Kiribati travel guide

Getting there

Bonriki International Airport (TRW) on Tarawa has flights via Fiji and other Pacific hubs. Cassidy International Airport on Kiritimati is served from Fiji and, at times, Hawaii.

Best time to visit: Apr–Oct – generally drier with steady trade winds.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: No bad time – but December to February tends to be the wettest stretch on Tarawa, and rainfall varies widely from year to year with El Niño and La Niña.

Weather by month in Tarawa

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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Pacific/Kanton, Pacific/Kiritimati, Pacific/Tarawa. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 123 of 198 other passports can enter Kiribati without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 75 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Kiribati (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2024-12-02). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Kiribati are based around South Tarawa, Betio or North Tarawa. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$70–100 for a backpacker and US$150–220 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: I. Voltage: 240 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +686.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• South Tarawa (Gilbert Islands · capital area): The busy capital strip, home to government buildings, markets and the Kiribati National Cultural Centre and Museum.
• Betio (Tarawa · WWII history): The islet at the centre of the 1943 battle, still dotted with guns and bunkers.
• North Tarawa (Tarawa · traditional villages): Peaceful islets of thatched homes, maneabas and empty beaches reached by boat or causeway walks at low tide.
• Kiritimati (Christmas Island) (Line Islands · fishing & birds): One of the world's largest coral atolls by land area, famous for bonefishing and seabird colonies.
• Abemama (Gilbert Islands · outer island): A tranquil atoll where Robert Louis Stevenson stayed in 1889, offering village life and lagoon views.
• Phoenix Islands Protected Area (Phoenix Islands · marine reserve): A huge, remote UNESCO-listed marine reserve with pristine reefs, reached only by expedition vessels.

Things to do

• Watch traditional dancing. See graceful I-Kiribati dances, with outstretched arms imitating frigatebirds, performed in a village maneaba.
• Explore WWII relics on Tarawa. Walk among coastal guns, bunkers and wrecks left from the 1943 Battle of Tarawa on Betio.
• Go bonefishing on Kiritimati. Wade the shallow flats of Christmas Island, a legendary destination for fly fishing.
• Birdwatch on Kiritimati. See vast seabird colonies, including frigatebirds, boobies and terns, on one of the world's largest coral atolls.
• Visit a village on North Tarawa. Cross by boat to quiet outer islets for a slower pace of island life and simple beach stays.
• Snorkel the lagoons. Float above coral heads and tropical fish in calm, clear lagoon waters.
• Taste local food. Try fresh reef fish, breadfruit, babai (giant swamp taro) and toddy made from coconut sap.
• Greet the new day first. Watch the sun rise on Kiritimati, among the first inhabited places on Earth to start each calendar day.

Eat and drink

• Babai – giant swamp taro, a prized island crop
• Fresh reef fish – grilled or eaten raw
• Breadfruit – roasted or fried
• Te kamaimai – sweet coconut sap syrup

Money and safety

Currency: Australian dollar (AUD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected.

• Kiribati uses the Australian dollar.
• ATMs are very limited and mainly in South Tarawa; bring enough cash for outer islands.
• Kiribati is generally safe, but take care of belongings and avoid walking alone late at night in South Tarawa.
• Drink only bottled, boiled or treated water, as tap water is not safe.