Fiji
Capital City: Suva
Fiji Key Facts
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Flag
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Size
18,274 km2
(154th largest)
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Population
858,038
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Fiji Location
South Pacific Ocean
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Travel Insurance
For Fiji travel insurance, select Pacific Region
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International Calling Codes
679
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Cities
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Language
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Religions
64.5% Christian
27.9% Hindu
6.3% Muslim
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Currency
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Driving
In Fiji they drive on the left side of the road
Tourism website:
fiji.travel
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Fiji are the months from March until early December.
Transport Information
- Nadi International Airport - Located 9km from Nadi and can be easily accessed by Taxi, local bus and hotel transfer buses.
- Local busses
- Taxi's
- Boats and ferries to islands
World Heritage Sites
1. Levuku Historical Port Town, Fiji's first colonial capital and a great example of a Pacific port town
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Average Annual Temperature
25 degrees
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Average Annual Rainfall
Average: 2181 mm
Mainland: 2000-3000mm
Mountains: 6000mm
Climate Information
Fiji has good weather all year round, and temperatures rarely drop below 19 degrees. From November until April is the rainy season, and it is not uncommon during this time of year to have short, local outbursts of tropical rain.
Official Holidays
- January 1 - New Year's Day
- January 5 - Prophet Mohammed's Birthday
- March/April - Good Friday
- March/April - Easter Saturday
- March/April - Easter Monday
- June 26 - National Sports Day
- October 10 - Fiji Day
- November 11 - Diwali
- December 25 - Christmas Day
- December 26 -Boxing Day
Why Visit Fiji?
Fiji is one of top island destinations in the world, full of gorgeous beaches and stunning resorts. It attracts backpackers, surfers, families and luxurious island resort guests, so there's something for everyone.
Things To Do In Fiji
- Relax, relax, relax.
- Lay on the beach or by the pool
- Scuba dive or snorkel the beautiful reefs
- Drink some Kava
- Hike in the mountains to tropical waterfalls
- Experience a traditional fire twirling show
- With such a large Indian population, seek out an Indian meal or two.
- Have a mud bath
- Do a river safari
- Visit a local village
Travel Tips For Fiji
Fijian time has little to do with actual time and things can take quite some time on this island.
Word of warning, Fiji time does not apply to the packing up of the buffets in resorts, so make sure you arrive within the suggested meal times or you might go hungry.
Fiji's Food
Fijian cuisines tends to be wholesome and quite cheap. Coconut is a popular ingredient and found in anything from local specialties such as kokoda (seafood marinated in lemon and coconut milk) to the ubiquitous curry. Take care when ordering chicken based curries, as the meat is often cut up with the bones still in. You will find a truly dizzying array of fruits and all of them with their varied shapes and colors are worth trying. Whether you like it or not, you will be drinking kava. Made from the root of the pepper plant, this drink has quite a unique flavor and is quite intoxicating when consumed in larger quantities. It is also a favorite of shop owners and tour organizers - first you are given kava as a gesture of friendship and then are asked what tour or trinket you would like to purchase.
Fiji's Travel Safety and Warnings
Fiji is generally quite safe for travellers as Fijians are known to be very friendly. Within resorts you should feel safe.
Problem areas tend to be in the bigger cities where muggings and petty robberies are quite common.
If catching a taxi, make sure the metre is on or at least negotiate the price before you depart.
Ensure you have travel insurance that provides cover for Fiji
About Fiji
This archipelago of 332 islands is probably one of the most spectacular island destinations on the planet. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is home to never ending tropical beaches, lush forests and friendly people, making it an ideal location for relaxing and recharging your batteries. Get your beach gear ready, consider proper travel insurance for Fiji, and go 'Where Happiness Finds You', as their tourism campaign says.
Travel Highlights Fiji
Suva is the capital of Fiji, its political centre and a major tourist attraction of the main island of Viti Levu. With just over 140,000 inhabitants the city isn’t huge, nonetheless there are some fun things to check out such as the:
- Municipal fruit and vegetable market, which offers an incredible range of tropical fruits and local produce.
- Handicraft Centre, where you can check out the local carvings and straw goods. If you are going to buy any of the local handicraft souvenirs, this is a good place to do so.
- Fiji Museum, a nice place to explore the history and culture of Fiji and one of only a few museums in the entire country.
- The strong Indian influence all over, and there are quite a few good curry houses to choose from.
Nadi is the other big city on the main island and is mostly a transfer point to other places. Although the Hindu Temple is the largest in the Pacific and worth a visit.
Leaving the big cities behind you will realize that there is one main thing to do in Fiji: lying on the beach. There are a variety of beach resorts scattered along the coast of the main island, and they cater to a wide range of different markets: from upscale luxury resorts to hammock based living for backpackers. There’s a place here for everyone to unwind, relax, and enjoy a little bit of island living. The Beachhouse, near the city of Sigatoka, is a famous backpacker destination and it can be quite fun to spend a few days here comparing stories with other international travellers.
Jumping on a boat in Nadi, you can travel to Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji. You will find at least as many beach resorts here as in Viti Levu, as well as some spectacular diving sites such as Rainbow Reef and White Wall. There are a few places here where you can do a full PADI diving certification and if you have a couple of days, this may be worth your while. Another must see while you are on this island is the Waisali Rainforest Reserve where you can enjoy some spectacular hikes through a tropical forest. Considering arranging Fiji travel insurance before embarking on any adventures though, in case you run into anything unexpected.
Exploring the many smaller islands around the two main islands can be a bit tricky and expensive. Many are exclusive resort destinations that do not allow visitors, such as the world famous Tavarua Island Resort with its unique access to Cloudbreak. Other islands are still inhabited by local tribes and may only be visited with the chief’s permission. However, if you have access to a sailing boat, you can do some exceptional tours between some of these smaller islands, often not seeing many other tourists in the process.
Food is simple yet very tasty and enjoyable. After a hard day at the beach a hearty curry and some delicious tropical fruits are just what you need. A favorite local drink is kava. Kava is an extract of the pepper root with a flavor that can take a bit of getting used to. Kava has intoxicating effects, and is offered everywhere as a sign of friendship. Strolling through the main road in Nadi you will be offered kava by everyone having something to sell, and it is the polite custom to accept their offer - don't feel obliged to buy any of their wares though!
Fiji is an iconic island destination that everyone should visit at least once in their life!
Fiji has three official languages under the 1997 constitution: English, Fijian and Hindi. Fijian yolois a spoken either as a first or second language by indigenous Fijians who make up around 54% of the population. Fijians of Indian descent make up a further 37%, mainly speaking a local variant of Hindi, known as Fiji Hindi.
