Suriname
Suriname is South America's smallest country and one of its least visited: Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed wooden old town has a mosque and synagogue side by side, and beyond the coastal strip lies near-unbroken rainforest. Take a boat up the Suriname River to Maroon villages, fly into the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, or watch leatherback turtles nesting at Galibi.
Overview
Suriname's population of around 600,000 is one of the most diverse anywhere: descendants of enslaved Africans and Maroons, Hindustani and Javanese indentured workers, Chinese, Indigenous peoples and Dutch settlers, with Dutch as the official language and Sranan Tongo the street lingua franca. Almost everyone lives along the coast, and more than 90% of the country is forest. A typical trip spends a few days in Paramaribo, cycles the old plantations of Commewijne, then heads into the interior on a packaged lodge trip, by road and dugout up the Suriname River or by light aircraft to Raleighvallen. In season, add the turtle beaches near Galibi.
Travel here feels like nowhere else in South America. Paramaribo is relaxed and easy, with excellent, cheap food from roti shops, Javanese warungs and Chinese restaurants, and English is fairly widely understood. The interior is a different matter: there are few roads, so trips are organised through tour operators, and multi-day packages are the main expense. Crowds are almost non-existent, except at Dutch holiday times. It suits wildlife watchers, curious food lovers and anyone interested in cultural history. Visitors are often surprised by the Dutch feel of the capital, by driving on the left, and by how strongly Maroon traditions survive upriver.
Map of Suriname
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Paramaribo's historic centre
Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed centre is a grid of Dutch colonial wooden buildings, crowned by the soaring Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Nearby stand Fort Zeelandia on the river and the Keizerstraat mosque beside the Neveh Shalom synagogue.
- 2Nature
Central Suriname Nature Reserve
This UNESCO-listed wilderness covers 1.6 million hectares of pristine rainforest. Fly to the Raleighvallen rapids, then climb the granite dome of the Voltzberg for views over an unbroken canopy alive with monkeys and macaws.
- 3Culture
Upper Suriname River
Beyond the road's end at Atjoni, motorised dugouts carry visitors upriver to Saamaka Maroon villages and riverside lodges, with rapids to swim in, forest walks and traditions rooted in West Africa.
- 4Wildlife
Galibi Nature Reserve
Near the mouth of the Marowijne River, the beaches of the Galibi reserve host nesting leatherback, green and olive ridley turtles, mainly from April to August; visits are based in Indigenous Kalina villages.
- 5History
Commewijne plantations
Across the river from Paramaribo, flat cycle routes link former plantations built on enslaved labour, such as Peperpot and Marienburg, with the open-air museum at Fort Nieuw Amsterdam; look for Guiana dolphins where the rivers meet.
Biggest cities
Paramaribo
The capital's UNESCO-listed core of white-painted wooden mansions, Fort Zeelandia and the Waterkant riverfront is a delight on foot, with superb street food and markets.
Lelydorp
A growing satellite town south of Paramaribo on the road to the international airport, with little to see beyond its markets and roadside food stalls.
Nieuw Nickerie
The western rice-growing town near the Guyana border is a sleepy, orderly place, useful for birdwatching at the Bigi Pan wetlands and the crossing to Guyana.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Suriname
Best time: Aug–Nov, Feb–Mar.
Average climate in Paramaribo
Festivals & events
- MarPhagwa
The Hindu spring festival of colours brings crowds to Paramaribo's squares and temples, where everyone is doused in coloured powder and water to music and drumming.
- JulKeti Koti
Emancipation Day on 1 July — 'cut chains' in Sranan Tongo — marks the 1863 abolition of slavery with music, traditional koto dress and festivities across Paramaribo.
- DecOwru Yari
On New Year's Eve, Paramaribo's Waterkant and Domineestraat fill with street parties, and businesses compete to set off the longest pagara, huge red strings of firecrackers.
How much does Suriname cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Pom
A Creole oven bake of grated pomtajer root layered with citrus-marinated chicken, served at birthdays and stuffed into the famous broodje pom sandwich.
Roti
Hindustani-Surinamese flatbread served with curried chicken, potato, long beans and a boiled egg — tear and scoop with your hands.
Saoto soep
Javanese-Surinamese chicken broth with bean sprouts, shredded chicken, fried potato sticks and a boiled egg, sharpened with lime and sambal.
Getting around
Private minibuses run from Paramaribo's central stations along the coastal East–West Link to Nieuw Nickerie and Albina, leaving when full. There are no railways. The interior is reached by road and motorised dugout or by small plane from Zorg en Hoop airport, almost always as part of an organised trip. Taxis are unmetered, so agree fares first; car hire means driving on the left.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- ABCF127V — bring a UK-to-A/B/C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +597
- Time zone
- UTC-3 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Varies — bottled or filtered is safer
- Driving
- On the left
- Tipping
- Around 10% in sit-down restaurants if service isn't included; round up taxi fares and tip interior guides, boatmen and cooks at the end.
- Etiquette
- Remove shoes in mosques and Hindu temples. In Maroon and Indigenous villages, ask before taking photos, follow your guide's lead on local customs, and dress modestly.
- Main airports
- Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), Paramaribo
Visas & entry for Suriname
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can visit Suriname without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days. You must pay an entry fee of 54 US dollars before you travel.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must get a visa and meet the Suriname government’s entry requirements.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoidYellow fever
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BRabies
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK. There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Suriname
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Diwali |
| Wed 25 Nov 2026 | Independence Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Second Day of Christmas |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Sat 6 Feb 2027 | Chinese New Year |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Holi |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Thu 1 Jul 2027 | Day of Freedoms |
| Mon 9 Aug 2027 | Indigenous People Day |
| Sun 10 Oct 2027 | Day of the Maroons |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Dutch
| English | Dutch | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo | HAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank u wel | DAHNK ew vel |
| Please | Alstublieft | AHL-stew-bleeft |
| Excuse me | Pardon | par-DON |
| How much is this? | Hoeveel kost dit? | hoo-VAYL kost dit |
Know before you go
- From the UK, the simplest route is via Amsterdam, which has direct flights to Paramaribo; the airport is about 45 km south of the city, so pre-book a transfer.
- Bring US dollars or euros in cash and change them at official cambios; many hotels and tour operators quote prices in foreign currency, and the Surinamese dollar can fluctuate sharply.
- Book interior trips with an established operator at least a few days ahead; departures depend on minimum numbers, and flights to remote airstrips can be cancelled by weather.
Suriname travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Suriname?
The best time to visit Suriname is generally Aug–Nov, Feb–Mar. Peak months are February, March, August, September, October and November. Average highs in Paramaribo range from 29°C to 32°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Suriname cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £90 mid-range and £180+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Suriname?
Surinamese dollar (SRD).
What plug type does Suriname use?
Type A, B, C and F sockets at 127V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Suriname?
Traffic drives on the left in Suriname — the same as in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Suriname?
Varies — bottled or filtered is safer.
Do I need a visa for Suriname?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Suriname without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Suriname before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/suriname/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Suriname?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow fever for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
