Suriname

Currency in Suriname: what to use and how to exchange

Suriname uses the Surinamese dollar (SRD), and the rate floats, so check it before you fly. Bring clean US dollars or euros as backup, change money at banks or licensed cambios in Paramaribo rather than on the street, and use cards where accepted. Carry enough cash for the interior.

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Updated Sep 20262 min read

GuideSuriname

Key facts

Currency: Surinamese dollar (SRD); 100 cents
Exchange ratecheck: Floats — check the rate the week you travel
Best place to change: Banks and licensed cambios in Paramaribo; avoid street touts
Cards: Paramaribo hotels and larger restaurants; rare in the interior
ATMs: Paramaribo and the airport; carry cash outside the city
Cash to bring: Clean, unmarked US dollars or euros as backup
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants

Details

Suriname's money is the Surinamese dollar, written SRD and divided into 100 cents. The rate floats against the US dollar and the euro, and it has moved a lot in recent years, so treat any figure you read online as a starting point and check the current rate close to departure. Prices in shops, hotels and tours are quoted in SRD, though larger hotels and tour operators may quote in US dollars.

Changing money is easiest in Paramaribo. Banks and licensed exchange offices (cambios) give a posted rate and a receipt; street changers may offer more but carry counterfeit and short-change risk. Bring notes that are clean, unmarked and not torn, because worn or damaged foreign bills are often refused. Keep the receipt from a bank or cambio in case you need to change SRD back at the airport.

Cards work in Paramaribo at hotels, larger restaurants and some shops, but the interior runs on cash. Jungle lodges, village stays, boats and small shops on the Upper Suriname River and around Brownsberg generally expect SRD or, sometimes, US dollars. Plan to carry enough cash for the days you are outside the city, and keep it split between bags.

ATMs exist in Paramaribo and at the airport, but they can be empty or offline, and withdrawal limits are low. Use them during business hours when a bank branch is open nearby, and carry a backup card. If you are heading to the interior, withdraw or change before you leave the city.

Summary table

Summary table
Item	What to expect	Check
Currency	Surinamese dollar (SRD)	No
Rate	Floats; check before you travel	Yes
Where to change	Banks and licensed cambios in Paramaribo	No
Cards	Paramaribo hotels and larger restaurants; rare in the interior	No
ATMs	Paramaribo and airport; low limits, can be offline	No
Cash to bring	Clean US dollars or euros as backup	No
Tipping	About 10% in restaurants	No

Tips

Change money at a bank or cambio and keep the receipt.
Carry small SRD notes for taxis, markets and small shops.
Bring clean, unmarked US dollar or euro notes; torn bills are often refused.
Withdraw or change cash before heading to the interior.
Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
Keep a backup card and some cash separate from your main wallet.

Questions people ask

What currency is used in Suriname?

The Surinamese dollar, written SRD. The rate floats against the US dollar and euro, so check the current rate close to your travel date.

Where is the best place to exchange money in Suriname?

Banks and licensed exchange offices (cambios) in Paramaribo give a posted rate and a receipt. Avoid street changers, and keep your receipt in case you change SRD back.

Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Suriname?

Use cards in Paramaribo where accepted, but bring cash for the interior, markets and small shops. Clean US dollars or euros are useful as backup.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check