Fiji

⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.

Fiji is an archipelago of more than 330 islands in the South Pacific, around a hundred of which are inhabited. The two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, are home to most of the population, while the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups off Nadi draw most visitors. People come for the lagoons and the diving, from Beqa to Taveuni's Rainbow Reef, but also for village life, where kava sets the rhythm. Accommodation suits every budget, from a dormitory bed to a private-island resort.

More than 330 islands around Viti Levu

Fiji is made up of more than 330 islands, around 106 to 110 of them inhabited, surrounded by more than 500 islets, with a land area of about 18,300 km². Viti Levu, home to the capital Suva as well as Nadi and its international airport, and Vanua Levu, to the north, account for roughly three quarters of the land and around 87% of the population, which stood at 884,887 at the 2017 census. Taveuni, nicknamed the 'Garden Island', and Kadavu, the country's fourth-largest island, complete the picture.

Several island groups are scattered around these larger islands. To the west, facing Nadi, the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups are where most resorts and catamaran crossings are found. The Lomaiviti group lies off Suva, while the more remote Lau group stretches to the east. The country runs on UTC+12, and the 180th meridian crosses the island of Taveuni. Viti Levu has a mountainous interior, and its south coast, around Sigatoka and Korolevu, is known as the Coral Coast.

From the Lapita to the girmit: a layered history

Fiji has been settled for several thousand years: Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park protects an archaeological site linked to the Lapita culture, and the collections of the Fiji Museum in Suva span 3,700 years of history. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sighted the archipelago in 1643. In 1874 Fiji became a British colony, remaining one until independence in 1970, which is why traffic still drives on the left. Between 1879 and 1916, indentured labourers from India, the girmitiya, were brought to work on the sugar-cane plantations; their descendants make up a large part of today's population.

This history can be heard in the languages: the country recognises English, Fijian (iTaukei) and Hindi, notably in its Fiji Hindi form, while Rotuman is spoken on the island of Rotuma. In the villages, the sevusevu custom remains essential: visitors present kava root (yaqona) to the chief who welcomes them, as a sign of goodwill and thanks. Kava is drunk at any time of day and marks the main stages of life. People greet you with 'Bula!', and the Fiji Museum has galleries devoted to masi, the bark cloth, and to the girmit.

Suva, Sigatoka and the Coral Coast

The capital, Suva, lies on the south-east coast of Viti Levu. The Fiji Museum, set in Thurston Gardens, displays archaeological collections spanning 3,700 years along with galleries devoted to the sea, to masi and to the girmit; it is open every day. Further west, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, Fiji's first national park, combines dunes, dry forest and a Lapita archaeological site, with two trails taking one to two hours, a visitor centre and rangers.

On the Coral Coast, Sigatoka River Safari runs jet-boat trips up the river to a partner village, where guides explain local protocol before the kava ceremony, a dance lesson and lunch. Near Sigatoka, Kula WILD Adventure Park introduces families to iguanas, turtles and birds. In the west, Port Denarau, near Nadi, is the departure point for boats to the islands, and Vuda marina, between Nadi and Lautoka, is a good place for dinner at sunset. Opening hours and visiting conditions may change: check them with each site.

Lagoons, sharks and the Rainbow Reef

The Mamanuca and Yasawa islands are where most beaches, lagoons and resorts are found. Day cruises reach them from Port Denarau, and centres such as Subsurface Fiji at Musket Cove offer daily dives. In the Yasawas, Mantaray Island, set within a marine reserve, is known for its manta ray trips, and the island of Nacula has resorts and a lagoon. On Viti Levu, the Natadola lagoon faces Navo Island, and the Deuba coast near Pacific Harbour has several surf breaks, including Frigates.

Off Pacific Harbour, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, near the island of Beqa, is known for shark diving, offered by operators such as Beqa Adventure Divers. Further north-east, the Somosomo Strait, facing Taveuni, is home to the Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall, two well-known dive sites. At sea, follow the operators' instructions: France Diplomatie reports that some vessels are in poor condition and advises against long open-sea crossings. Topless and monokini bathing are prohibited on the beaches.

Nadi, catamarans and domestic flights

International flights land at Nadi International Airport (NAN), at Namaka, about ten kilometres from town. It is the base of Fiji Airways, which serves destinations including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and several countries in Asia and the Pacific; Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Air Niugini also fly in. There are no direct flights from Europe: Fiji Airways, for example, sells flights from London codeshared with American Airlines and British Airways. The network changes, so check routes with the airlines.

For the western islands, catamarans leave from Port Denarau: South Sea Cruises serves the Mamanuca resorts, and the Yasawa Flyer sails up the Yasawas every day, with 5- to 15-day passes (Bula Pass and Yasawa Pass). Fiji Link connects Nadi with destinations including Suva, Savusavu, Taveuni, Labasa and Kadavu, and Pacific Island Air operates planes, helicopters and seaplanes. Roads are often in poor condition, traffic drives on the left and night driving is not advised. Timetables and conditions may change, independently of Dem-Tukki: check them with the operators before every departure.

Cyclone season, Fijian dollars and budget

The cyclone season runs from November to April, peaking in January and February; cyclones sometimes form as early as October or as late as May. The Fiji Meteorological Service forecast one to two in Fiji's waters for the 2025-26 season. The months from May to October, outside this period, are therefore the most suitable for a trip. If a pre-alert is issued, return to your accommodation and stay put until the alert is over; boat crossings may be cancelled.

The currency is the Fijian dollar (FJD): on 13 October 2026 the Reserve Bank of Fiji showed 1 FJD ≈ €0.40. Euros are easily exchanged at bureaux de change. Cards are widely used in tourist areas, but many shops add a 2 to 5% card surcharge and small businesses prefer cash; conversely, some establishments now accept cards only. Carrying more than 10,000 FJD must be declared. Accommodation ranges from dormitories to private-island resorts. Prices and conditions change, so check them when booking.

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Nearby islands: New Caledonia, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

Photo : KhufuOsiris, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons