Nan Madol, Pohnpei, Photo: Uhooep, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Micronesia
Micronesia, made simple: basalt ruins, sunken fleets and islands that still live by custom
The Federated States of Micronesia is four island states spread across a huge stretch of the western Pacific: rainy, green Pohnpei with the stone city of Nan Madol, Chuuk and its lagoon full of wartime wrecks, Yap with its giant stone money and manta rays, and quiet Kosrae with its reefs and mountain forest. Flights are few, services are simple and custom matters. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, flight routes, seasons and health, answered
- LandingSmall airports, US dollars, SIM cards and your first night, explained
- Your days in MicronesiaRuins, wrecks, reefs, villages and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the island hop home is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
Our local picks
Restaurants, things to do and nightlife
Our hand-picked spots in Nairobi and beyond, from must-haves to off the beaten path.
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Flights, stays and travel essentials
Search flights to Federated States of Micronesia and places to stay, and get set before you go.
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- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards, island flights, diving and village fees so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Micronesia should feel like an adventure, not a worry. We answer the questions about flights, entry, cash, custom and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Guam, Hawaii, Arkansas, Oregon or Texas to see family, or bringing your children to the home island for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your islandsRuins and waterfalls, wreck diving, mantas and culture, or quiet reefs: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the flight schedule and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for dive sites, waterfalls, villages, restaurants and stays on every island.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to fit Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae around the island hopper flights.
Everything your Micronesia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Pohnpei, Nan Madol, Chuuk Lagoon, Yap and Kosrae, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred dive sites, ruins, waterfalls, villages, restaurants and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae and stays on each island.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each island.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Micronesia trip
Island hopping from Chuuk to Kosrae
Most visitors arrive on the island hopper flight that links Guam and Honolulu, stopping at Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, while Yap is reached separately through Guam or Palau. A classic first trip gives four or five days to Chuuk Lagoon for wreck diving, four days to Pohnpei for Nan Madol, waterfalls and the Sokehs Ridge, and three or four days to Kosrae for reefs, the Lelu ruins and mangrove canoe trips. Divers who love big animals add Yap for its manta rays and stone money villages. Two weeks lets you see three states at a gentle pace.
- The basalt city of Nan Madol on Pohnpei
- Wartime wrecks in the waters of Chuuk Lagoon
- Stone money banks and manta rays on Yap
- The Lelu ruins and quiet reefs of Kosrae
Plan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Micronesia rewards preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, flights that may run only a few days a week, enough US dollar cash for islands where cards are patchy, and rooms and dives booked ahead. Our free planner helps you shape a route that fits the schedule.
- Routes that match the island hopper flight days
- Dive and culture days balanced on each island
- Cash and connectivity planned before you land
Where to go in Micronesia
From Pohnpei and the ruins of Nan Madol to the wrecks of Chuuk Lagoon, the stone money villages of Yap and the reefs of Kosrae.
Pohnpei State
Pohnpei
The green, rainy capital island of waterfalls, sakau, mangroves and outer atolls.
Read the guidePhoto: Zykasaa, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Madolenihmw, Pohnpei
Nan Madol
A UNESCO listed city of basalt islets built on a reef by the Saudeleur dynasty.
Read the guidePhoto: Uhooep, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Chuuk State
Chuuk Lagoon
One of the great wreck diving sites on earth, with a Japanese fleet sunk in 1944.
Read the guidePhoto: Flickr user Matt Kieffer, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Yap State
Yap
The most traditional state, famous for stone money, village life and manta rays.
Read the guidePhoto: stevenson_john, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Kosrae State
Kosrae
A quiet, green island of healthy reefs, ancient walls, mangroves and Sunday choirs.
Read the guidePhoto: Geoffrey Rhodes from Helensvale - Gold Coast, Australia, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Micronesia safe to visit?
The Federated States of Micronesia is generally calm and friendly for visitors. The main concerns are petty theft and alcohol related trouble at night, especially in Chuuk, plus ocean, road and weather hazards. Read your own government travel advice before you go.
Do I need a visa for Micronesia?
It depends on your passport. US citizens enter under the Compact of Free Association, and many other visitors receive an entry permit on arrival. Rules can change, so check the FSM government and your own government advice before you book.
What currency does Micronesia use?
The US dollar. Cash is essential on every island, as card acceptance is limited and ATMs are few, mainly in Kolonia, Weno, Colonia and Tofol.
How do I get to Micronesia?
Most visitors fly the United island hopper route between Guam and Honolulu, which stops at Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Yap is reached through Guam or Palau. Check current schedules, as flights may not run daily.
Is Micronesia the same as Palau or the Marshall Islands?
No. Micronesia is also the name of the wider region. The Federated States of Micronesia is one country of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Palau and the Marshall Islands are separate nations.
What is the best time to visit Micronesia?
The drier months from roughly December to April suit most trips, with calmer seas and less rain. Diving is good all year, and Pohnpei is wet in every season.
Ready to find your Bliss in Micronesia?
Use the free trip planner to shape your island hop, or send us a question through the contact page.