Travel Guide to Palau 2026: Rock Islands, Diving & Culture
Palau is one of the world's great diving destinations. This travel guide to Palau covers everything you need for 2026: where Palau is, the best time to go, entry rules and the Palau Pledge, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and colleges. From the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon and the stingless jellyfish of Jellyfish Lake to the sharks of Blue Corner, the white mud of the Milky Way and the World War II sites of Peleliu, this guide shows how to explore this Pacific island nation responsibly.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Palau were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Palau
- Capital: Ngerulmud💡 On Babeldaob; Koror is the largest town
- Currency: US dollar (USD)💡 Cards accepted in Koror; carry cash elsewhere. Check rates
- Languages: Palauan and English💡 Japanese is also understood by some older people
- Population: About 18,000💡 Most live in Koror
- Area: 459 km²💡 More than 340 islands
- Time zone: UTC+9, no daylight saving💡 The same as Japan. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 1💡 Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
- Power: 120 V, plug types A and B💡 The same plugs as the USA
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Palau are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Palau?
Palau is in the western Pacific Ocean, at the western edge of Micronesia, about 800 km east of the Philippines and 1,300 km south of Guam. It is made up of more than 340 islands: the large volcanic island of Babeldaob, the town of Koror, the hundreds of limestone Rock Islands, the WWII battle island of Peleliu, and Angaur in the south. Palau declared one of the world's first national shark sanctuaries and protects most of its waters in the Palau National Marine Sanctuary.
Flights land at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport on Babeldaob, about 20 minutes from Koror. United Airlines flies from Guam and Manila, and there are direct flights from Taipei and seasonal flights from Japan and Korea. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Palau
Palau is warm all year (about 27–31°C, with water at 28–29°C). The drier season from November to April has calmer seas and the best diving conditions. February and March are often the best months. The wetter season (June–October) brings more rain and some typhoon risk, although Palau is south of the main typhoon track. Manta rays and big schools of fish can be seen all year, and Independence Day (1 October) is a big celebration.
Calm seas and the best visibility.
Often the best conditions.
More rain; fewer visitors.
Rare, but check forecasts.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Palau to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Palau Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Easy entry for most visitors: US citizens can stay up to one year without a visa under the Compact of Free Association, and citizens of Schengen countries, Israel and Taiwan can stay 90 days in any 180-day period. Most other visitors get a 30-day visa on arrival (about US$50, extendable). Everyone must sign the Palau Pledge stamped in their passport, and the US$100 Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee is included in international air tickets.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months.
- Entry formComplete the online Palau entry form within 72 hours before departure.
- Onward ticketRequired on arrival.
- PermitsRock Islands and Jellyfish Lake permits are bought through your tour operator.
🔗 Official sources: Pristine Paradise Palau (official tourism) · The Palau Pledge. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Palau were last checked in October 2026.
🤿 10 Best Places to Visit in Palau
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Palau, with the best months to see each one.
Hundreds of green limestone islands in a turquoise lagoon.
💡 Best time: Nov–AprSnorkel with millions of golden, stingless jellyfish (when open).
💡 Best time: Check statusOne of the world's best dive sites for sharks and big fish.
💡 Best time: All yearA channel where manta rays come to be cleaned.
💡 Best time: All yearA lagoon with white limestone mud for a natural face mask.
💡 Best time: All yearA sandbar that appears at low tide between two islands.
💡 Best time: Low tideNgardmau waterfall, the Badrulchau stone monoliths and the Capitol.
💡 Best time: Nov–AprWWII battlefields, tanks and memorials from 1944.
💡 Best time: Nov–AprThe Belau National Museum and the Etpison Museum.
💡 Best time: All yearWall dives, reefs and historic Ulong Island.
💡 Best time: Nov–Apr🗺️ 7-Day Palau Itinerary: Koror, the Rock Islands & Peleliu
Base yourself in Koror and join boat trips each day; most tours include permits, lunch and snorkelling or diving.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Palau day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Koror: arrive and visit the Belau National Museum.
