Located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Fiji is home to 333 tropical islands. Known for its luxurious private islands, exclusive all-inclusive resorts and beaches, Fiji is also widely appreciated for its unique culture and hospitality.
The islands' white beaches and pristine, crystal-clear sea are the ideal setting for a truly relaxing holiday, but they also offer various entertainment options for the more adventurous traveller.
Travel information: useful info
Inhabitants: about 920,000
Capital: Suva
Languages: English, Fijian
Local currency: Fijian dollar (1 euro=2.41 FJD)
Time and time zone: UTC/GMT +13 hours compared to Italy
Climate: tropical, average temperatures of 24-25°, with a hot, humid and rainy season from December to April, and a cool season from June to October.
Vaccinations: no vaccination required (yellow fever vaccine only compulsory if coming from African and South American countries).
Entry requirements: passport with at least 6 months validity
Distance from Italy: 17,000 km, approx. 32 hours flight time
Where they are and how to get there
Fiji (a.k.a. Fiji) is an archipelago of over 320 islands and is located in the Pacific Ocean, a 4-hour flight from Australia, 11 hours from Hong Kong or Los Angeles. They are divided into four divisions (Central, Western, Eastern and Northern), which in turn are divided into 14 provinces.
The capital is Suva, other important cities are Lautoka, Lami, Sigatoka and Nadi (home of the nation's main airport). The two largest islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which have about 87% of the population.
How to get there
To reach them, a total of 32 to 36 hours of flight time is required from Italy, with at least one stopover in Dubai, Los Angeles, Sydney, Singapore or Hong Kong. The reference airports are Nadi and Suva.
The advice is to stop over for at least a couple of days in one of the stopover cities (Los Angeles, Sydney, ...).
Rome/Milan - Singapore - Fiji: Flights from €1,107.55 - compare flights
Min. 36 hours flight time (12 hours Rome/Milan - Singapore, 10 hours Singapore - Nadi + 14 hours stopover)Rome -Dubai - Sydney - Fiji: Flights from €1,628.00 - compare flights
Min. 32 hours flight time (5 hours Rome - Dubai, 14 hours Dubai Sydney, 4 hours Sydney - Fiji + 10 hours stopovers)Rome/Milan - Hong Kong - Fiji: Flights from €1,770.67 - compare flights
Min. 36 hours flight time (12 hours Rome/Milan - Hong Kong, 11 hours Hong Kong - Fiji + 11 hours stopover)Rome -London - Los Angeles - Fiji: Flights from €1,971.68 - compare flights
Min. 32 hours flight time (3 hours Rome - London, 12 hours London - Los Angeles, 12 hours Los Angeles - Fiji + 6 hours stopover)
When to go? Info on climate and best time
Month | Average temperature (min/max) | Precipitation (days/mm) |
|---|---|---|
January | 23 / 30° C | 17 / 290 mm |
February | 23 / 30° C | 17 / 280 mm |
March | 23 / 30° C | 20 / 390 mm |
April | 22 / 28° C | 17 / 260 mm |
May | 21 / 27° C | 13 / 210 mm |
June | 20 / 26° C | 11 / 135 mm |
July | 20 / 26° C | 10 / 85 mm |
August | 20 / 26° C | 11 / 130 mm |
September | 20 / 26° C | 12 / 135 mm |
October | 21 / 27° C | 12 / 130 mm |
November | 21 / 28° C | 13 / 180 mm |
December | 22 / 29° C | 15 / 260 mm |
Climate: Tropical. Winds from the south-east mitigate temperatures. Hot, humid and rainy season from December to April, cool season from June to October.
Best period: May to October, when minimum temperatures never go below 20 degrees and the weather is drier and sunnier
Period to avoid: November to April. During these months the archipelago is subject to tropical cyclones and frequent rainfall.
Tips: On the main island of Viti Levu, the western side (Nadi) is warmer and less rainy than the eastern side (Suva). Avoid the island of Rotuma, which, although it is the hottest, is also the wettest and therefore wettest.
Which to choose: Most beautiful Fijian islands
Of the more than 320 islands that make up the archipelago, only 116 are inhabited. The two main islands are Viti Lev u and Vanua Levu. The former is home to the capital Suva and the airport in Nadi. The second is a favourite for diving and trekking and the most important centres are Labasa and Savusavu.
Two particularly well-known archipelagos should also be mentioned, namely the Mamanuca Islands (popular for honeymooners) and the Yasawa Islands (volcanic, wild and authentic). Among the most famous Mamanuca Islands are: Castaway, Tokoriki, Malolo, Malolo Lailai, Kadavulailai, Beachcomer, Matamanoa, Mana, Treasure and Yanuya. The Yasawa Islands include Nanuya Levu (also known as Turtle Island), Nanuya Lailai, Waya, Waya Lailai, Kuata, Naviti, Tavewa, Nacula, Yaqeta and Yasawa.
