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South America : Suriname : Paramaribo

Paramaribo

Paramaribo, often called Par'bo, is the most populated district of Suriname.

Understand

Even though the official language is Dutch, due to the extremely high number of immigrants, the most widely spoken language in Paramaribo is Sranantongo.

Get in

By plane

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has three weekly direct flights from Amsterdam. Surinam Airways (Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij) also has three weekly direct flights from Amsterdam. If you're coming from Europe another alternative is to fly with Air France from Paris to Cayenne (in French Guiana) and travel from there, either by plane or overland. This route is generally not recommended (why?).

From the United States, airline service is available from Miami and New York (JFK) via Carribean Airlines [1], which stops in Trinidad-Tobago enroute to Suriname. From August 2008 it is also possible to fly with Surinam Airways to and from Miami with a stop in Aruba. On the way to the USA the Aruba stop is used for the customs and imigration procedure so that at arrival in Miami you do not have to go to customs anymore.

From Brasil, there is twice per week a flight by Suriname Airways from Belém to Paramaribo vice versa. The flight takes 1 hour and half and only drinks are served.

From the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, also known as Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport, into Paramaribo there is a bus running. It takes about an hour. There are also taxi's available. The situation outside the airport is a bit chaotic. Many taxi-drivers hustling for clients.

In January 2009, a one-way taxi fare to the city center was SRD 100 while the bus would cost SRD 45. You can change money inside the airport terminal while you wait for your baggage.

By train

By boat

Little boats can take you over the Suriname river to Commewijne. Till 2001 there was a ferry but with the completion of the Wijdenbosch Bridge the ferry was taken out of order.

Get around

By car

There are several car rentals services based in Paramaribo. Suriname has the English driving system. The steering wheel of the cars is on the right.

By bus

In Suriname the buses are private. The drivers, however do follow routes that are collectively determined. The buses are somewhere between private taxis and public transportation, and only leave the “bus station” when they are totally full, meaning there are not specific schedules. If you do see a bus, take note that the buses are hand-painted.

See

Museums

  • Fort Zeelandia, Abraham Crijnssenweg 1, ☎ (+597) 42 58 71(fax: (+597) 42 58 81), [2].  
  • St. Peter and Paul Cathedral.  
  • Royal Palm Gardens.  
  • Presidential Palace.  
  • Historical city center.  
  • Jodensavanne.  

Do

Have a walk in the Maagdenstraat where you will see a lot of Chinese jewelers. Most of the jewelers are specialized in labor-intensive handmade jewels. It is also quite cheap to give your jewels a bath giving them the glow they used to have, or to simply repair them.

Have a Chinese breakfast and eat dim sum at

  • Sun Do, corner of Weidestraat and F. Derbiestraat. Serves good dim sum. 
  • Liang Lang, corner Dr. J.F. Nassylaan and F. Derbiestraat. Famous for their 'tjoeng' 
  • Dumpling #1, Dr. J.F. Nassylaan 1. Famous for their king crab 

Visit the nightclubs(most popular in the weekends)

  • Mystique Poolcafe, Wilhelminastraat 147, ☎ 8507550, [3].  
  • Margaritas Poolcafé, Kleine Dwarsstraat 3, ☎ (+597) 52 01 54(fax: 520155), [4].  
  • Club Bkoz, Mangolaan 118, ☎ 546904(b-koz@kekemba.info, fax: 546904), [5]. 21:00 till 02:00, on Saturday from 22:00 till 04:00. From 24 januari 2009 club Bkoz has closed its doors. At kekemba resort you can still come in the day- and evening time to swim, relax and take a steam bathOnly on Saturday entrance srd 5. People staying at Kekemba Resort Paramaribo entrance for free. Every Saturday night: Gay Night.  

Sauna

  • Sauna Kekemba Resort Paramaribo, Mangolaan 118, ☎ 546904(kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: 546904), [6]. 10:00 - 02:00. Come and have a relaxing steam bath in Sauna C100. C100 is part of Kekemba Resort Paramaribo. The resort is also open for locals and other people staying in Suriname. For guests staying with us the sauna is, of course, free. Besides the steam sauna there is a relax space, relax cabins, bar, xxx-rated movie area, outside relax area. You can also use the swimmingpool and hot tub of Kekemba Resortsrd 15 - srd 30.  

Visit waterkant and enjoy the sunset

Visit the flea-market on Sunday

Visit the flower expo at the Letitia Vriesdelaan which happens is scheduled every other Sunday. They sell different type of orchids, cacti, and other plants.

