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Oceania / Oceania

Solomon Islands

WWII wrecks, reefs, and Melanesian villages. As part of Oceania in Oceania, Solomon Islands suits travelers drawn to beachside, nature, and islands. Use this guide to plan where to go, when to visit, and how to structure your days.

Solomon Islands

Start exploring.

Best time to visit: May – Oct

Honiara

Plan at least a full day in Honiara to enjoy its main sights, local food, and surrounding scenery.

Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal pairs well with nearby highlights on a Oceania route through Solomon Islands.

Munda

Munda pairs well with nearby highlights on a Oceania route through Solomon Islands.

What it is known for
facts
  • Guadalcanal WWII battlefields and memorials
  • Munda wreck diving in the Western Province
  • Shell money traditions in Langalanga Lagoon
  • Vilu War Museum open-air aircraft collection
  • Poi fermented taro and fresh reef fish
key City
name
Honiara
label
Capital
why
International flights arrive on Guadalcanal, with WWII sites nearby and domestic links to dive hubs like Munda.
Places to visit
  • area
    Honiara
    attractions
    • name
      National Museum of Solomon Islands
      duration
      1.5-3 hours
      book Ahead
      Book timed entry 1-2 weeks ahead for major museums; same-day often fine off-season.
    • name
      American War Memorial
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Many are free outdoors; timed entry sites need 1-2 weeks notice in summer.
    • name
      Bonegi Dive Site
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Check official hours; book 1-2 weeks ahead if timed entry applies in peak season.
    • name
      Central Market Honiara
      duration
      1-3 hours
      book Ahead
      No ticket required; go early for markets and late afternoon for squares.
  • area
    Guadalcanal
    attractions
    • name
      Tenaru Falls
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Check official hours; book 1-2 weeks ahead if timed entry applies in peak season.
    • name
      Mount Austen Memorial
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Many are free outdoors; timed entry sites need 1-2 weeks notice in summer.
    • name
      Betikama Adventist College Gardens
      duration
      2-3 hours
      book Ahead
      Buy day tickets on-site or online 3-7 days ahead on busy weekends.
    • name
      Lunga River
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Check official hours; book 1-2 weeks ahead if timed entry applies in peak season.
  • area
    Munda
    attractions
    • name
      Munda Bar
      duration
      1-2 hours
      book Ahead
      Check official hours; book 1-2 weeks ahead if timed entry applies in peak season.
    • name
      Skull Island (Kindu Point)
      duration
      Half day to full day
      book Ahead
      Book ferries or boat tours 3-7 days ahead in peak season.
    • name
      Peter Joseph WWII Museum
      duration
      1.5-3 hours
      book Ahead
      Book timed entry 1-2 weeks ahead for major museums; same-day often fine off-season.
    • name
      Roviana Lagoon
      duration
      Half day to full day
      book Ahead
      Book ferries or boat tours 3-7 days ahead in peak season.
Itineraries
  • title
    Solomon Islands Highlights Express
    duration
    5 days
    locations
    • Honiara
    • Guadalcanal
    • Munda
    highlights
    • Full day discovering Honiara
    • Full day discovering Guadalcanal
    • Full day discovering Munda
    best For
    Weekend warriors and short trips
    days
    • day
      1
      title
      Arrive in Honiara
      description
      Land in Honiara, check into your stay, and take an easy orientation walk. Try a well-rated local restaurant to start your Solomon Islands trip.
    • day
      2
      title
      Explore Guadalcanal
      description
      Dedicate the day to Guadalcanal: main landmarks, neighborhoods, and a signature local experience before continuing your route.
    • day
      3
      title
      Munda and farewell
      description
      Spend your final day in Munda visiting any missed sights, picking up souvenirs, and preparing for departure.
  • title
    Classic Solomon Islands
    duration
    7 days
    locations
    • Honiara
    • Guadalcanal
    • Munda
    highlights
    • Cover Honiara and Guadalcanal
    • Explore Munda
    best For
    Outdoor lovers and slow travel
    days
    • day
      1
      title
      Arrive in Honiara
      description
      Land in Honiara, check into your stay, and take an easy orientation walk. Try a well-rated local restaurant to start your Solomon Islands trip.
    • day
      2
      title
      Explore Guadalcanal
      description
      Dedicate the day to Guadalcanal: main landmarks, neighborhoods, and a signature local experience before continuing your route.
    • day
      3
      title
      Munda and farewell
      description
      Spend your final day in Munda visiting any missed sights, picking up souvenirs, and preparing for departure.
  • title
    Solomon Islands Beaches & Coast
    duration
    5 days
    locations
    • Honiara
    • Munda
    highlights
    • Coastal day in Honiara
