Koror: a first-timer's guide to Palau's main town

Why go

You will sleep, eat and plan in Koror, so it pays to know it. The town is small and friendly, with one main road running from downtown across to Malakal, where the harbour, the dive shops and the marine research centre sit, and out to Arakebesang, home to the beach resorts. Most visitors spend their days on boats and their evenings in Koror, which makes it more lively than its size suggests.

What to see

Start at the **Belau National Museum**, the oldest museum in Micronesia, for clan history, money beads called udoud, carved storyboards and a painted bai, the traditional men's meeting house, on its grounds. The **Etpison Museum** nearby adds fine collections on culture and natural history. At Malakal, the **Palau International Coral Reef Center Aquarium** introduces the reefs, jellyfish and giant clams you will meet in the water, which is great for children and nervous snorkellers.

For a view, climb **Malakal Hill** in the cool of morning, or walk down to **Long Island Park**, where families swim and picnic at weekends. The **Japan Palau Friendship Bridge** to Babeldaob is a favourite sunset walk. The small reconstructed **Nan'yo Shrine** is a reminder of the Japanese era, when Koror had tens of thousands of residents.

Food and evenings

Koror's food reflects Palau's history: Palauan dishes of taro, fish and coconut, Japanese sashimi and ramen, Filipino, Korean, Indian and American plates. Harbour-side spots at Malakal like **Drop Off Bar and Grill** and **Bottom Time** are where divers gather at sunset. **Rock Island Cafe** on Main Street is the classic breakfast stop. Try mangrove crab, fresh reef fish sashimi, taro dishes and the local Red Rooster beer.

Shopping

The best souvenir is a **storyboard**, a carved wooden panel telling a Palauan legend. Many are made by inmates at the Koror Jail, which has a small shop, and museum gift shops sell fine pieces too. Supermarkets such as **Surangel's** stock reef-safe sunscreen, snacks and water for boat days.

Where to stay

Choose by how you will spend your days. **Malakal** puts you beside the dive shops for early departures. **Downtown** is walkable for restaurants and shops. **Arakebesang** has the classic beach resorts, such as Palau Pacific Resort, with their own sand and house reefs. Budget rooms, mid-range hotels and resorts are all available, and dive shops will pick you up from almost anywhere.

Getting around

There is no public bus. Taxis are easy to find and inexpensive by Pacific standards, hotels often run shuttles and dive and tour operators include pickups. Walking is pleasant downtown but the roads have few pavements and the sun is strong.

Practical tips

Koror shuts down early, so eat by mid evening. Carry cash for taxis and small shops even though cards work in larger places. Book boat trips the evening before, and keep at least one day free in town to rest between dives. Your Rock Islands permit is usually arranged by your tour operator.

A sample day

Start with breakfast on Main Street, then spend the morning at the Belau National Museum and the Etpison Museum while the day is still cool. After lunch, head to Malakal for the coral reef aquarium and a short climb up Malakal Hill. Finish with a swim at Long Island Park or a sunset drink on the Malakal waterfront, then dinner downtown. It is the perfect gentle day for your arrival, a rest day between dives or your last day before flying, when diving is off the table.