Kiribati · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Kiribati
These are the war relics, lagoons, villages, museums, churches, food stops and stays that make a Kiribati trip, spread across South Tarawa, Betio, North Tarawa, Kiritimati and the outer islands. Places marked unconfirmed may have changed or closed, so check before you go, and remember that on small atolls much is arranged through hosts rather than websites.
Places to Visit in South Tarawa
Arts and Culture
- Kiribati National Cultural Centre and Museum (Bikenibeu)
Woven armour, shark tooth weapons and canoe models explain how I-Kiribati lived on the atolls for centuries. - Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Ambo)
The national parliament is built in the style of a traditional maneaba meeting house, with a sweeping thatch-inspired roof. - Bairiki National Stadium (Bairiki)
Watch local football, athletics and Independence Day events with a cheerful crowd. - Sacred Heart Cathedral (Teaoraereke)
Sunday Mass here fills with powerful harmonies, and respectful visitors are welcome. - Kiribati Uniting Church at Antebuka (Antebuka)
A historic Protestant centre where hymn singing on Sunday is unforgettable.
Nature and Outdoors
- Ambo Lagoon beach (Ambo)
A sheltered lagoon beach where families swim and picnic on weekend afternoons. - Nanikaai Causeway (Bairiki to Nanikaai)
Walk or ride the causeway at sunset with the lagoon on one side and the open ocean on the other. - Bonriki lagoon flats (Bonriki)
At low tide the flats near the airport come alive with shell collectors and wading birds. - Tanaea (Tanaea)
The quiet eastern end of the road, where the houses thin out and the lagoon opens up. - Temaiku ocean side (Temaiku)
Wide reef flats on the ocean side, good for a careful low tide walk with local advice. - Tarawa Lagoon sunset (Bairiki)
The sun sinks over the vast lagoon every evening, a free daily show from any lagoon beach. - Abarao lagoon shore (Abarao)
A quiet stretch of shore for an evening stroll as fishing canoes come home.
Bars and Nightlife
- Ambo Lagoon Club (Ambo)
A long-running members' club on the lagoon where visitors are usually welcome for a cold drink at sunset.
Stays
- Otintaai Hotel (Bikenibeu)
A long-established lagoonside hotel near the museum, with a restaurant and sea breezes. - Mary's Motel (Bairiki)
A central, simple motel within walking distance of the government offices in Bairiki. - Tarawa guesthouses (Eita)
Family-run guesthouses along the road offer simple rooms and a real look at home life.
Things to Do
- Bairiki Square (Bairiki)
The heart of government Tarawa, where national celebrations gather crowds of dancers and singers. - University of the South Pacific Kiribati Campus (Teaoraereke)
Look out for public talks and cultural evenings that bring students and the community together. - Ride a local minibus (Betio to Bonriki)
The minibuses that run the length of the one main road are the cheapest and friendliest way to see daily life. - Bikenibeu maneaba visits (Bikenibeu)
With a local host, sitting in a village maneaba is the best introduction to I-Kiribati community life.
Shopping and Markets
- Kiribati Philatelic Bureau (Bairiki)
Kiribati stamps are colourful, collectable and one of the lightest souvenirs you can carry home. - Bairiki market stalls (Bairiki)
Roadside stalls sell fresh fish, coconuts, breadfruit and pandanus when in season. - Bikenibeu shops (Bikenibeu)
A string of family stores where you can stock up on water, snacks and sun cream. - Handicraft sellers at the airport (Bonriki)
Woven fans, mats and shell necklaces are often sold near Bonriki International Airport on flight days.
Events
- Independence Day celebrations (Bairiki)
Every 12 July the capital fills with parades, dance competitions and canoe races. - National Youth Day (Bairiki)
Youth groups compete in dance and sport on one of the busiest public holidays of the year. - Gospel Day (South Tarawa)
Churches mark the arrival of Christianity in July with singing, feasting and dance. - Christmas and New Year dance festivals (South Tarawa)
Maneaba across Tarawa host traditional dance nights through the holiday season.