    • Coastal day in Munda
    best For
    Sun seekers, swimmers, and coastal road trips
    days
    • day
      1
      title
      Arrive in Honiara
      description
      Check in near the shore and take a relaxed walk along the waterfront. Swim or sunbathe if conditions allow, then settle into a seaside dinner in Honiara.
    • day
      2
      title
      Munda and farewell
      description
      Enjoy a final beach morning in Munda, visiting Munda Bar, Skull Island (Kindu Point), Peter Joseph WWII Museum before you depart Solomon Islands.
  • title
    Solomon Islands Countryside
    duration
    5 days
    locations
    • Honiara
    • Guadalcanal
    • Munda
    highlights
    • Rural stop: Honiara
    • Rural stop: Guadalcanal
    • Rural stop: Munda
    best For
    Nature lovers, hikers, and slow travel
    days
    • day
      1
      title
      Arrive in Honiara
      description
      Reach Honiara, drop bags at a rural stay, and take a short walk through nearby villages or trails to get oriented.
    • day
      2
      title
      Guadalcanal countryside
      description
      Explore Guadalcanal at an easy pace: Tenaru Falls, Mount Austen Memorial, Betikama Adventist College Gardens with a focus on open landscapes away from the crowds.
    • day
      3
      title
      Munda and farewell
      description
      Wrap up with a slow morning in Munda, stopping at Munda Bar, Skull Island (Kindu Point), Peter Joseph WWII Museum before heading home.
  • title
    Solomon Islands Monuments & Hot Spots
    duration
    5 days
    locations
    • Honiara
    • Guadalcanal
    • Munda
    highlights
    • Must-see: National Museum of Solomon Islands
    • Must-see: American War Memorial
    • Must-see: Tenaru Falls
    • Must-see: Mount Austen Memorial
    best For
    Sightseeing, history buffs, and first-time landmark hunters
    days
    • day
      1
      title
      Icons of Honiara
      description
      Start in Honiara with National Museum of Solomon Islands, American War Memorial, Bonegi Dive Site, buying timed tickets ahead when possible and finishing with a walk through the historic center.
    • day
      2
      title
      Guadalcanal monuments
      description
      Focus on Guadalcanal's tourist favorites: Tenaru Falls, Mount Austen Memorial, Betikama Adventist College Gardens with breaks for local food between sights.
    • day
      3
      title
      Munda landmarks and farewell
      description
      Catch any remaining must-sees in Munda, including Munda Bar, Skull Island (Kindu Point), Peter Joseph WWII Museum, before your departure.
When to go & typical weather
summary
May through October is drier across the Solomon Islands, when Honiara WWII history, Marovo Lagoon diving, and village cultural stays see calmer seas and less rain. Diving visibility peaks in mid-year dry months.
typical Weather
Honiara May-Oct: highs 30-31°C (86-88°F), lows 23-24°C (73-75°F), 100-150 mm rain vs 250 mm Jan-Mar. Sea 28-29°C (82-84°F).
details
  • Jul-Aug peak diving; liveaboards schedule around calm seas.
  • Nov-Apr wetter with cyclone risk Jan-Mar.
  • Remote islands require flexible flight schedules.
  • Malaria prophylaxis recommended year-round.
most Affordable
period
Nov – Apr
summary
Wet cyclone-season months offer Solomon Islands' lowest Honiara and dive lodge rates when Marovo Lagoon operators discount despite weather risk.
details
  • Honiara hotels discount in wetter months.
  • Marovo Lagoon dive lodges cut rainy-season rates.
  • WWII history tours cheaper with lower demand.
  • Solomon Airlines flights less crowded off-peak.
most Expensive
period
Jul – Aug
summary
Dry-season dive peak fills Solomon Islands when liveaboards and Marovo Lagoon lodges operate at maximum demand with best visibility.
details
  • Marovo Lagoon liveaboards sell out at peak Jul-Aug rates.
  • Honiara dive operators charge premium in dry season.
  • Guadalcanal WWII tours cost more in calm dry months.
  • Domestic flights to outer islands fill faster in dry peak.
Airports & arrivals
summary
Honiara International Airport on Guadalcanal is the main gateway.
airports
  • name
    Honiara International Airport
    code
    HIR
    location
    Honiara
    distance From Center
    10 km (6 mi) east of central Honiara
    transfer Note
    Taxis serve the capital
Getting around
overview
Solomon Islanders use minibuses in Honiara and inter-island boats.
trains
    ferries
    • name
      Inter-Island Ferry
      description
      Boats linking provinces.
      ticketing
      Buy at Honiara ferry terminal.
    subways
      public Transit
      • name
        Honiara Bus
        kind
        public
        description
        Route buses in Honiara.
        ticketing
        Pay cash when boarding.
      • name
        Solomon Airlines Domestic
        kind
        public
        description
        Flights between islands.
        ticketing
        Book at solomonairlines.com or airport.
      ride Share
        Currency
        code
        SBD
        name
        Solomon Islands dollar
        symbol
        $
        note
        Carry some solomon islands dollar in cash for taxis and markets; card acceptance is strongest in major cities and tourist areas.

