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Suriname travel guide
Dutch colonial charm, rainforest rivers and many cultures.
Suriname is a small, Dutch-speaking country on South America's north coast, mostly covered in rainforest. Paramaribo's wooden colonial centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a mosque and synagogue stand side by side.
Travel tools
Getting there
Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport near Paramaribo has flights from the Netherlands, the Caribbean and South America. Ferries and boats cross the border rivers to Guyana and French Guiana.
Best time to visit: Aug–Nov – the long dry season.
Tougher months: May to mid-August – the long rainy season, when trails are muddy, though rivers are high and the forest is lush.
Weather by month in Paramaribo
- 30°J●●
- 30°F●
- 31°M●
- 31°A●●
- 31°M●●●
- 31°J●●●
- 31°J●●
- 32°A●
- 33°S
- 33°O
- 32°N●
- 31°D●●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: America/Paramaribo. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 21 of 198 other passports can enter Suriname without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 176 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 1 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Suriname (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-08). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Suriname travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Suriname are based around Paramaribo, Commewijne District or Central Suriname Nature Reserve. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$40–60 for a backpacker and US$90–160 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Suriname page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 127 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +597.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Paramaribo (Capital · colonial architecture): A UNESCO-listed city of wooden buildings, markets and multicultural life.
- Commewijne District (Coast · plantations): Historic plantations, Fort Nieuw Amsterdam and countryside cycling.
- Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Interior · rainforest): Huge pristine rainforest with Raleigh Falls and the Voltzberg dome.
- Brownsberg Nature Park (Interior · mountain views): A hilltop park with monkeys, waterfalls and views over the Brokopondo Reservoir.
- Upper Suriname River (Interior · Maroon villages): River lodges and traditional villages reached by dugout canoe.
- Galibi Nature Reserve (Northeast · turtle beaches): Important nesting beaches for sea turtles near Indigenous Kaliña villages.
- Bigi Pan (West coast · wetlands): Mangrove lagoons famous for scarlet ibis and other birds.
Things to do
- Walk Paramaribo's historic centre. Stroll among white wooden colonial houses, Fort Zeelandia and the riverside Waterkant.
- See a mosque and synagogue side by side. Visit Keizerstraat, where a mosque and a synagogue stand next to each other.
- Cycle the Commewijne plantations. Cross the river by boat and bike through old plantation estates and quiet villages.
- Spot river dolphins. Take a sunset boat trip to see Guiana dolphins where the Suriname and Commewijne rivers meet.
- Explore the Central Suriname Nature Reserve. Venture into a vast UNESCO-protected rainforest with waterfalls and abundant wildlife.
- Stay in a Maroon village. Travel up the Upper Suriname River to stay in a lodge and learn about Maroon culture.
- Watch nesting sea turtles. See leatherback and green turtles nesting at Galibi beach in season.
- Climb the Voltzberg. Hike through jungle to a granite dome with sweeping views over the rainforest.
Source: full Suriname guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Roti – flatbread with curried chicken and potatoes
- Pom – baked dish of chicken and grated tayer root
- Bami – Javanese-style fried noodles
- Moksi alesi – mixed rice with meat and vegetables
Source: RoamSun Suriname guide
Money and safety
Currency: Surinamese dollar (SRD). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants..
Emergency numbers: 115 police · 113 ambulance · 110 fire.
- The currency is the Surinamese dollar (SRD); US dollars and euros are also widely used for larger purchases.
- ATMs are available in Paramaribo, but cards are not always accepted, so carry cash for the interior and markets.
- Use normal precautions in Paramaribo, especially at night, and avoid isolated areas.
- Drive on the left and watch out for scooters and animals on rural roads.
Source: RoamSun Suriname facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Suriname?
Aug–Nov – the long dry season. Hot and humid all year, with two rainy seasons.
What time zone is Suriname in?
Suriname uses America/Paramaribo.
Do I need a visa for Suriname?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 21 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 176 need an e-visa or eTA and 1 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Suriname use?
Suriname uses plug type C, F at 127 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Suriname?
The international calling code for Suriname is +597.
Do you tip in Suriname?
About 10% in restaurants..
What is the emergency number in Suriname?
115 police · 113 ambulance · 110 fire.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Suriname?
Traffic drives on the left.