Paramaribo

Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname on the bank of the Suriname River, is one of the most distinctive and atmospheric cities in South America, its historic inner city a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its streets are lined with elegant Dutch colonial architecture rendered uniquely in white-painted timber, a graceful fusion of European style and tropical materials, presided over by the vast wooden Fort Zeelandia and the striking wooden cathedral. Above all, Paramaribo embodies Suriname's extraordinary diversity, where a mosque and synagogue stand side by side and Creole, Indian, Javanese, Chinese, Maroon and Indigenous cultures blend.

What you actually see

• The colonial old town - the white timber Dutch colonial buildings.
• Fort Zeelandia - the historic riverside fort and museum.
• The wooden cathedral - one of the largest wooden buildings.
• The mosque and synagogue - the symbols of the city's tolerance.

When to go

The drier periods, roughly February to April and August to November, are the most comfortable, avoiding the two rainy seasons; Paramaribo is hot and humid year-round. The city is the gateway to Suriname's vast rainforest interior and rewards a day or two exploring its unique architecture, culture and cuisine before heading inland.

Honest expectations

Paramaribo is a small, hot, humid and somewhat faded tropical capital rather than a grand city, and some of its historic timber buildings are weathered, though this adds to the atmosphere; it is a base and cultural introduction rather than a place of blockbuster sights. As a genuinely unique tropical Dutch colonial city and a living mosaic of the world's cultures and faiths, though, Paramaribo is a fascinating and welcoming place.

Nearby

The Commewijne plantations, the rainforest interior and the coast are within reach.