Suriname
Paramaribo in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonWarm, humid and very wet. Watch for flood risk.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics · waterproof sandals
Why May scores 7.2What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.5
- ✓Warm (30°C highs / 24°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.6°C)
- !Wet: ~307 mm rain, ~12 heavy-rain days
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~5 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Flood: ~12 heavy-rain days (≥10 mm) in an average May
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| May | Mar | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.2 Good | 8.3 Very good |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) |
| High / low | 30° / 24° | 29° / 24° |
| Rain | 307 mm | 131 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 23° |
| PM2.5 | 5 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Paramaribo weather-station normals. Rainfall: Paramaribo weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: Labor Day (1 May) · Eid al-Adha (16 May, date estimated)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ParamariboEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyParamaribo is the capital of Suriname, on the Suriname River. Travellers come for its UNESCO-listed historic centre of wooden colonial buildings and its mix of cultures.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Keti KotiEvery year1 July every year
Marks the abolition of slavery with traditional dress, music and gatherings.
Why go: A meaningful day to see Afro-Surinamese culture.
Where: Across the city
Independence DayEvery year25 November every year
Suriname's national day, marked with official ceremonies.
Why go: Public holiday; some businesses close.
Where: Independence Square and across the city
Owru Yari (New Year's Eve)Every year31 December every year
Huge street parties with long strings of firecrackers (pagara) set off in the streets.
Why go: Very lively and loud; book rooms early.
Where: City centre streets
Historic Inner City
A UNESCO-listed district of Dutch colonial wooden buildings along the river.
Fort Zeelandia
A 17th-century fort on the river, now home to a museum.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
A large wooden cathedral with a striking interior.
Keizerstraat mosque and synagogue
A mosque and synagogue standing side by side, a symbol of the city's diversity.
Waterkant
The riverside promenade lined with historic houses and food stalls.
💡 Nice for an evening snack, but take a taxi home after dark.
Pom
An oven dish of grated pomtajer root and chicken, often eaten in a sandwich.
💡 Warungs and sandwich shops
Roti
Flatbread served with curried chicken, potato and long beans.
💡 Roti shops across the city
Saoto soup
A Javanese-style chicken soup with bean sprouts and fried potato.
💡 Javanese warungs, including in the Blauwgrond area
Moksi alesi
Rice cooked with salted meat or fish and vegetables.
💡 Local Creole eateries
Borgoe rum
A well-known Surinamese rum.
💡 Supermarkets and the airport
Madame Jeanette pepper sauce
Hot sauce made from Suriname's fiery yellow peppers.
💡 Supermarkets and the Central Market
Maroon wood carvings
Carved and painted woodwork in the tembe art tradition.
💡 Craft shops and markets