Twenty4 Hostel
Paramaribo's original backpacker basecamp, tucked inside the UNESCO old town
Why Go
Suriname's capital doesn't have a dense hostel scene ΓÇö it basically has this one, and that's part of the charm. Twenty4 is a small, family-run guesthouse of just 12 rooms on quiet Jessurunstraat, a short walk from the wooden colonial center, the Waterkant, and the mosque-next-to-a-synagogue that everyone comes to photograph. It's the kind of place where the front desk actually helps you plan a Brownsberg trip instead of just handing you a brochure.
The Experience
You'll clock the vibe within a few minutes of walking through the door: low-key, a bit worn in the best way, more guesthouse than party hostel. The building is a converted Paramaribo townhouse, so expect creaky wood, a shared kitchen you'll end up chatting in, and a small outdoor area that becomes the default hangout after sundown when the heat finally lets up. Staff sit somewhere between concierge and travel-mates ΓÇö they'll book your bus to Nickerie, connect you with a river-tour operator, or point you toward whichever roti shop is open that night. Rooms are simple (dorms of three, a handful of private twins, one single), fans and AC depending on category, and the 24-hour reception is a real thing, which matters when your flight from Amsterdam lands at some absurd hour.
What to Try
Book one of the private twin rooms if you can ΓÇö they're only marginally pricier than a dorm bed and give you a proper door in the Paramaribo humidity. Use the shared kitchen at least once (the Chinese supermarket two blocks over has everything), and absolutely take one of the in-house day tours; the Commewijne plantation loop and the dolphin-spotting sunset boat are the two most travelers rave about. Ask about the airport shuttle when you book rather than after ΓÇö it's cheaper than a taxi from Zanderij and saves the 3am negotiation.
Insider Tip
Cash is still king in Suriname and the SRD moves fast ΓÇö pull euros or USD from home and change them at a cambio on Domineestraat rather than at the hostel or airport. Also: the WhatsApp number (+597 897-9585) gets answered faster than email, and if you message a day ahead they'll usually hold a specific room rather than just a bed.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Jessurunstraat 24, Paramaribo. 24-hour front desk, free WiFi, shared kitchen, small common area, paid airport shuttle on request. 12 rooms total: two 3-bed dorms, nine 2-person rooms, one single. Roughly 15 minutes on foot to Fort Zeelandia and the Waterkant. Book direct via twenty4hostel.com or WhatsApp; Booking and Hostelworld also list it. Rates typically start around USD 20 for a dorm bed.
Pair It With
- 't Vat Sidewalk Cafe Guide — Two-minute walk from the hostel and the default first-night beer stop for anyone staying at Twenty4 ΓÇö expat-heavy, open late, good for people-watching on Kleine Waterstraat.
- 168 Restaurant Guide — Nearby Chinese-Surinamese spot that's cheap, generous, and open when the kitchen at the hostel isn't calling to you ΓÇö ideal after a long tour day.
- 88 Car Rental Suriname Guide — Around the corner and easier to deal with than the airport chains if you want to self-drive to Brownsberg or the Commewijne plantations after a couple of nights in town.