        Convert your travel budget ↗

        Visas & official entry links
        Local customs
        summary
        Solomon Islands are Melanesian, church-centered, and WWII-history rich, with clan land and reef etiquette on island hops. Honiara requires street awareness; outer islands are conservative.
        customs
        • Sunday church dominates social life.
        • Shell money and custom gifts matter in some exchanges.
        • Modest dress outside resort zones.
        dos
        • Ask clan permission before visiting villages.
        • Use reef-safe sunscreen on dive trips to Iron Bottom Sound.
        • Dress modestly in Honiara and villages.
        • Carry cash Solomon dollars for outer islands.
        • Learn basic thank you in Pijin.
        donts
        • Do not enter clan land without invitation.
        • Do not remove WWII relics or coral from reefs.
        • Do not fly drones over communities without asking.
        • Do not assume medical care is available on remote islands.
        • Do not wear swimwear in town centers.
        Useful travel phrases
        language
        English
        phrases
        • english
          Please
          local
          Please
          pronunciation
          PLEEZ
        • english
          Thank you
          local
          Thank you
          pronunciation
          THANK yoo
        • english
          Yes
          local
          Yes
          pronunciation
          YES
        • english
          No
          local
          No
          pronunciation
          NOH
        • english
          How much?
          local
          How much?
          pronunciation
          how MUCH
        • english
          Where is the nearest restaurant or bar?
          local
          Where is the nearest restaurant or bar?
          pronunciation
          wair iz thuh NEER-est RES-tuh-raunt or BAR
        • english
          Where is the airport?
          local
          Where is the airport?
          pronunciation
          wair iz thee AIR-port
        • english
          I need help
          local
          I need help
          pronunciation
          eye need HELP
        • english
          I need a hospital
          local
          I need a hospital
          pronunciation
          eye need uh HOS-pih-tul
        • english
          Call the police
          local
          Call the police
          pronunciation
          kawl thuh puh-LEES
        Longer stays
        visa Summary
        U.S. citizens need a visa before travel or may obtain visitor permits on arrival depending on current policy; confirm before departure. Work permits require employer sponsorship through Solomon Islands immigration. Pacific entry requirements change occasionally, so verify with the nearest consulate.

        Practical tips.

        • Book Solomon Airlines flights early because inter-island service is limited and weather delays are common.
        • Carry Solomon Islands dollars in cash for Honiara markets and village guesthouses with no card facilities.
        • Use registered dive operators in Munda and Gizo because reef sites require local guides and permit fees.
        More travel tips ↗

        Locate Solomon Islands.

        Location map of Solomon Islands

        Before you go.

        Check current entry requirements and travel conditions with official sources before booking. Read the current U.S. State Department advisory for Solomon Islands ↗