Tour companies

  • Oxygen Eco Tours, Waterkant 4, ☎ (+597) 41 01 00, [7].  
  • METS Travels and Tours, Dr. J.F. Nassylaan 2, Paramaribo, ☎ (+597) 477 088(mets@sr.net, fax: (+597) 42 23 32), [8]. Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.  
  • Dubois & Dubois, Eldoradolaan 22, ☎ (+597) 47 69 02(fax: (+597) 472 377).  
  • StiNaSu, Cornelis Jongbawstraat 10, ☎ (+597) 47 18 56(fax: (+597) 42 18 50), [9].  
  • Zus&Zo, Grote Combeweg 13a, ☎ (+597) 52 09 05(info@zusenzosuriname.com), [10].  
  • Fietsen in Suriname (Bike tours), Grote Combeweg 13a, ☎ (+597) 52 07 81(info@fietseninsuriname.com), [11].  

Learn

  • Anton de Kom University of Surinam, Leysweg 86, Universiteitscomplex, Building IV, ☎ (+597) 46 55 58(ucc@uvs.edu, fax: (+597) 46 22 91), [12].  

Work

Buy

Eat

Breakfast

  • Anthony's Corner, Domineestraat 44, ☎ (+597) 42 28 28 / 47 49 32(fax: (+597) 42 28 25).  
  • Dumpling #1, Dr. J.F. Nassylaan 12, ☎ (+597) 88 12 60.  
  • Kekemba Resort Paramaribo (ontbijt), Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 546904(kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: (597)546906), [13]. 08:00 - 12:00. If you come early to Kekemba Resort for a swim or to relax in the steam sauna you can start the day with having breakfast in our breakfast room. A good breakfast with tea, coffie, bread, cheese, marmelade, juice, eggs, meat, yoghurt etc.srd 26.  

Fast Food

  • Burger King, Wagenwegstraat 3-7, ☎ (+597) 47 00 62 / 47 00 64 / 47 00 65.  
  • Domino Pizza, Coppenamestraat 9, ☎ (+597) 40 01 83 / 80 15 89 / 45 70 07.  
  • KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken, Waterkant 76, ☎ (+597) 42 52 54(fax: (+597) 42 51 91).  
  • KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wilhelminastraat 62, ☎ (+597) 42 42 42 / 42 22 67(fax: (+597) 42 43 43).  
  • McDonald's, Keizerstraat 62-64, ☎ (+597) 42 15 11 / 42 57 78(fax: (+597) 42 57 01).  
  • Pizza Hut, Wilhelminastraat 62, ☎ (+597) 42 44 44 / 42 23 38(fax: (+597) 42 23 68).  
  • Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits, Domineestraat 39, ☎ (+597) 42 64 01(fax: (+597) 42 64 01). . On the first floor of the Krasnapolsky Hotel. Popeye's serves Cajun style fast food. 
  • Saborella, Plutostraat 104-106, ☎ (+597) 45 36 04(fax: (+597) 45 11 66).  

Warm meals

  • Mirosso Indonesisch Restaurant, J. Samson Greenstraat 104, ☎ (+597) 45 53 62(fax: (+597) 45 28 71). 18:00 - 24:00 Except on Monday. Friday and Saturday till 02:00. Javanese restaurant which has received the Fernand de Rooy Certificate 
  • Kris' Roti. East Indian restaurant well known for their roti with chicken. 
  • Joosje Roti Shop, Zwartenhovenbrugstraat 9, ☎ (+597) 47 26 06(fax: (+597) 42 47 38). Mon-Sat: 08:30 am - 10:00 pm. East indian restaurant well known for their roti with chicken in the center of town. 
  • Fatai Restaurant, Maagdenstraat 64, ☎ (+597) 47 39 17 / 42 00 15 / 80 64 48(fax: (+597) 42 28 25).  
  • Kekemba Resort Paramaribo (warm meals), Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 546904(kekemba@kekemba.info). 13:00 - 22:00. Friday and Saturday till 02:00. Closed on Sunday. For our guests we can serve warm meals, but also for the locals who come for a swim or the steam bath. We always have fench fries with vegtables and meat. You can also enjoy our plate of the day. Every day something made in the surinam way.srd 15 - srd 30.  

Cafe's

  • 't vat, Kleine Waterstraat 1, ☎ 424631(fax: 424790).  

Cozy

  • Pannekoek & Poffertjes Cafe, Sommelsdijckstraat, van 11, ☎ 422914/8570415.  
  • Kekemba Resort Paramaribo (cozy), Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597)546904(kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: (+597)546906), [14]. 10:00 - 23:00. Do you look for a cozy, not so crowded, place to have a drink or a cocktail. Kekemba Resort Paramaribo is the place. You can sit at the upstairs bar with view on the swimming pool, or have your drink sitting at or in the swimming pool with your one and only true love. Then go relax in the hot tub and then cool down in one of our hammocks. Prices of the drinks start from srd 5 for soft or juice, our cocktails start at srd 10.srd 5.  

