Find places in Tuvalu

Must-Haves

• Funafuti airstrip evening gathering (Fongafale)
  When no plane is due, the runway fills with volleyball, football, joggers and families enjoying the cooler evening air.
• Scooter ride the length of Fongafale (Fongafale)
  Hiring a scooter from your guesthouse and riding end to end is the easiest way to see daily island life.

Fun for Everyone

• Cycling the main road (Fongafale)
  Flat roads and short distances make Funafuti ideal for a slow bicycle tour.

Off the Beaten Path

• Borrow pits walk (Fongafale)
  The pits dug for the wartime runway were filled in recently, and the change tells a story about reclaimed land.
• Funafuti land reclamation viewpoint (Fongafale lagoon side)
  The newly built land along the lagoon shows how Tuvalu is adapting to rising seas.

Must-Haves

• Funafuti Lagoon (Fongafale lagoon side)
  The vast turquoise lagoon is the heart of Funafuti, perfect for a calm late afternoon swim off the lagoon shore.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ocean side reef at Fongafale (Fongafale ocean side)
  Walk across the narrow islet to see Pacific surf crashing on the reef just metres from the lagoon.
• Northern tip of Fongafale (Tengako)
  Ride to the quiet north end of the islet where the road thins out and the lagoon and ocean nearly meet.
• Southern tip of Fongafale (Fongafale south)
  The far southern end beyond the town has empty shoreline and wide views across the lagoon.

Fun for Everyone

• Lagoon side swimming at Vaiaku (Vaiaku)
  The most convenient swim spot, a short walk from the hotel and guesthouses.

Must-Haves

• Fale Kaupule (Vaiaku)
  The Funafuti island council meeting house is a fine example of a traditional open sided maneapa.
• Fetu Ao Lima Church (Fakaifou)
  The large Church of Tuvalu building is the place to hear powerful hymn singing on a Sunday morning.
• Tuvalu Government Building (Vaiaku)
  The modern three storey government building near the airport houses parliament and the ministries.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau (Vaiaku)
  Tuvalu's colourful postage stamps are prized by collectors and make a light, authentic souvenir.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tuvalu National Library and Archives (Vaiaku)
  A small but important collection on the history, language and culture of the islands.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Handicraft stalls at the airport (Vaiaku)
  On flight days, local women sell shell jewellery and weaving right outside the terminal.

Fun for Everyone

• Morning bakery runs (Fongafale)
  Small bakeries sell soft island bread and buns early in the day, a favourite local breakfast.
• Tuvalu stamps and coins (Vaiaku)
  Tuvaluan coins with island designs are a neat keepsake.

Must-Haves

• Tuvalu Independence Day (Vaiaku)
  On 1 October the whole capital turns out for parades, feasts, sport and dancing.
• Gospel Day (Funafuti)
  Each May churches across Tuvalu celebrate the arrival of Christianity with services, singing and feasts.

Fun for Everyone

• National Children's Day (Funafuti)
  Families celebrate children with church services, games and gifts in October.
• Christmas and New Year celebrations (Funafuti)
  The festive season brings week long dancing competitions, church events and family feasts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Island community days at the maneapa (Funafuti)
  Each outer island community in Funafuti holds its own celebrations, often open to respectful guests.

Must-Haves

• Funafuti Lagoon Hotel restaurant (Vaiaku)
  The government owned hotel's restaurant faces the lagoon and serves fish, chicken and rice dishes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Filamona Moonlight Hotel restaurant (Vaiaku)
  A popular place for simple island and Chinese style meals near the airport.
• Takeaway lunch boxes (Fongafale)
  Small shops sell plates of rice, fried fish, chicken and chop suey that locals grab at lunchtime.
• Pulaka dishes at a family feast (Funafuti)
  Pulaka, the swamp taro grown in pits, is the true taste of Tuvalu and best tried at a community feast.

Fun for Everyone

• Fresh tuna sashimi (Funafuti)
  Raw tuna with lime and coconut is a beloved island dish, often served at gatherings.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fresh toddy from a palm (Funafuti)
  Kaleve, sweet sap from the coconut palm, is drunk fresh and fizzy in the morning.
• Island donuts and pancakes (Fongafale)
  Small stalls and stores sell fried pancakes, a sweet breakfast favourite.

Fun for Everyone

• Green drinking coconuts (Funafuti)
  A chilled young coconut is the best refreshment in the midday heat.

Off the Beaten Path

• Coffee at your guesthouse (Vaiaku)
  Café culture barely exists, so morning coffee is usually an easy chat with your hosts.

