country
FijiViti
First trip: one night near Nadi on arrival, then one island base (Mamanuca or Yasawa) for 4–6 nights reached by boat from Port Denarau; add a second base on the Coral Coast only if you have ten days or more.
Fiji is some 300 islands, and almost every trip starts at Nadi on Viti Levu. The outer islands are reached by scheduled catamaran, water taxi or small plane, and those transfers set the day: late international arrivals rarely connect the same evening. Keep to one or two bases, respect village protocol, and plan around the cyclone season from November to April.
All regions, cities and parks in Fiji (Atlas) →
Regions
Arrival night and boat departures from Port Denarau
1–2 nights
Island base; beaches, snorkelling and diving by scheduled catamaran
4–7 nights
Road-accessible resorts on southern Viti Levu; Suva is the capital
2–4 nights
Savusavu and Taveuni for diving and rainforest; domestic flight
3–5 nights
Arrive
NAN
Nadi International
Main international gateway; 20–30 minutes by road to Port Denarau
SUV
Nausori (Suva)
Domestic and some regional flights near the capital
Time math
- 5 days
- Nadi 1 + one Mamanuca island 4
- 8 days
- Nadi 1 + Yasawa or Mamanuca island 5 + Coral Coast 2
- 12 days
- Nadi 1 + island base 5 + fly to Taveuni or Savusavu 4 + Nadi 1 before the flight home
Country rules
- Many passports get a visitor permit on arrival, but rules differ by nationality and require onward travel: check the Fiji Immigration Department for your passport before booking.
- Declare food, plant and animal products on arrival; Fiji enforces biosecurity checks at the airport.
- Visiting a village: go with a guide or invitation, cover shoulders and knees, remove hats, and bring kava (yaqona) for the sevusevu welcome.
Etiquette
- Bula is the greeting; smile and return it.
- In villages, do not wear hats or sunglasses, do not touch anyone's head, and ask before taking photos.
- Sunday is a day of church and rest in villages; keep noise down and dress modestly.
- Dress modestly away from resorts: sarongs (sulu) over swimwear in towns and villages.
- Cyclone season (Nov–Apr)
- Storms can close airports and suspend island boats for days.
- Diwali (Oct or Nov)
- Public holiday; festive evenings and fireworks, some businesses close.
- Christmas and New Year
- Peak for Australian and New Zealand families; island resorts sell out.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 3/5
- Currency is the Fijian dollar (FJD, FJ$). Resorts and larger shops take cards; villages, markets, local buses and small taxis are cash.
- Island resorts are often cashless on-site but charge a card surcharge; get cash in Nadi before heading out, as outer islands have no ATMs.
- Tipping is not expected; many resorts have a staff Christmas fund instead.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Cyclones (Nov–Apr): follow Fiji Meteorological Service warnings and resort instructions; flights and boats stop during storms.
- Reef and sea: currents and coral cuts are the common injuries; wear reef shoes and swim with a buddy.
- Sun: strong UV all year; reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest.
- Take registered taxis and agree fares or use the meter; avoid walking alone at night in Suva and Nadi town.
- Dengue occurs; use repellent, especially in the wet season.
Fiji is the airline hub of the South Pacific: Fiji Airways connects Nadi with Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice — Fiji (official)
- Wikivoyage — Fiji (secondary)