Below is a selection of the 10 most beautiful Fiji Islands in our opinion.
1 - Waya
Photo by miguel sanchez. Waya is a volcanic island in the south of the Yasawa Archipelago. Its interior is mountainous and wild, and it is home to the most spectacular and highest peaks in the Yasawa, with over 500 metres in height.
The coastline, on the other hand, alternates between long sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Along the northern part of the west coast is the most beautiful beach, where theOctupus Resort is located.
In Waya you can go trekking by climbing the peaks and snorkelling, where you can admire the colourful coral reef. A must is the excursion to Ghost Hill, a huge rock that hides numerous caves.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here, take a ferry from Port Denarau or the seaplane to Waya.
2 - Malolo
Malolo is a volcanic island located in the Mamanuca archipelago. The interior of the island is rocky, the various resorts present are built along the coast; on the eastern side there are two small villages, namely Yaro and Solevu.
In addition to the white beaches, coconut palms, wild nature and crystal-clear sea, the island of Malolo is famous because, at sunset, the sun seems to set behind the island's profile.
In mythology, it was, in fact, the place created by the gods for the sun to rest.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here, one takes a catamaran from Port Denarau or the seaplane to Malolo. You can also take an internal flight from Nadi Airport to Malolo Lailai Airport (about 10 minutes).
3 - Nanuya Levu (Turtle Island)
Private beaches, pristine waters, incredible marine life, romance and a myriad of activities to choose from: Turtle Island (Yasawa Islands) is one of the most peaceful places on the planet.
It is anall-inclusive private island that can be accessed by 14 couples at a time, as there are 14 villas each, with an attached beach for private use. I'd say you can leave all worries behind and let yourself be pampered by this heavenly place!
Moreover, the film "Blue Lagoon" from 1980.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here one takes a ferry from Port Denarau or the seaplane to Turtle Island.
4 - Monuriki
Photo by KhufuOsiris. Monuriki belongs to the Mamanuca Islands and was the set of the film Cast Awaystarring Tom Hanks.
Monuriki is itself surrounded by atolls and smaller islets, is just 1.15 km long and about 600 metres wide. It is characterised by a mountain that reaches 178 metres sldm and on its beach it is possible to indulge in wonderful snorkelling sessions.
It can be reached by organised excursions, by boat or by seaplane.
Of course, there is no accommodation on the island; only animal species such as iguanas and turtles live here.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here you take a ferry from Port Denarau to the island of Monuriki.
5 - Denarau
Photo by Andreas Faessler. The island of Denarau is part of Viti Levu and is home to all the major hotel chains as well as beautiful golf courses.
Its picturesque harbour is ready to welcome you with restaurants, shops, traditional music and dance performances, as well as being the starting point for excursions to the islands of Mamanuca and Yasawa. From Port Denarau, boats sail to the various islands of Fiji.
In addition to land-based activities (strolls along the harbour, shopping, shows at the amphitheatre), Denarau offers the opportunity to snorkel among the colourful reef fish.
Transport links: it is about 13 km from Nadi Airport and can be reached by car, bus or taxi.
6 - Taveuni
Photo by M Sundstrom. The island of Taveuni is Fiji's third largest island and is called the'garden of Fiji' because of its lush rainforest: it is an ecotourism paradise.
Here you will find the Bouma National Heritage Park, an important nature reserve with the famous Bouna Falls, birds and rare plants.
In addition, Taveuni Island is crossed by the so-called International Date Line, an imaginary line at 180° longitude that, once crossed, even changes the date on the calendar!
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here you can take a seaplane, or you can take an internal flight from Nadi Airport to Taveuni Airport, which is located in Matei.
7 - Viti Levu
Photo by Maksym Kozlenko. Viti Levu is the largest of the islands that make up the Fijian archipelago and is home to the capital, Suva, a lively cultural centre.
The island is criss-crossed by a mountain range, which reaches the highest elevation of the archipelago in Mount Tomaniivi or Mount Victoria (1,324 metres high).
On the south coast, there are numerous resorts in front of an enchanting coral reef, while the tourist centre par excellence is Nadi, which boasts an ancient Hindu temple and from where excursions to the islands depart.
The most scenic stretch of coastline is between Korotogo and Korolevu, where the road skirts mountains, azure inlets and beaches.
Don't miss a visit to the Kula Eco Park, a reserve where there are special tropical animals.
Transport links: Nadi airport is located 9 km north of the centre. You can reach the centre by the efficient public transport network.
8 - Nacula
Photo by TobiasK. Nacula is the third largest island in the Yasawa group, so like the others it is also volcanic.
There are four villages along the coast and there are no roads: the inhabitants use a network of paths or boats to get around.
