Explore the mined-out phosphate interior (Topside)
Decades of phosphate mining left much of Nauru's interior a stark, moon-like landscape of coral pinnacles, a sobering and genuinely unusual sight.
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Things to do in Nauru
The world's smallest island nation, once the richest country on Earth per capita from phosphate mining, now a place of stark post-industrial landscapes and quietly welcoming locals.
Explore Nauru on the map →Budget$$
Best for3-4 days
CapitalYaren
VisaVisa required in advance for all nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, arranged through the Nauru government prior to arrival.
CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
LanguagesNauruan and English (both official)
InternetLimited nationwide
Typical lodging$45–$115/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage230–240V / 50Hz (Type I plug. Confirm locally)
Time zoneUTC+12
Emergency numberConfirm with your accommodation on arrival.
Dialing code+674
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Adventure
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.
Nauru is the third-smallest country on Earth by area and the smallest independent island nation, a single raised coral atoll just 21 square kilometres in size, small enough to circle entirely by road in about 30 minutes. Decades of intensive phosphate mining once made Nauru one of the wealthiest nations per capita anywhere in the world, but the industry's collapse left much of the island's interior a genuinely stark, moon-like landscape of coral pinnacles, a striking and sobering legacy that visitors can still explore today.
When to go
Dry seasonMay–October
The most comfortable window, with lower rainfall and calmer conditions for exploring the island.
Wet seasonNovember–April
Warmer and more humid with regular rain, including occasional monsoonal downpours.
Peak heatMarch–May
The warmest stretch of the year, with consistently high humidity typical of equatorial Pacific atolls.
Transition periodsApril–May, October–November
Shoulder months balancing decent weather with quieter conditions between the two main seasons.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
6Visit the WWII Japanese bunkers and gun emplacements
Nauru was occupied by Japan during WWII, and wartime bunkers and coastal gun emplacements remain scattered around the island.
Learn about Nauru's phosphate mining history at the museum
Nauru's small national museum documents the island's dramatic economic rise and fall tied to phosphate extraction.
Watch a Nauruan weightlifting or traditional sports event
Nauru has a genuinely outsized sporting reputation for its size, particularly in weightlifting, and local competitions offer a window into community life.
Visit a local church service on Nauru
Christianity is central to Nauruan community life, and Sunday services offer a genuine window into the island's tight-knit social fabric.
Learn about Nauru's role in Pacific regional diplomacy
Despite its tiny size, Nauru has played an outsized diplomatic role in Pacific regional politics, a genuinely interesting angle for visitors interested in geopolitics.
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Adventure & outdoors
3Circle the entire island via the Nauru ring road
At just 21 square kilometres, Nauru is small enough to drive around completely in about 30 minutes, offering a uniquely compact way to see the whole country.
Fish for reef species off Nauru's coast
Nauru's surrounding waters offer relatively undisturbed reef and deep-water fishing, a low-key activity popular with the small local community.
Snorkel Nauru's steep drop-off reef
Because Nauru has no lagoon, its reef drops off steeply just offshore, offering distinctive wall-diving conditions close to the coast.
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Beaches
2Snorkel the reef surrounding Anibare Bay
Nauru's best beach and most accessible reef snorkeling, offering a relaxed coastal counterpoint to the island's industrial interior.
Relax on Anibare Bay's man-made boat harbor beach
A constructed harbor and adjacent beach area offering Nauru's most developed spot for swimming and relaxing by the water.
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Food & drink
5Eat Nauruan coconut fish dishes
Fresh reef fish prepared with coconut reflects Nauru's limited but resourceful Pacific island cuisine.
Try Nauruan pandanus fruit preparations
Pandanus fruit, prepared in various traditional ways, is a genuine staple crop reflecting the island's limited arable land.
Try Nauruan coconut crab, a Pacific delicacy
The world's largest land-dwelling arthropod is considered a genuine delicacy on Nauru, though increasingly regulated given conservation concerns.
Try Nauruan tuna sashimi-style preparations
Fresh-caught tuna reflects the island's deep-sea fishing traditions, often prepared simply to highlight its quality.
Try Nauruan preserved pandanus (ijibwe)
A traditional preserved pandanus preparation reflecting the island's historical need to store food given its limited arable land.
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Nature & scenery
2Visit Buada Lagoon, Nauru's freshwater lake
A rare freshwater lagoon on the small coral island, surrounded by lush vegetation and a quieter, greener contrast to the mined interior.
Watch the sunset from Nauru's western coast road
Nauru's compact, coast-hugging road offers unobstructed ocean views, with the western side offering particularly striking sunset vantage points.
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Photography
2Visit Command Ridge, Nauru's highest point
A former Japanese wartime lookout offering panoramic views over the entire island and surrounding ocean.
Explore the abandoned phosphate cantilever at Aiwo
A rusting industrial relic from Nauru's phosphate-exporting heyday, offering a striking and photogenic reminder of the island's economic history.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Nauru?
All nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, need a visa arranged in advance through the Nauru government prior to arrival.
▾How do I get to Nauru?
Nauru is served by limited flights, typically routed through Brisbane or nearby Pacific hubs, so it's worth checking current schedules well ahead given the island's remote position and infrequent air links.
▾Why was Nauru once so wealthy?
Decades of intensive phosphate mining made it one of the wealthiest nations per capita in the world at its peak, though the industry's collapse left much of the island's interior a stark, moon-like landscape today.
▾How many days does Nauru need?
3-4 days is genuinely enough given the island's tiny size: you can circle the entire country by road in about 30 minutes, leaving time to explore both the coast and the mined-out interior.
▾Is Nauru a common tourist destination?
No, it's among the least-visited countries on Earth, which is part of its appeal for travelers specifically seeking to complete every-country lists or experience a genuinely unusual post-industrial island story.
▾Is there much to see (and pay for) in Nauru?
Nauru has essentially no formal tourist infrastructure or paid attractions: most visitors are business travelers, and sightseeing (old phosphate-mining sites, WWII relics) is free and self-guided. It's among the least-visited countries in the world, so don't expect organized tours or ticketed sites.