Even though the official language is Dutch, the high number of immigrants makes Sranantongo be the lingua franca on the streets in Paramaribo. However, in terms of first language, Dutch is the most widely spoken one, with 66.4% speaking it as their mother tongue, and most of the rest of the population can still speak it.
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 are 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.
From the United States, airline service is available from Miami and New York (JFK) via Caribbean 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.
From Brazil, 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 taxis available. The situation outside the airport is a bit chaotic, with 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.
From Georgetown, Guyana, take minibus #63a to Molson Creek in eastern Guyana just across the river from Suriname. The trip takes at least 3 hrs and costs ~US$10. From there, you will go through customs on the Guyanese side. Then take the 11am daily ferry across the river to South Drain. The actual ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. From there you can get a minibus into Paramaribo. Again the trip takes at least 3 hrs and costs ~US$15.
From Georgetown, there are also private companies and minibuses that will cover the cost of the minibus to the river, the ferry, and the cost of the minibus on the other side.
In Suriname, the buses are private. The drivers, however, follow collectively determined routes. The buses are somewhere between private taxis and public transportation and leave the bus station only 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.
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.edit
Liang Lang, corner Dr. J.F. Nassylaan and F. Derbiestraat. Famous for their 'tjoeng'edit
Dumpling #1, Dr. J.F. Nassylaan 1. Famous for their king crabedit
Kekemba Resort Paramaribo, Mangolaan 118, ☎ 546904 (kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: 546904), [5]. 10:00 - 22:00. Come and have a relaxing swim in the pool of Kekemba Resort Paramaribo. The pool of the resort is open for locals and other people staying in Suriname.srd 20. edit
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.
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Kekemba Resort Paramaribo (ontbijt), Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 546904 (kekemba@kekemba.info, fax: (597)546906), [12]. 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. edit
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.edit
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 Certificateedit
Kris' Roti. East Indian restaurant well known for their roti with chicken.edit
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.edit
Restaurant Jawa, Kasabaholoweg 7 (uitvlught), ☎ 492691/492714 (restaurantjawa@yahoo.com, fax: 492714), [13]. 11.00-22.00. from US$5,=. edit
Pannekoek & Poffertjes Cafe, Sommelsdijckstraat, van 11, ☎ 422914/8570415. edit
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. edit
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.€110 per double room. edit
Kekemba Resort Paramaribo, Mangolaan 118, ☎ (+597) 54 69 04 (kekemba@kekemba.info), [33]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Stay in one of our luxury studio apartment. We have swimming pool, hot tub, hammocks. 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. Kekemba, where you meet your worldwide neighbours.€37. edit
United States, 129 Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat, ☎ +597 472-900, Emergencies +597 710-1112 (fax: 597 425-788), [35]. M-F 7:30AM-4PM, ACS M, W 1:30PM-3:30PM. edit