Visit the WWII battle sites on Tarawa
Tarawa was the site of a pivotal and costly 1943 Pacific War battle, and rusting relics and memorials remain scattered across the atoll today.
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Pacific Islands
Things to do in Kiribati
A nation of 33 coral atolls scattered across a swath of ocean wider than the continental United States, and the first country on Earth to see each new day.
Explore Kiribati on the map →Budget$$
Best for7-9 days
CapitalTarawa
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 30 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders.
CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
LanguagesEnglish and Gilbertese (both official)
InternetVery limited, especially on outer islands
Typical lodging$40–$100/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage230–240V / 50Hz (Type I plug. Confirm locally)
Time zoneUTC+12 to UTC+14 (spans the date line)
Emergency numberConfirm with your accommodation on arrival.
Dialing code+686
★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Culture
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended on smaller islands. Not customary.
Kiribati is spread across all four hemispheres and roughly 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean, an area wider than the continental United States, despite having a total land area smaller than New York City, making it one of the most geographically dispersed nations on Earth. Because of a deliberate 1995 realignment of the International Date Line to keep the whole country on the same calendar day, Kiribati's easternmost islands are the first inhabited place on the planet to greet each new day and new year.
When to go
Dry seasonMay–October
The most comfortable window, with lower rainfall and calmer seas for inter-island travel.
Wet seasonNovember–April
Warmer and more humid with regular rain, including the Pacific cyclone risk window for southern outer islands.
Peak heatMarch–May
The warmest stretch of the year, with high humidity across the low-lying atolls.
Transition periodsApril–May, October–November
Shoulder months balancing decent weather with fewer logistical complications between the two main seasons.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
7Watch a traditional Kiribati dance performance$100
Kiribati dance is distinctive for its stylized bird-like arm and head movements, a genuine and actively practiced cultural tradition.
Visit a traditional maneaba meeting house
Large open-sided community meeting halls remain the center of village decision-making and social life across Kiribati's islands.
Learn about Kiribati's climate change adaptation efforts$100
As one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, Kiribati's seawalls and adaptation projects offer a sobering, firsthand look at a genuinely urgent global issue.
Explore the outer island of Abemama$100
A relatively less-visited atoll with historical ties to author Robert Louis Stevenson, who once lived there, offering a quieter island experience.
Visit a Kiribati handicraft cooperative$100
Traditional weaving using pandanus leaves and coconut fiber remains a genuine and actively practiced craft across the islands.
Visit the Betio WWII bunkers on Tarawa
Well-preserved Japanese defensive bunkers from the 1943 Battle of Tarawa remain scattered across Betio islet, a striking wartime relic.
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Adventure & outdoors
3Snorkel the lagoon reefs of South Tarawa
Kiribati's coral atolls hold relatively undived reef systems, with South Tarawa's lagoon offering the most accessible snorkeling for visitors.
Fish for giant trevally in Kiribati's lagoons$100
Kiribati's remote atoll lagoons have a growing reputation among serious anglers for exceptional giant trevally and bonefish flats fishing.
Visit the wreck sites of WWII aircraft near Tarawa
Shallow-water wrecks and remnants from the Pacific War are visible near several Tarawa dive and snorkel sites, a poignant historical layer beneath the reef.
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Nature & scenery
2Cross the International Date Line at sunrise in the Line Islands
Kiribati's easternmost islands are the first inhabited place on Earth to greet each new day, a genuinely unique claim tied to a 1995 date-line realignment.
Stargaze on a remote outer atoll$100
Minimal light pollution across Kiribati's scattered atolls makes for exceptional stargazing, especially on the less-populated outer islands.
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Wildlife
2Visit the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area
One of the largest and most pristine marine protected areas on Earth, a UNESCO World Heritage site with exceptional coral reef health.
Snorkel with reef sharks in Kiribati's outer atolls$100
Kiribati's less-visited outer islands offer healthy reef shark populations and relatively undisturbed coral, a rewarding experience for divers.
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Food & drink
5Eat Kiribati te bua, coconut and fish dishes$100
Fresh reef fish and coconut form the backbone of everyday I-Kiribati cuisine, reflecting the atolls' limited but resourceful food traditions.
Try Kiribati babai, a giant swamp taro dish$100
A giant taro variety cultivated in specially dug pits, considered a prestige crop traditionally reserved for feasts and special occasions.
Try Kiribati coconut toddy (kaokioki)$100
A traditionally tapped coconut sap drink, consumed fresh or fermented, a genuine everyday tradition across the atolls.
Try Kiribati fish te bwe, fermented raw fish$100
A traditional preparation of raw fish marinated in coconut and lime, similar to dishes found across the wider Pacific.
Try Kiribati bwabwai, mashed taro and coconut cream$100
A traditional dish of mashed taro sweetened with coconut cream, often prepared for community feasts and celebrations.
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Beaches
1Relax on the beaches of Abaiang atoll
A quieter atoll near Tarawa offering a more traditional, less developed island experience away from the capital.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Kiribati?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days.
▾How do I get to Kiribati?
International flights connect through Fiji or Nauru to Tarawa, the main atoll; onward travel to outer islands relies on infrequent domestic flights or boats, so it's worth building flexibility into any itinerary.
▾Why is Kiribati so geographically unusual?
It's spread across all four hemispheres and roughly 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean, an area wider than the continental United States, despite a total land area smaller than New York City.
▾Is Kiribati affected by climate change?
Yes, significantly: as a low-lying atoll nation, Kiribati is among the countries most exposed to sea-level rise, a reality that shapes both daily life and long-term national planning.
▾How many days does Kiribati need?
7-9 days is a reasonable window for Tarawa and a nearby outer island, though the country's extreme dispersal means most visitors focus on just one or two atolls rather than attempting to island-hop widely.
▾How much does it cost to visit Kiribati's outer islands?
There's no broad national park fee; most costs come from inter-island flights or boat transport, which can run well over $100 USD per leg given how spread out the atolls are. Kiribati remains one of the least-visited countries in the world, so infrastructure for independent tourism is minimal outside the capital, Tarawa.