Restaurants
- Roadside fish fry stalls (Teaoraereke)
Fried reef fish and rice from small roadside stalls is the everyday lunch of South Tarawa. - Chinese restaurants of Bairiki (Bairiki)
Several family-run Chinese restaurants serve big plates of noodles and fried rice for groups.
Cafés
- Bairiki bakeries (Bairiki)
Small bakeries sell fresh bread and buns early in the morning, before the heat sets in.
Places to Visit in Betio
Arts and Culture
- Betio coastal defence guns (Temakin Point)
Massive Japanese naval guns still point out to sea, rusting reminders of the 1943 Battle of Tarawa. - Japanese command bunker (Betio)
The concrete bunker where the Japanese commander was based still stands, scarred by shellfire. - Red Beach (Betio)
The landing beaches of November 1943 are now quiet sand where children play beside wartime relics. - Battle of Tarawa memorials (Betio)
Small memorials to American, Japanese, Korean and I-Kiribati dead stand together on this tiny islet. - Betio Second World War relics walk (Betio)
Join a local guide to find pillboxes, bunkers and guns hidden among homes.
Nature and Outdoors
- Betio reef at low tide (Betio)
At low tide you can see landing craft wrecks and amphibious tractors on the reef flat. - Betio Causeway (Betio to Bairiki)
The long causeway links Betio with Bairiki, a good place to watch the tide race through.
Shopping and Markets
- Betio fish market (Betio)
Watch the morning catch of skipjack, yellowfin and reef fish come ashore near the port. - Betio general stores (Betio)
Busy stores sell everything from rice sacks to fishing line, a slice of daily life.
Things to Do
- Betio port (Betio)
Cargo ships, fishing boats and inter-island vessels make this the busiest corner of Kiribati. - Watch outrigger canoes (Betio)
Fishermen launch their outriggers from Betio beaches in the cool of the morning.
Restaurants
- Betio Chinese takeaways (Betio)
Simple takeaways near the port serve hearty fried rice and fish dishes to dock workers. - Betio hot food stalls (Betio)
Stalls sell fried fish, doughnuts and rice parcels that are perfect for a cheap lunch.
Bars and Nightlife
- Sunset at Betio western tip (Betio)
The western end of Betio is a dramatic spot to watch the sun go down over the reef.
Events
- Battle of Tarawa anniversary (Betio)
Each November ceremonies remember those who died in the 1943 battle.
Places to Visit in North Tarawa
Nature and Outdoors
- Buota Bridge (Buota)
The bridge from Tanaea to Buota is a favourite swimming and picnic spot as the tide rushes through. - Buariki (Buariki)
The far northern village of the atoll, with long empty beaches and a slow pace. - Tabiteuea North Tarawa lagoon shore (Tabiteuea)
Clear shallow water and thick coconut palms make this classic Kiribati atoll country. - Bonefish flats (North Tarawa)
Shallow sand flats hold bonefish, and keen anglers can arrange trips through local operators. - Abaokoro channel swimming (Abaokoro)
Calm water between islets is ideal for a cooling swim at high tide. - North Tarawa sunsets (Buota)
Sunset over the lagoon from a North Tarawa beach is quiet, wide and unhurried.
Things to Do
- Buota village (Buota)
The first village of North Tarawa, reached by bridge, shows quieter atoll life without a boat ride. - Low tide walk between islets (North Tarawa)
With a guide, wade the reef between North Tarawa islets as villagers have done for generations. - Lagoon canoe trips (North Tarawa)
Locals ferry visitors by outrigger or small boat across the lagoon from South Tarawa. - Coconut toddy cutting (North Tarawa)
Watch toddy cutters climb palms at dawn and dusk to collect fresh sap.
Arts and Culture
- Village maneaba visits (Abaokoro)
Sit with elders in a traditional meeting house, the centre of village life. - Nabeina village (Nabeina)
A traditional village where life follows the tides and the fishing seasons.
