Learn about the nuclear testing history at the Alele Museum
Majuro's national museum documents the Marshall Islands' nuclear testing legacy and traditional Marshallese navigation and culture.
diskover·us
Home › Destinations › Pacific Islands › Marshall Islands
Pacific Islands
Things to do in the Marshall Islands
Coral atolls holding some of the most intact WWII shipwrecks on Earth, a nuclear testing history that shaped the modern Pacific, and lagoons genuinely rated among the world's best diving.
Explore Marshall Islands on the map →Budget$$$
Best for8-10 days
CapitalMajuro
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 90 days for US passport holders (under the Compact of Free Association); UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens can typically obtain a visa on arrival.
CurrencyUS dollar (USD), the official currency
LanguagesMarshallese and English (both official)
InternetLimited, concentrated in Majuro
Typical lodging$60–$150/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage120V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC+12
Emergency number911
Dialing code+692
★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ 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.
Bikini Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds one of the most significant collections of intact sunken warships anywhere in the world, sunk during 1946 US nuclear weapons tests and now resting remarkably preserved in the atoll's lagoon, drawing dedicated technical divers from across the globe. The Marshall Islands were the site of 67 US nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, including the Castle Bravo test, the largest thermonuclear detonation the United States has ever conducted, a history that continues to shape the nation's identity and relationship with the wider world.
When to go
Dry seasonDecember–April
The most comfortable window, with lower rainfall and calmer seas for diving and inter-island travel.
Wet seasonMay–November
Warmer and more humid with regular rain, though diving conditions often remain workable.
Peak diving visibilityJanuary–April
The clearest water and calmest seas for wreck diving at Bikini Atoll and reef diving elsewhere.
Typhoon-adjacent periodJuly–November
The Marshall Islands sit at the edge of the western Pacific typhoon belt, monitor forecasts closely if traveling in this window.
20 things to do
▾
Culture & history
9Visit the WWII battle sites on Kwajalein Atoll$4,000–5,000
The world's largest coral atoll by lagoon area was the site of intense 1944 fighting, with wartime relics still visible across several islets.
Learn traditional Marshallese stick-chart navigation
Marshallese navigators historically used intricate stick charts to map ocean swells between islands, a genuinely sophisticated traditional navigation system found nowhere else.
Watch a traditional Marshallese dance performance
Marshallese dance and chanting remain actively practiced cultural traditions, often performed at community gatherings and for visitors.
Visit the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein
A functioning US military installation with a complex, layered history intertwining Cold War-era testing with Marshallese land rights.
Explore a traditional Marshallese handicraft market in Majuro
Handwoven pandanus mats and jewelry made from shells reflect genuine, actively practiced Marshallese artisan traditions.
Learn about Marshall Islands climate change adaptation
As one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, the Marshall Islands' seawalls and adaptation efforts offer a sobering, firsthand look at rising sea levels.
Visit the outer atoll of Arno for a quieter island experience$4,000–5,000
A short boat trip from Majuro, Arno Atoll offers a more traditional and less developed side of Marshallese island life.
Visit the Majuro Peace Park
A memorial park in the capital reflecting on the Marshall Islands' nuclear testing history and its advocacy for global nuclear disarmament.
▾
Adventure & outdoors
4Dive the sunken WWII fleet at Bikini Atoll$4,000–5,000
A UNESCO World Heritage site holding one of the most significant collections of intact sunken warships in the world, sunk during 1946 nuclear tests.
Snorkel the lagoon reefs of Majuro Atoll$4,000–5,000
The Marshall Islands' capital atoll offers accessible reef snorkeling with relatively healthy coral compared to more heavily trafficked Pacific destinations.
Fish for bonefish and giant trevally in Majuro's flats
The Marshall Islands' shallow lagoon flats offer rewarding fly-fishing for bonefish and giant trevally, an increasingly recognized niche destination.
Snorkel the WWII wrecks of Jaluit Atoll$4,000–5,000
A former Japanese administrative center during WWII, Jaluit's lagoon holds accessible wartime wrecks alongside healthy coral reef.
▾
Food & drink
5Eat Marshallese coconut crab and reef fish
Fresh seafood and coconut crab reflect the islands' limited but resourceful atoll cuisine, prepared with traditional Pacific cooking methods.
Try Marshallese breadfruit and coconut dishes
Breadfruit prepared in various traditional ways forms a genuine dietary staple across the Marshall Islands' atoll communities.
Try Marshallese jaibo, a coconut rice pudding
A sweetened coconut rice pudding traditionally prepared for celebrations, reflecting Marshallese hospitality customs.
Try Marshallese amimono, pandanus fruit preparations
Pandanus fruit, prepared and preserved in various traditional ways, is a genuine staple crop across the low-lying atolls.
Try Marshallese ma, fermented breadfruit
A traditional preserved breadfruit preparation, reflecting atoll communities' historical need to store food between harvests.
▾
Beaches
1Explore Laura Beach on Majuro Atoll$4,000–5,000
One of the most scenic and accessible beaches on Majuro, popular with locals for weekend gatherings and swimming.
▾
Nature & scenery
1Stargaze on a remote Marshall Islands atoll$4,000–5,000
Minimal light pollution across the Marshall Islands' scattered atolls makes for exceptional stargazing away from Majuro.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for the Marshall Islands?
US passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days under the Compact of Free Association; UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens can typically obtain a visa on arrival.
▾Can I really dive Bikini Atoll's sunken fleet?
Yes. Bikini Atoll's lagoon holds one of the most significant collections of intact sunken WWII-era warships in the world, though visiting requires a specialized, often costly liveaboard dive expedition given the atoll's extreme remoteness.
▾Is radiation still a concern for visitors to Bikini Atoll?
The lagoon and diving are generally considered safe for visitors, though the atoll's terrestrial areas remain affected by the 1946-1958 nuclear testing program and are not open for permanent resettlement.
▾How many days does the Marshall Islands need?
8-10 days is a reasonable window for Majuro and a nearby atoll, though a proper Bikini Atoll wreck-diving expedition typically requires its own dedicated, longer trip given the remote logistics involved.
▾What is the nuclear testing history here?
The Marshall Islands were the site of 67 US nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, including the Castle Bravo test, the largest thermonuclear detonation the US has ever conducted, a history central to the nation's modern identity.
▾How much does it cost to dive Bikini Atoll's wrecks?
Bikini Atoll's sunken WWII fleet is one of the world's most famous wreck-diving sites, but access is tightly limited and expensive: liveaboard trips typically run $4,000-5,000+ USD for a week given the remoteness and specialized deep-diving requirements. It's a bucket-list dive for serious wreck divers rather than a casual add-on to a Pacific itinerary.