Q-Inn is located right in the middle of downtown Paramaribo, Suriname's lively capital. Enjoy the delightful temperatures and the cheerful South American sounds and find out all about the city's colonial past.
The charms of the city are easily reached on foot from our hotel. All the historical and contemporary sights, the shopping district, and the welcoming cafés and restaurants are close by. In the historic downtown area, there's so much to see that you'll feel like you're in an open-air museum.
The colonial houses are almost entirely made of wood, and often have cheerfully colored roofs. It's easy to understand why the historic downtown area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2002.
There's so much to see and do in Paramaribo. For instance, you can visit these five highlights.
Fort Zeelandia was built in the 17th century, when Dutch colonists founded a trading post near the native village of Parmurbo (the future site of Paramaribo). The fort was conquered by the British in 1651, and reconquered by the Dutch sixteen years later. The founders named the fort after the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, where they came from. Since 1995 the fort has housed the Suriname Museum, where you can learn all about the eventful history of the fort and of Suriname.
This beautiful cathedral, which dates back to 1883, is made entirely of wood. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul is the largest and tallest wooden church in South America. The steeples measure 44 meters (144 feet) and were built in 1901. As the wood is very vulnerable to termites and other pests, the cathedral is very carefully maintained.
This beautiful, green square with lots of grass and trees is the location of the city's most important buildings: the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Justice and Police, the Ministry of the Interior, the Congress Hall conference center, and the Governor's Mansion. Official events are often held on the square; and every Sunday a number of men gather on the square to see whose pet bird sings the prettiest.
At two stories high, the Central Market is the largest covered market in the Caribbean. Before you even get there, you can hear the merchants calling out to advertise their wares in Sranang, the local dialect. And from all sides you can smell fish, meat, and Surinamese delicacies. Take your pick! And if you want still more delicious food, then walk from the Market to the Waterfront, where Dutch sailing ships used to lay anchor. These days it's a popular hangout for young and old, with lots of tasty sidewalk cafés and food stalls.
You shouldn't miss Suriname's only zoo. The Paramaribo Zoo has a number of animals native to Suriname, but which are often difficult to spot in the wild. In the zoo's park-like setting, you can admire various local species of monkeys, caimans, jaguars, snakes, and birds, including king vultures and parrots.
Do you want to get away from the city for a couple of days, or are you travelling around Suriname on a longer trip? Discover five highlights that you won't want to miss visiting.
Discover Suriname