The interior of the island, on the other hand, is uninhabited and formed by hills with large expanses of grass.
Nacula is full of beautiful white sandy beaches, the most beautiful being on the south-west coast where resorts alternate with a well-preserved coral reef.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here one takes a catamaran from Port Denarau or the seaplane to Nacula.
9 - Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji after Viti Levu, but less touristy and more adventurous. The main population centres are the towns of Labasa and Savusavu, a tourist centre for scuba diving and yachting.
The rest of the'Big Island' is devoted to sugar cane and copra plantations, hidden villages, waterfalls and vast expanses of forest.
Don't miss a visit to the Blow Holes, large blowholes that rise from the sea over the reef at low tide, and the pristine rainforest of the Wasali Nature Reserve, with trails leading to spectacular views.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From the ports of Suva and Lautoka(near Nadi) motorboats sail to the island. There is also an internal flight from Nadi Airport to Savusavu Airport (about 50 minutes).
10 - Kadavu
Photo by Duncan Wright. Kadavu is the fourth largest island in Fiji. It is perfect for those who don't want to give up scuba diving and snorkelling, as there is the Great Astrolabe Reefa large coral reef that is one of Fiji's premier diving locations.
Kadavu Island is almost entirely covered by rainforest and is home to many varieties of colourful birds. This really is the perfect place to relax and immerse yourself in Fiji's incredible natural beauty, also because tourism is very limited.
Connections: the reference airport is Nadi International Airport on the main island, Viti Levu. From here one has to reach Suva by internal flight, bus or taxi. Ferries leave from Suva harbour to Kadavu, or from Suva airport you can take a flight to Kadavu in 30 minutes.
What to see and do
If you are looking for some ideas to make your Fijian holiday even more exciting, here are some ideas on what to do or see on these islands.
Visit the capital city of Suva. Located on the main island of Viti Levu, it is known for its nightclubs and restaurants but also for its beautiful temples and mosques.
Excursion to the Bouma National Heritage Park. It is located in the northern part of Taveuni Island and is famous for its natural pools, waterfalls and trails (entrance fee approx. 12 FJD - €5.00).
Visit the Fiji Museum. Located in the capital Suva, it tells the story of the country through relics of indigenous art, the HMS Bounty and artefacts illustrating traditional life.
Drink kava. This is the typical drink of the Pacific Islands, made from the plant of the same name. It has a relaxing effect but without any of the 'side effects' typical of alcoholic drinks. It is usually sipped at the end of the day. If it is offered to you, do not refuse, it is considered a very rude gesture!
Visit Lautoka. Also known as'Sugar City', it is the second largest city in the archipelago and boasts the largest sugar mill in the Southern Hemisphere.
Rafting the rapids. TheUpper Navua River flows through the highlands of Viti Levu, creating waterfalls and all kinds of rapids that are perfect for beginners and professionals alike, but also for a more leisurely kayaking trip through the mangroves.
Diving. Visibility is fantastic, the most popular dive spots include Astrolabe Reef, Beqa Lagoon and Rainbow Reef. The cost of Open Water certification (the diving course) is about €300.00.
Visit the old capital Levuka. Located on the island of Ovalau, Levuka was Fiji's first capital. Now much less frequented by tourists, it is ideal for spending a relaxing afternoon soaking up the city's atmosphere.
Surfing. Fiji offers the best surfing opportunities in the world, with countless famous spots such as Cloudbreak and Lighthouse Rights.At the Mamanuca Islands you can also try windsurfing and kitesurfing (cost of a lesson about €20.00 per hour).
Below are some interesting tours that can be purchased online:
How much does a holiday in Fiji cost?
As we have already mentioned, this destination is a favourite for honeymooners, which is why travel agencies offer complete packages that include not only the islands but also a stopover in Australia. If you choose one of these solutions, the cost of the flight and the 15-day stay for two people can cost even more than €7,000.
If, on the other hand, the trip is organised independently and if you are not interested in luxurious resorts but are content with much more modest accommodation, you can save a little. The highest cost will be the flight, which starts at well over a thousand euros round trip per person.
Cheap flights: from €1,026.00 - see offers
Where to stay: Resorts, b&bs and hostels from €27.00 per night - look at the offers
Flight+ Hotel Package: 12 nights with flight from Rome from €2,059.00 per person
Cruise to Fiji: prices and tips
A cruise to Fiji is perfect for a honeymoon, but also a trip with the whole family because there are so many activities to do. Of course, you can expect lots of relaxation, both on the ship and on the beautiful beaches, and many pleasant underwater adventures such as snorkelling and diving.
Prices start from a minimum of €3,000.00 to a maximum of €6,000.00 per person, including intercontinental transfers, full board, cabin and excursions. The main companies are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Ponant, Oceania Cruises, Silversea, Regent. The recommended duration is a minimum of 13 days, better still 15.
