🇰🇮 Kiribati

10 best places in Tarawa

Tarawa is a slender Pacific atoll where the memory of the brutal 1943 battle sits alongside a turquoise lagoon, traditional meeting halls, and an unhurried island rhythm.

Sight

Battle of Tarawa sites, Betio

Remnants of tanks, bunkers, and fortifications from one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific War.

Museum

Te Umanibong Cultural Museum

Traditional shark-tooth weapons, outrigger canoe models, and pandanus cloth telling Kiribati's story.

Park

Ambo Island Bird Sanctuary

A protected island for seabirds with a beautiful beach near the Ambo Lagoon Club.

Sight

Parliament Building (Maneaba ni Maungatabu)

Kiribati's parliament, built on an artificial island - a rare window into the atoll's political life.

Sight

Traditional maneaba

The community meeting hall at the heart of every Kiribati village, used for weddings, gatherings, and rest.

Sight

Tarawa Lagoon and te-wa sailing canoes

A ride on a traditional te-wa outrigger sailing canoe across the atoll's turquoise lagoon.

Sight

Betio Causeway

The road linking the atoll's islets, dotted with World War II relics.

District

Takoronga Point

A popular waterfront hangout with Horizon's Café, Big D's Waterfront, and Mary's Beach Café by the lagoon.

Café

Mary's Beach Café

A beachfront café in Betio offering jet-ski rentals and lagoon views.

Market

Betio Market

The atoll's main trading hub for fish, coconuts, and everyday goods.

FAQ

Is Tarawa worth visiting?

Only for determined travellers. Tourist infrastructure is minimal, hotels can be counted on one hand, and South Tarawa is densely populated and built up. People come for the 1943 battle memorials on Betio, the Te Umanibong culture museum and traditional maneaba meeting houses. If you want a beach holiday, the Pacific offers far easier options.

How do you get to Kiribati?

The main routes go through Fiji (Nadi) and Nauru, sometimes via the Marshall Islands, on a handful of flights per week that are easily rescheduled. Build in a couple of buffer days around connections so a delay does not cost you the trip home. Flights between the outer atolls are irregular.

Is Kiribati expensive?

Expensive for the comfort you get, because nearly everything is imported, shop selection is limited and the few hotels charge high rates. The Australian dollar is used, ATMs and card acceptance are unreliable, so bring cash. Stick to bottled water.

Can you move to Kiribati?

Realistically no. Kiribati is not a relocation destination: the economy is small and jobs for foreigners are mostly limited to international organisations and aid projects. Land is largely held by families and is close to impossible for a foreigner to buy. Sea level rise is a further factor, and the country has long been discussing adaptation and resettlement plans.