Great for Date Night

• Funafuti Lagoon Hotel bar (Vaiaku)
  The hotel bar is one of the few places for a cold drink overlooking the lagoon.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sour toddy among friends (Funafuti)
  Fermented toddy is shared at gatherings, take it slowly and follow your hosts' lead.

Must-Haves

• Funafuti Lagoon Hotel (Vaiaku)
  Tuvalu's main hotel sits beside the lagoon within walking distance of the airport.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Filamona Moonlight Hotel (Vaiaku)
  A friendly family run hotel close to the runway and the government building.
• Esfam Lodge (Vaiaku)
  A simple, well known guesthouse popular with visiting officials and travellers.
• Island homestays (Funafuti)
  Some families host visitors, a warm way to see daily life, arranged through local contacts.

Must-Haves

• Funafuti Conservation Area (Western Funafuti lagoon)
  The protected reef, lagoon and islets offer the best snorkelling and wildlife in the country.
• Tepuka Vili Vili islet (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  A beautiful islet with sand, palms and calm swimming, often a focus of day trips.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fualopa islet (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  A small vegetated islet where seabirds nest in the quiet of the protected zone.
• Fuafatu islet (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  Uninhabited and peaceful, a fine place to sit under the palms and watch the reef.
• Vasafua islet (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  A tiny islet whose shrinking shore tells a vivid story about storms and rising seas.

Must-Haves

• Conservation Area boat trip (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  A day by boat to the protected islets is the best outing in Tuvalu, arranged through the conservation office or your lodging.

Great for Date Night

• Picnic on a deserted islet (Funafuti Conservation Area)
  Pack lunch and spend the afternoon on an empty beach with no one else in sight.

Must-Haves

• Nanumea Church (Nanumea village)
  The striking church with its tall tower is one of the most impressive buildings in Tuvalu.

Fun for Everyone

• Nanumea maneapa (Nanumea village)
  The community meeting house where elders gather and feasts are held.

Off the Beaten Path

• Second World War airstrip remains (Nanumea)
  Nanumea hosted an American airbase, and traces of it remain in the bush.
• Wartime landing craft wreck (Nanumea reef)
  A rusting landing craft from the war lies in the shallows.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fishing with locals (Nanumea)
  If invited, joining a fishing trip is an unforgettable experience.

Must-Haves

• Nanumea lagoon (Nanumea)
  A beautiful lagoon on the northern most atoll of Tuvalu.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lakena islet (Nanumea)
  The second islet of the atoll, with taro pits and quiet shoreline.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fresh fish and pulaka meals (Nanumea)
  Expect home cooked fish, breadfruit and taro with your hosts.

Must-Haves

• Motulalo wartime airstrip (Nukufetau)
  The atoll hosted a Second World War airfield whose outline can still be traced.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Church service on Nukufetau (Nukufetau)
  Sunday services with strong singing are the centre of the week.

Must-Haves

• Nukufetau lagoon (Nukufetau)
  A large and beautiful lagoon with many islets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lagoon islets of Nukufetau (Nukufetau)
  Uninhabited islets with sandbars and seabirds.

Fun for Everyone

• Nukufetau maneapa (Nukufetau village)
  The heart of community life, where visitors are welcomed.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Island feast food (Nukufetau)
  Coconut crab, fish and pulaka are served at gatherings.

Must-Haves

• Motufoua Secondary School (Vaitupu)
  Tuvalu's oldest secondary school has shaped generations of leaders.

Fun for Everyone

• Vaitupu maneapa (Vaitupu village)
  A large community hall where dancing and feasts take place.

Must-Haves

• Vaitupu lagoon (Vaitupu)
  The largest island by land area has an enclosed lagoon and lush vegetation.

Off the Beaten Path

• Walking the island tracks (Vaitupu)
  Shady tracks wind through coconut and breadfruit groves.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Breadfruit and fish dinner (Vaitupu)
  Breadfruit cooked in many ways is a staple here.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Local handicrafts (Vaitupu)
  Weaving and fans are made by village women's groups.

Must-Haves

• Nukulaelae lagoon (Nukulaelae)
  A pristine lagoon on a quiet south eastern atoll.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fangaua islet (Nukulaelae)
  The main village islet, peaceful and green.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nukulaelae church (Nukulaelae)
  The church remembers the island's turbulent history with the 1860s slave traders.

Fun for Everyone

• Nukulaelae maneapa (Nukulaelae)
  The meeting house at the heart of the village.