Suriname

Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, sitting on the Suriname River. It became the administrative center under Dutch colonial rule and remained the capital after independence in 1975. The city’s historic core—known for its distinctive wooden colonial architecture—is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting Suriname’s unique Dutch-speaking identity in South America. Don’t mix it up with nearby Caribbean capitals: Georgetown (Guyana), Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), and Bridgetown (Barbados). Memory tip: Suriname’s “para-mount” city is Para-maribo—think “PARA” like Suriname’s famous Parbo beer and a city on the river.