Palau travel guide

Getting there

Palau International Airport (ROR) on Babeldaob, near Koror, has flights connecting via Guam, Taiwan, Manila and other regional hubs.

Best time to visit: Nov–Apr – drier weather and calm seas for diving.

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

Tougher months: No bad time – but June to September tends to be wetter and windier, with some rough seas.

Weather by month in Koror

• 30°J●●
• 30°F●●
• 31°M●●
• 31°A●●
• 31°M●●
• 30°J●●●
• 30°J●●●
• 30°A●●●
• 31°S●●
• 31°O●●
• 31°N●●
• 30°D●●

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

Time zone: Pacific/Palau. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 196 of 198 other passports can enter Palau without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 2 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Palau (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-01-07). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Palau are based around Koror, Rock Islands Southern Lagoon or Babeldaob. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$80–120 for a backpacker and US$180–300 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 120 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +680.

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

Do

• Koror (Main town · culture & services): Palau's commercial hub, with museums, restaurants and boat departures to the Rock Islands.
• Rock Islands Southern Lagoon (UNESCO site · islands & lagoons): A spectacular maze of limestone islands, beaches and marine lakes.
• Babeldaob (Largest island · nature & heritage): Home to the capital, waterfalls, stone monoliths and traditional villages.
• Peleliu (Southern island · WWII history): A quiet island packed with war relics, memorials and beautiful beaches.
• Ngardmau Waterfall (Babeldaob · waterfall): Palau's tallest waterfall, reached by a jungle trail.
• Kayangel (Northern atoll · beaches): A remote, peaceful atoll with white sand and clear lagoons.

Things to do

• Kayak the Rock Islands. Paddle among hundreds of mushroom-shaped limestone islets rising from turquoise lagoons.
• Swim in Jellyfish Lake. Float among golden jellyfish in a marine lake on Eil Malk, when it is open to visitors.
• Dive Blue Corner. Hook onto the reef at one of the world's top dive sites as sharks and schools of fish swirl by.
• Bathe in the Milky Way. Smear yourself with white limestone mud in a sheltered lagoon in the Rock Islands.
• Explore Peleliu. Visit war memorials, tanks and caves on the island where a fierce WWII battle took place.
• See Badrulchau stone monoliths. Wander among ancient carved basalt stones on the northern tip of Babeldaob.
• Visit a traditional bai. Admire the painted gables of a Palauan meeting house, such as the restored bai in Airai.
• Snorkel the German Channel. Spot manta rays and reef sharks in a channel cut through the reef in colonial times.

Eat and drink

• Fresh sashimi – Japanese-style raw fish
• Coconut crab – local delicacy
• Taro – staple root, often in desserts
• Tapioca – cooked in sweet coconut milk

Money and safety

Currency: US dollar (USD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Appreciated for dive guides and boat crews; around 10% in restaurants..

Emergency numbers: 911.

• Palau uses the US dollar.
• Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels and dive shops; carry cash for small shops and outer islands.
• Palau is very safe with low crime.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen; Palau bans certain harmful sunscreen ingredients.