0.3 km from the centre
Palmentuin: royal palms in the middle of the city
The Palmentuin is a free city-centre park in Paramaribo with hundreds of royal palms, originally laid out in the seventeenth century behind the Presidential Palace. Howler monkeys sit in the trees before 09:00 and after 16:30.
Check this Opening hours and entry prices in Suriname change without notice. Call or message ahead if you are coming specifically for this.
The garden sits directly behind the Presidential Palace and is one of the few places in the centre that is genuinely cool in daylight. The royal palms stand in rows, tall enough to hurt your neck.
Early morning and late afternoon there are howler monkeys in the trees and green parakeets overhead. Nobody arranged this as an attraction, they simply live there, in the middle of the capital.
After dark the park is best avoided. In daylight it is one of the most pleasant places in the city.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for the Palmentuin?
No. The Palmentuin in Paramaribo is a public city park and free to enter.
Can you see monkeys in the Palmentuin?
Regularly, yes. Howler monkeys live in the tall royal palms of the Palmentuin, most often before 09:00 and after 16:30. Green parakeets too, and occasionally toucans. The garden is free to enter.