- Rock Islands tour: the Milky Way, Long Beach and snorkelling.
- Diving: Blue Corner and the Blue Holes.
- Jellyfish Lake or kayaking: snorkel the lake if open, or paddle through the Rock Islands.
- Peleliu: a day trip to the WWII sites and beaches.
- Babeldaob: Ngardmau waterfall and the Badrulchau stone monoliths.
- German Channel: manta rays, then a last sunset in Koror.
➕ With more time: visit Angaur, stay on Carp Island, or take a liveaboard dive trip.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Palau Cost?
Palau is expensive, mainly because of boat trips, diving and permits. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$120–180 | Simple hotels and shared tours |
| Mid-range | US$250–400 | Good hotels and daily boat trips or dives |
| Luxury | US$600 + | Resorts, private boats and liveaboards |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Palau are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🎟️ A Rock Islands permit costs about US$50 (or US$100 including Jellyfish Lake) and is valid for 10 days.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Palau
Palau is very safe, with low crime. The main risks are at sea: dive only with licensed operators, check currents at sites like Blue Corner, use reef hooks where allowed, and stay hydrated in the heat. Unexploded WWII ordnance remains on some islands such as Peleliu, so stay on marked paths. Follow the Palau Pledge: do not touch coral, feed fish or take shells.
Protect the reef and wildlife.
Many harmful sunscreens are banned.
Your tour operator arranges them.
No currency exchange needed for Americans.
Dive only with experienced guides.
"Alii" is the Palauan greeting.
🏨 Best Hotels & Resorts in Palau: 6 Top Picks
Almost all hotels are in or near Koror, close to the dive shops and boat docks.
The best-known resort, with a private beach and house reef.
Check prices on Booking.com →A waterfront resort with its own marina.
Check prices on Booking.com →Modern rooms and a pool overlooking the Rock Islands.
Check prices on Booking.com →Garden villas with a pool.
Check prices on Booking.com →Simple cottages on a Rock Island close to the dive sites.
Check prices on Booking.com →A simple hotel in the centre of Koror.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Palau: chosen for location, reputation and access to boat trips and diving. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Palau
Palau's main higher education institution is its community college, and Koror is home to an international coral reef research centre.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Palau Community College | Koror | Public |
| Palau International Coral Reef Center | Koror | Research centre |
The national college, offering associate degrees and vocational training.
Visit website →Marine research and a public aquarium.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Palau: the national college and a leading marine research centre. Last checked: October 2026.
🛶 Palauan Culture & Food
Palau has a matrilineal society, where land and titles pass through the mother's line and women's councils choose chiefs. The traditional bai (men's meeting house), with painted gables telling legends, can be seen at Airai and Melekeok. Storyboards, carved wooden panels showing Palauan legends, are the best-known craft. Palau was ruled by Spain, Germany, Japan and the US before independence in 1994, and Japanese influence shows in food and words.
Food is based on fish, taro and tapioca. Try fresh reef fish, tinola, coconut crab (only in season and of legal size), ulkoy (taro fritters), Japanese-style sashimi and bento, and local Red Rooster beer from Koror.
❓ Travel Guide to Palau: FAQ
Do I need a visa for Palau?
US citizens can stay up to a year; Schengen citizens get 90 days; most others get a 30-day visa on arrival.
What is the Palau Pledge?
A promise to protect Palau's environment, stamped in every visitor's passport.
What is the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee?
A US$100 fee included in international air tickets.
Is Jellyfish Lake open?
It reopens and closes depending on jellyfish numbers; ask your tour operator.
What is the best time to visit Palau?
November to April, the drier season.
What currency does Palau use?
The US dollar.
How do you get to Palau?
Via Guam, Manila or Taipei, with seasonal flights from Japan and Korea.
Is Palau good for beginners?
Yes for snorkelling; some famous dive sites have strong currents and suit experienced divers.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Palau
- Pristine Paradise PalauThe official tourism website
- UNESCO: Rock Islands Southern LagoonThe World Heritage listing
- The Palau PledgeThe visitor pledge
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