Fiji

English and Fijian (iTaukei) are the official languages, alongside Fiji Hindi, which many Indo-Fijians speak at home. English is used in schools, government, and virtually all tourism, so getting around is straightforward everywhere from resorts to local buses.

Vodafone Fiji and Digicel Fiji both sell tourist SIM cards at Nadi International Airport and in most towns; a passport is needed to register. Coverage is strong on the main islands and weaker on remote outer islands, where some resorts rely on satellite internet.

Stick to bottled or filtered water outside main towns and resorts. Tap water in Suva, Nadi, and resort areas is usually treated, but rainwater-tank supplies on outer islands and in villages are less reliable. Pharmacies are well stocked in Suva, Nadi, and Lautoka, but limited elsewhere, so bring a basic supply of any regular medication. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue occur occasionally; a repellent with DEET is a sensible precaution, especially after rain.

Citizens of many countries, including the EU, UK, US, Canada, and Australia, can enter Fiji visa-free for stays of up to four months for tourism. A passport valid for at least six months beyond the stay and proof of an onward or return ticket are generally required.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Fijian villages run on formal courtesy. If invited into a village, dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), remove hats and sunglasses, and avoid touching anyone's head. Visiting a village chief traditionally calls for a sevusevu — a small gift of kava root, usually arranged by a local host or tour guide.

Kava (yaqona) ceremonies follow set customs: clap once before receiving the bowl, drink it in one go, then clap again. At religious sites such as Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes before entering. Save swimwear for the beach or resort pool, not the street.

Public holidays can close shops, banks, and government offices for the day, and bus schedules thin out; check ahead if traveling on one.

Shops in towns generally close by early evening and are quieter on Sundays, when many Fijians attend church.

• By air: Fiji Airways and Northern Air run domestic flights linking Nadi and Suva to outer islands such as Taveuni and Kadavu, useful when a ferry would take most of a day.
• By ferry and boat: regular ferries connect Viti Levu to Vanua Levu, Ovalau, Taveuni, and other larger islands; resort transfers to the Mamanuca Islands and Yasawa Islands run by smaller boat or catamaran from Denarau Island.
• By bus: local buses link towns on Viti Levu cheaply, though services are infrequent and schedules loose; useful for budget travel between Nadi, Sigatoka, and Suva.
• By taxi: metered in towns and widely available; agree a price in advance for longer trips or island transfers.

Fiji drives on the left.

Fijian food centers on fresh fish, root vegetables, and coconut. Kokoda — raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream with chili and onion — is the dish most visitors try first, and a version of it appears on nearly every resort menu. A lovo, food cooked for hours in a pit of hot stones wrapped in banana leaves, is the traditional way of feeding a village or a big family gathering; some resorts recreate it as a weekly feast night.

Root vegetables like cassava and dalo (taro) are the everyday starch, often served with rourou, taro leaves cooked down in coconut cream. Fiji's large Indo-Fijian community means curry and roti are just as common as Fijian dishes, especially in Nadi and Suva. Kava, a mildly numbing drink made from the ground yaqona root, is central to Fijian social life and offered as a sign of welcome; Fiji Bitter is the local beer.

Most visitors base themselves on Viti Levu, the main island. Nadi is the gateway, close to the international airport and the resort marina of Denarau Island; Suva, the capital, has Fiji's main museums, markets, and colonial-era architecture. Along the south coast, Sigatoka anchors the Coral Coast, while Rakiraki in the north is a quieter base for diving.

Fiji's outer islands cover a wide range of trips. The Mamanuca Islands and Yasawa Islands, both a short boat ride from Denarau Island, hold most of Fiji's classic resort islands and backpacker boat routes. Taveuni, known as the "Garden Island," and Kadavu further south are quieter, better suited to divers and hikers than to island-hopping crowds. On Ovalau, the small town of Levuka, Fiji's former colonial capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Savusavu, on Vanua Levu, is a low-key base for diving Fiji's northern reefs.