Suriname doesn't have a national rail network, so how you get around depends heavily on whether you're in Paramaribo or heading into the interior.
Buses and minibuses
Paramaribo does have a real public bus network, run by operator P.L.O., covering around 20 routes and roughly 727 stops across the city. It's the cheapest way to get around and covers most of the urban area, but don't expect much in the way of official printed maps or precise timetables, schedules run informally and departures aren't always punctual. Shared minibuses cover some of the same ground faster than the standard buses, for a bit more money.
Taxis in Paramaribo
Taxis are the standard door-to-door option, found at hotels, the Central Market, ferry terminals, and the airport, or simply hailed on the street. They aren't metered, so agree on a price before you get in rather than after; drivers expect this and it's normal practice, not something to feel awkward about. There is no official fare for a private taxi transfer from Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport into central Paramaribo, so the price is whatever you agree with the driver. If you would rather know the cost in advance, ask your hotel whether it offers an airport pickup.
You can also call a taxi centrale directly rather than flagging one down. These are dispatch companies identified by a short number painted on the car doors: Suriname Taxi Centrale is 1660, Ulstrel Taxi is 1680, Tourtonne Taxi is 1690, and Mavis Taxi is 1661. For an app-based option, Ride connects passengers with drivers in Greater Paramaribo with upfront pricing. Uber and Grab do not currently operate in Suriname, despite what some travel sites' page titles might suggest.
Walking is realistic for the historic inner city itself, since most of the UNESCO-listed core, the Waterkant, and Fort Zeelandia sit within easy walking distance of each other.
Domestic flights into the interior
For anywhere beyond the coastal strip, small aircraft are often the only practical option. Two carriers handle almost all of it:
Gum Air, based at Zorg en Hoop Airport in Paramaribo, has operated since 1971 and flies a fleet of 5 to 19-seat aircraft to airstrips across the interior. It also runs a codeshare-style partnership with Trans Guyana Airways on the Paramaribo-Georgetown route.
Blue Wing Airlines, also based at Zorg en Hoop, has flown since 2002 on a fixed weekly schedule to interior destinations including Kwamalasamutu, Palumeu, and Stoelmanseiland.
Both airlines fly small planes with limited baggage allowances and schedules that can shift with weather, so it's worth booking through a tour operator or lodge that handles this routinely rather than trying to coordinate flights yourself for a first trip.
Suriname's third airport, Eduard Alexander Gummels Airport, sits out in the interior itself, upgraded in recent years from a grass airstrip to a proper airport. It's not part of the standard Paramaribo-departure routing most visitors use, but it's a sign of how much interior air access has developed beyond just Zorg en Hoop.
River transport
Once you're in the interior, the river often is the road. Dugout canoes, known locally as korjaals, and their motorized versions are the standard way to reach villages, lodges, and trailheads along Suriname's rivers. These are typically arranged as part of a lodge stay or guided tour rather than booked independently, since routes and river conditions change with the season.
Car rental and driving
Suriname drives on the left, and rental cars are right-hand drive to match. See our answer on driving on the left or right in Suriname for the full picture on permits and road conditions. A rental car covers Paramaribo and the coastal districts well, but it won't get you into the deep interior, where roads give way to river and air travel.
