Paramaribo Historic Inner City Sights

October 31, 2026

UNESCO inscribed Paramaribo’s Historic Inner City in 2002 for its mix of Dutch colonial design with local materials and African spatial traditions. The old town sits on the west bank of the Suriname River, around 15 to 20 km from the Atlantic. This page sorts its sights by theme rather than by street.

Quick facts

Setting: a flat grid of painted timber buildings on red brick footings
Most sights are free to see from outside
Best hours: before 10:30 and after 15:30
Dress modestly in places of worship
Taxis are unmetered, so fix the fare first

Places of worship

Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral. The address is Henck Arronstraat 22 to 24. Building took place from 1883 to 1885, with the towers following in 1901. After restoration the church reopened on 13 November 2010, and since 2014 it has been a minor basilica. Wikipedia lists it among the largest wooden buildings in the Western Hemisphere, about 59 m long and 16.5 m wide, with towers of 44 m. The crypt holds the tomb of Blessed Peerke Donders. Opening times differ between listings, but the church is generally open when no Mass is on.

Keizerstraat. Neveh Shalom synagogue at number 82 was started in 1835 and completed in 1842. A Liberal congregation is active there, and a small museum belongs to it. Arrange visits ahead through the Jewish community. The sand on the synagogue floor is, by tradition, a reminder of the desert years. Mosque Keizerstraat, finished in 1984, is its neighbour on the same street.

Government and gardens

Onafhankelijkheidsplein. Independence Square faces the river. The Presidential Palace dates from 1730 and is a white wooden building with a pediment, seen from outside only. The Court of Justice is also on the square.

Palmentuin. Royal palms planted in the late 17th century shade this park behind the palace. The gates are listed as open from about 06:00 until 18:00. Petty and violent crime has been reported in the park, so use it by day.

River trade

Waterkant. The row at numbers 2 to 8 shows how merchants built after the 1821 and 1832 fires. Look for the galleries, shuttered windows, steep roofs and raised brick bases. The Centrale Markt, open Monday to Saturday from 06:00 to 16:00, is alongside.

The fort and its museum

Fort Zeelandia at Abraham Crijnssenweg 1 is a star-shaped riverside fortress. The Surinaams Museum is in its brick officers’ quarters. Within the fort, Bastion Veere is a national monument to fifteen men who were killed in December 1982. Visit it with restraint. The fort opens Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00, and it closes on Monday and Saturday. Hours and ticket prices come from listings, so confirm them beforehand.

Seeing it well

The most useful single resource for UNESCO background is the World Heritage Centre page . For the synagogue, contact the Jewish community . A water taxi from Platte Brug crosses to Meerzorg in about five minutes for SRD 20 to 30, and the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge is for road traffic only.

Where to find guides

Local guides for the old town can be searched on GetYourGuide .