Restaurants

  • Shin Kong restaurant, Gompertstraat 16, ☎ (+597) 45 35 69.  
  • Dok 204 restaurant, Anton Dragtenweg 204, ☎ (+597) 31 14 62(fax: (+597) 31 14 61).  
  • Lee's Korean Restaurant, Mahonylaan 12-14, ☎ (+597) 47 98 34(fax: (+597) 42 06 95).  
  • Chi Min, Cornelis Jongbawstraat 83, ☎ (+597) 41 21 55(fax: (+597) 42 70 57). 11:00 - 23:00. Chinese restaurant specialised in seafood. 
  • Palm Palace, Cornelis Jongbawstraat 34-36, ☎ (+597) 47 64 27(fax: (+597) 41 21 67). Chinese restaurant 

Sleep

Guesthouses

Hotels

  • Royal Torarico Hotel, Kleine Waterstraat 10, ☎ (+597) 47 35 00(info@royaltorarica.com, fax: (+597) 47 38 08), [19]. checkin: 5:00 pm; checkout: 1:00 pm. Standard rooms start at USD 145 per room per night.  
  • Spanhoek Boutique Hotel, Domineestraat 2-4, ☎ (+597) 47 78 88(info@spanhoekhotel.com, fax: (+597) 42 71 21), [20]. checkin: 12:30 am; checkout: 2:30 pm. The hotel opened its doors in November 2007.Double rooms start from EUR 110 per room per night.  
  • Hotel & Casino Torarica, Mr. L.J. Rietbergplein 1, ☎ (+597) 47 15 00(info@torarica.com, fax: (+597) 41 16 82), [21]. checkin: 5:00 pm; checkout: 1:00 pm. 4½-starStandard rooms start at USD 140 per room per night.  
  • Residence Inn Paramaribo, Anton Dragtenweg 7, ☎ (+597) 47 23 87(info@resinn.com, fax: (+597) 42 48 11), [22]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. 4-star 
  • Hotel La Petite Maison, Waterkant 4, ☎ (+597) 47 54 66(info@hotellapetitemaison.com, fax: (+597) 47 54 77), [23]. checkin: 12:00 am; checkout: 12:00 am.  
  • Eco Resort Inn, Cornelis Jongbawstraat 16, ☎ (+597) 42 55 22(info@ecoresortinn.com, fax: (+597) 42 55 10), [24]. checkin: 5:00 pm; checkout: 1:00 pm. A standard double room starts at USD 106.  
  • Krasnapolsky Hotel, Domineestraat 39, ☎ (+597) 47 50 50(reservations@krasnapolsky.sr, fax: (597) 42 01 39), [25]. The Krasnapolsky hotel is situated in down-town Paramaribo. 
  • North Resort Hotel, J.D. Gompertstraat 145-147, ☎ (+597) 45 75 91(info@northresort.sr, fax: (+597) 45 75 27), [26].  
  • Paramuru Hotel, Waaldijkstraat 28, ☎ (+597) 41 10 19(info@paramuru.com, fax: (+597) 41 10 20), [27].  
  • Tran Elite Hotel, J.D. Gompertstraat 143, ☎ (+597) 45 82 75(tran@sr.net, fax: (+597) 45 82 74), [28]. 3-star 
  • Hotels in Suriname, [29].  

Apartments

  • Guesthouse Stay-Cey, Verlengde Hoogestraat 41, ☎ (+597) 41 20 19(fax: (+597) 42 05 61), [30]. Rooms start at EUR 30 per room per night.  
  • Amber Apartments Paramaribo, Belemstraat 4, ☎ (+597) 47 32 03.  
  • Linur Apartments, Gonggrijpstraat 49, ☎ (+597) 35 40 86 / 42 05 32(info@linur-apartments.com), [31].  
  • Kekemba Resort Paramaribo, Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 54 69 04(kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: (+597) 54 69 04), [32]. Stay in one of our luxury studio apartments with breakfast, swimming pool, hot tub, hammocks and steam sauna. Make Kekemba Resort Paramaribo your hub for traveling to the interiour of Suriname with the untouched rainforest and for you daytrips to the many cultural sites to visit. We are the only really gay friendly resort of Suriname. The mix of gay- and non-gay couples give Kekemba the right athmosphere. Here holiday really is holiday.Prices start at EUR 60 per night.  

Sauna

  • Steam Sauna C100, Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 546904(kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: (+597) 546906), [33]. 14:00 - 22:00 on Saterday 02:00. Steam Sauna Onehunderddegreescelcius. Come and have a relaxing steam bath in Sauna C100. C100 is part of Kekemba Resort Paramaribo. The resort is also open for locals and other people staying in Suriname. For guests staying with us the sauna is, of course, free. Besides the steam sauna there is a relax space, relax cabins, bar, xxx-rated movie area, outside relax area. You can also use the swimmingpool and hot tub of Kekemba Resortfrom srd 15.  

Contact

This page was last edited at 14:46, on 25 March 2009 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Pascal Schoenmaekers, Peter Fitzgerald and Amice, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.