Stays
- Village homestays (Abatao)
A night in a village homestay with a local family is the most memorable stay on Tarawa.
Restaurants
- Village feasts (North Tarawa)
When you visit with a host, a shared feast of fish, breadfruit and babai is likely to follow.
Shopping and Markets
- Pandanus weaving (Buota)
Village women weave pandanus mats and fans, sometimes sold to visitors.
Places to Visit in Kiritimati
Stays
- Captain Cook Hotel (Main Camp)
The island's long-running hotel, with simple rooms facing the ocean and frigatebirds overhead.
Nature and Outdoors
- Bonefish flats of the lagoon (Kiritimati Lagoon)
Some of the most famous fly fishing flats on earth, wadeable for miles. - Cook Island bird sanctuary (Cook Island)
A protected islet in the lagoon mouth where seabirds nest in their thousands. - Motu Tabu (Kiritimati Lagoon)
A protected islet for seabirds, visited only with Wildlife Conservation Unit approval. - Bay of Wrecks (Kiritimati)
A wild windward bay strewn with old shipwreck debris, good for beachcombing. - North East Point (Kiritimati)
A remote point with huge colonies of terns and boobies. - Snorkelling at the lagoon mouth (Kiritimati Lagoon)
Clear water and reef fish near the lagoon entrance at slack tide. - Main Camp sunsets (Main Camp)
Watch the sun drop into the Pacific from the beach in front of your room. - Kiritimati Lagoon (Kiritimati)
One of the largest coral atoll lagoons in the world, shallow, turquoise and alive with fish.
Things to Do
- Giant trevally fishing (Kiritimati)
Hooking a giant trevally on the reef edge is a bucket list experience for anglers. - London village (London)
The island's main village, with churches, stores and a lively maneaba. - Tabwakea village (Tabwakea)
The largest village on the island, with small shops and friendly children. - Banana village (Banana)
A small village near the airport with a laid back air. - Poland village (Poland)
A remote village on the south side, named after a Polish settler. - Birdwatching tours (Kiritimati)
Spot frigatebirds, red-tailed tropicbirds and the endemic Christmas Island warbler.
Arts and Culture
- Paris ruins (Paris)
The scattered remains of an old coconut plantation settlement on the lagoon. - Port London (London)
The main harbour and village, where fishing boats unload by the lagoon mouth. - Nuclear test history sites (Kiritimati)
Traces of the British and American nuclear tests of the 1950s and 1960s remain around the island. - Wildlife Conservation Unit (London)
The team that manages the island's protected bird areas, and the place to ask before visiting sanctuaries. - Cassidy International Airport (Kiritimati)
The runway built during the military era now welcomes the weekly flight from Nadi and Honolulu.
Events
- First sunrise of the New Year (Kiritimati)
Kiritimati is among the first inhabited places on earth to see each new day.
Restaurants
- Village stores and takeaways (London)
Simple food stores in London village sell tinned goods, bread and fried fish.
Places to Visit in Abaiang
Arts and Culture
- St Mary's Church Koinawa (Koinawa)
A grand old Catholic church built by early missionaries, a striking sight on a quiet atoll. - Tebunginako village (Tebunginako)
A village where rising seas have forced homes to move, a powerful look at climate change. - Maneaba of Abaiang (Abaiang)
Large traditional meeting houses where villages gather for celebrations.
Nature and Outdoors
- Abaiang lagoon (Abaiang)
A clear blue lagoon with good snorkelling and calm swimming. - Abaiang sunset sand bars (Abaiang)
Sand bars appear at low tide for a sunset walk with almost no one else around.
Things to Do
- Snorkelling the outer reef (Abaiang)
Healthy reef and fish life on the lagoon edge with local boat operators. - Boat crossing from Tarawa (Abaiang)
The boat ride north from Tarawa is itself an adventure across open water.
Restaurants
- Fresh lagoon fish meals (Abaiang)
Families cook just-caught fish over coconut husk fires.
