Suva

Fiji's capital and the cultural heart of the South Pacific, with the Fiji Museum and lively markets, plus Colo-i-Suva rainforest and the Navua River gorge nearby.

Suva, the capital of Fiji, sits on a peninsula on the southeast coast of the main island, Viti Levu. It is one of the largest cities in the South Pacific and a regional center of politics and education, home to the University of the South Pacific and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Unlike the resort vibe of Nadi in the west, Suva is a down-to-earth port city: colonial-era Government Buildings, the Grand Pacific Hotel and the Sacred Heart Cathedral line Victoria Parade, the Fiji Museum stands in Thurston Gardens, and the Suva Municipal Market and Handicraft Market offer a window on local daily life. On the outskirts, Colo-i-Suva Forest Park has rainforest trails and natural swimming pools; the Navua River gorge, about an hour west, offers boat trips to villages and rafting. Pacific Harbour (shark diving in Beqa Lagoon) is also about an hour from Suva; see Nadi & Coral Coast. Suva has a hot, humid and rainy climate with rain nearly year-round; the May–Oct dry season is relatively cool and less wet, while Nov–Apr is the rainy and cyclone season. Getting there: Nausori Airport has domestic and a few international flights, and buses from Nadi International Airport take about 4–5 hours along the Coral Coast highway. The city center is walkable; plan to stay 1–2 days. Most shops and markets are closed on Sundays.

Top sights

• Fiji Museum – One of the most important museums in the South Pacific. It holds giant double-hulled canoes, the famous "cannibal fork" and colonial-era ar…
• Colo-i-Suva Forest Park – A tropical rainforest park on the northern outskirts of Suva. Hiking trails lead past waterfalls and natural swimming pools, and you can sw…
• Navua River & Upper Navua Gorge – A tropical rainforest river gorge west of Suva. You can take a longtail boat to visit villages or go rafting through the upper gorge.
• Thurston Gardens – Suva's botanical garden, with tropical plants and a clock tower surrounding the Fiji Museum. It's a good place for a stroll after a visit t…
• Suva Municipal Market – One of the largest fruit and vegetable markets in the South Pacific, with tropical fruit, kava root and seafood piled across two floors.
• Suva Handicraft Market – A handicraft market by the harbor, where wood carvings, tapa cloth and woven goods are concentrated, making it the place to buy Fijian souv…
• Government Buildings & Parliament of Fiji – A government building from the colonial period, completed in 1939. The grayish-white building with a clock tower now houses the Parliament…
• Grand Pacific Hotel – A seaside hotel in white colonial style, opened in 1914. It once hosted British royalty, and you can come for afternoon tea with sea views.
• Sacred Heart Cathedral – A Catholic church built in 1902 from Sydney sandstone. The Fijian-language four-part choir at Sunday Mass is deeply moving.
• Government House Suva – The official residence of Fiji's president. The sentries, who wear red jackets and sulu skirts, performing the changing of the guard at the…
• My Suva Picnic Park – A seaside park built on reclaimed land in Laucala Bay, featuring a mangrove boardwalk, a children's playground and a seawall path.

Where to eat

• Eden Bistro Bar – One of Suva's most respected upscale restaurants, focusing on fresh Fijian seafood while also serving Western dishes an…
• Tiko's Floating Restaurant – A seafood and steakhouse on a permanently moored former cruise ship in Suva Harbour, known for baked lobster, coconut c…
• Maya Dhaba – A popular Indian restaurant on Victoria Parade in central Suva, serving both North and South Indian dishes. Butter chic…

Itineraries

• Fiji Mainland, Levuka & Taveuni – An in-depth journey from the Mamanucas to Suva, the UNESCO-listed historic town of Levuka, and the garden island of Tav…