Paramaribo’s old town: a walk through 350 years of history
A self-guided walk through Paramaribo's UNESCO old town, past wooden mansions, the fort and the aromas of the Central Market.
Paramaribo’s old town has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2002: one of the last surviving 17th-century Dutch colonial town centres in the world where the wooden character is still largely intact.
Starting point: Fort Zeelandia
Start at Fort Zeelandia on the Suriname River. The fort dates from 1640, built by the English and then taken over by the Dutch under the Treaty of Breda in 1667. Walk to the riverside and look out over the Waterkant: row after row of wooden façades (1700–1900), mostly greenheart.
On Saturday mornings there is often a ceremony or event on Independence Square. Stop by.
Along the Gravenstraat
Heading down the Gravenstraat towards the Central Market you’ll pass:
- The Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral: the largest wooden cathedral in Latin America (1883–1885).
- The Neveh Shalom Synagogue and the Keizerstraat Mosque — literally side by side.
- Wooden mansions, largely restored after the city fires of 1821 and 1832.
The Central Market
The Central Market on the Waterkant is the finale. Not a tourist market.
What to taste
- Bara: fried, spiced dough from Hindustani cuisine
- Telo: fried cassava with bakkeljauw (salt cod)
- Pom: a baked dish of grated tayer root, chicken and sour orange
Practical tips
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 km, 2–3 hours at an easy pace |
| Best day | Saturday (market at its busiest) |
| Entry | All buildings free except museums (SRD 25–50) |
| Footwear | Comfortable shoes, streets partly unpaved |
Also read: Brownsberg in 3 days.
