minimum age is generally 23. Traffic drives on the left, a legacy of Dutch colonial rule. Official visitor information is published by the government at gov.sr.