Places to Visit in Abemama
Arts and Culture
- Robert Louis Stevenson connection (Abemama)
The Scottish author stayed here in 1889 as guest of the high chief Tembinoka.
Nature and Outdoors
- Abemama lagoon (Abemama)
A broad, quiet lagoon with sand flats and clear water.
Places to Visit in Butaritari
Arts and Culture
- Butaritari Second World War relics (Butaritari)
Wreckage from the 1942 and 1943 battles lies scattered on this lush northern atoll.
Nature and Outdoors
- Butaritari lagoon (Butaritari)
The wettest and greenest atoll in the Gilberts, full of breadfruit and banana trees.
Places to Visit in Phoenix Islands
Nature and Outdoors
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Phoenix Islands)
A vast UNESCO World Heritage marine area reached only by expedition voyage.
Places to Visit in Banaba
Arts and Culture
- Banaba phosphate history (Banaba)
The raised island mined for phosphate for decades, home of a resilient people.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Fema Lodge (Bikenibeu, South Tarawa)
A small, friendly lodge popular with aid workers and repeat visitors. - Lagoon Breeze Lodge (Ambo, South Tarawa)
A guesthouse right on the lagoon with a garden and a quieter feel than central Bairiki. - Otintaai Hotel restaurant (Bikenibeu, South Tarawa)
Fresh tuna, sashimi and lagoon views make this a gentle choice for a dinner out. - Kiribati Institute of Technology open days (Betio Bairiki area, South Tarawa)
Training displays and student events give a window into the islands' working life. - Kiribati National Archives (Bairiki, South Tarawa)
Researchers and family historians can ask about colonial records and old photographs. - Te Kaue Ni Maie garland making (South Tarawa, South Tarawa)
Ask your host about learning to weave a flower garland, worn for dances and celebrations. - Utirerei Hotel (Bikenibeu, South Tarawa)
A newer hotel option near the hospital, useful for longer stays. - Kiribati Marine Training Centre (Betio, Betio)
Seafarers trained here crew ships worldwide, a big part of the national story. - Korean memorial (Betio, Betio)
A small memorial remembers Korean labourers who died during the battle. - Betio guesthouses (Betio, Betio)
Basic guesthouses near the port suit visitors here for the war sites or a ship departure. - Island beach bungalow stays (North Tarawa, North Tarawa)
Simple thatched bungalows on outer islets offer total quiet under the stars. - Island day of dance (Abaokoro, North Tarawa)
Village celebrations bring traditional dances with feet pounding sand to the beat of the chant. - Biketawa islet (Biketawa, North Tarawa)
A small islet that lent its name to a Pacific security agreement, ringed by sand and reef. - Ikari House (London, Kiritimati)
A small lodge in London village used by anglers and birdwatchers. - Christmas Island Outstation (Tabwakea, Kiritimati)
A fishing lodge set up for anglers chasing bonefish and giant trevally on the flats. - Tabwakea shell crafts (Tabwakea, Kiritimati)
Look for shell necklaces and woven items sold by local families. - Joe's Hill (Kiritimati, Kiritimati)
One of the highest points on a very flat atoll, with wide views over the lagoon. - Captain Cook Hotel bar (Main Camp, Kiritimati)
A relaxed bar where anglers swap fish stories as the sun goes down. - Line Islands sports days (London, Kiritimati)
Inter-village sports and dance days bring the whole island out. - Abaiang Island Resort (Abaiang, Abaiang)
A small island resort with thatched bungalows over a quiet beach. - Village homestay (Tabwiroa, Abaiang)
Simple stays with families give a true taste of outer island life. - Tembinoka's grave (Abemama, Abemama)
The resting place of the powerful nineteenth century high chief of Abemama. - Kariatebike village (Kariatebike, Abemama)
The main village and government station of the atoll, with a slow, friendly pace. - Second World War landing sites (Abemama, Abemama)
US forces landed on Abemama in 1943, and a few relics remain.