At a glance
- Best for
- War history, markets, wreck snorkelling and onward flights
- Time needed
- Two to three nights
- Getting there
- Honiara International Airport is about fifteen minutes east of the centre
- When to visit
- May to October is drier and less humid
- Language
- English, Solomons Pijin and many local languages
- Good to know
- Stock up on cash here before heading to the provinces
Why stay a few nights
International flights arrive in Honiara, and most domestic flights to the Western Province leave from here. A night or two before you fly on gives you a buffer if a domestic flight changes, and time to change money, buy a local SIM and get used to island time. It also gives you the history that explains much of the country.
The Central Market
The **Honiara Central Market** on Mendana Avenue is the beating heart of the city. Families come by boat from Malaita, Savo and the weather coast of Guadalcanal to sell sweet potato, taro, slippery cabbage, ngali nuts, betel nut, smoked fish and mountains of tropical fruit. Look for shell money and woven bags at the handicraft stalls. It is busiest in the morning and closed on Sundays.
Museums and culture
The **Solomon Islands National Museum** across the road is small but explains the country's many cultures, with canoes, shell valuables and traditional dress. The **National Parliament**, a cone-shaped building on the hill above town, has a striking painted interior and can sometimes be visited. The **Botanical Gardens** at Rove offer a shady walk.
Second World War sites
The Guadalcanal campaign of 1942 to 1943 was a turning point in the Pacific War, and its traces are everywhere. The **Guadalcanal American Memorial** on Skyline Ridge has views over Iron Bottom Sound, named for the dozens of warships sunk there. The **Japanese Peace Memorial** on Mount Austin sits higher still. **Bloody Ridge**, also called Edson's Ridge, near the airport, and **Red Beach**, where US Marines landed, can be visited with a local guide. West of town, the **Vilu War Museum** is a private open-air collection of aircraft and guns set in a garden.
Wrecks and waterfalls
About half an hour west, **Bonegi I and Bonegi II** are Japanese transport ships that lie just off the beach, so snorkellers can swim over their rusting hulls in clear water. Small fees are paid to the landowners. **Mataniko Falls** is a hike of a couple of hours through gardens and forest from Tuvaruhu village, and **Tenaru Falls** east of the airport is a longer day out. Go with a local guide arranged through your hotel.
Day trips by boat
Boats leave Honiara for **Savo Island**, a volcano with hot springs and megapode birds laying eggs in warm sand, and for **Tulagi** in the Nggela (Florida) islands, the old colonial capital and a great dive base for wartime wrecks.
Food in Honiara
The city has the widest choice of food in the country, from hotel restaurants on the waterfront to Chinese and Asian eateries along Mendana Avenue. Try fresh tuna, coconut crab where it is sustainably sourced, and the market's cooked snacks. Point Cruz Yacht Club and hotel bars are popular for sunset drinks.
Getting around and staying safe
Taxis are plentiful and cheap by Pacific standards; agree the fare before you get in. Minibuses run along the main road. Petty theft and drunken behaviour can be a problem after dark, so take a taxi at night, avoid walking alone in quiet areas and keep valuables out of sight. Most hotels are along the waterfront between Point Cruz and Kukum. See our places to visit list for ideas.
Questions about Honiara
How many days should I spend in Honiara?
Two or three nights is enough to see the market, museum, memorials and Bonegi wrecks, and to give yourself a buffer before or after domestic flights.
Is Honiara safe?
Daytime visits are usually trouble free. After dark, use taxis, avoid walking alone and keep valuables hidden. Check your government's travel advice for any current unrest.
Can I visit the war sites without a tour?
The main memorials are easy to reach by taxi, but a local guide adds the stories and helps with land access and custom fees at battlefields and wreck sites.
Is there a beach in Honiara?
Not a good one in town. Head west to Bonegi or further along the coast to Tambea for swimming and snorkelling.
Facts checked . Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so always confirm the latest with the official source.
