Travel Guide to Solomon Islands 2026: 10 Best Places to Visit & Essential Tips
Planning to visit the Solomon Islands? This travel guide to Solomon Islands covers everything you need for a first trip to one of the South Pacific's least-touched destinations: where the islands are, the best time to go, entry rules, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. The Solomons are a scattered nation of almost 1,000 islands, with the vast Marovo Lagoon, some of the world's best World War II wreck diving around Guadalcanal and Gizo, rainforest volcanoes and strong Melanesian village traditions.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Solomon Islands were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Solomon Islands
- Capital: Honiara💡 On the north coast of Guadalcanal
- Currency: Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)💡 About 8.3 SBD per US dollar. Check today's rate
- Languages: English and Solomon Islands Pijin💡 More than 70 local languages
- Population: About 760,000💡 2026 estimate
- Land area: 28,896 km²💡 Spread across almost 1,000 islands
- Time zone: SBT (UTC+11) all year💡 No daylight saving time. Convert times
- UNESCO site: East Rennell💡 The largest raised coral atoll in the world, listed in 1998
- Power: 230 V, plug type I💡 Australian-style plugs
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Solomon Islands are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Are the Solomon Islands?
The Solomon Islands are in the southwest Pacific, in Melanesia, about 2,000 km northeast of Australia. They lie east of Papua New Guinea (whose island of Bougainville is just to the northwest) and northwest of Vanuatu. The six main islands are Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira, Santa Isabel, Choiseul and New Georgia.
Honiara has direct flights from Brisbane (about 3 hours) with Solomon Airlines and Virgin Australia, plus connections via Nadi, Port Moresby and Port Vila. Solomon Airlines flies to Munda, Gizo and Seghe for Marovo Lagoon. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are warm all year, at about 27°C. The best time to visit is the drier season, May to October, with lower humidity, calmer seas and easier travel between islands. The wet season, November to April, brings heavy rain and some cyclone risk, but warm, clear water that divers love, and surf on the north-facing reefs. Independence Day (7 July) is the biggest national celebration.
Best for hiking, village visits, island hopping and lagoon trips.
Warm water and great visibility on the WWII wrecks.
Celebrations, sport and cultural shows in Honiara.
Heavy rain and cyclone risk; good surf in some spots.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Solomon Islands to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Solomon Islands Visa & Entry Requirements
Free visitor permit on arrival: citizens of the USA, UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and many other countries receive a free visitor permit for 30 days on arrival. It can be extended, up to 90 days in any 12-month period. Citizens of other countries must apply for an e-visa before travel.
- Valid passportValid for at least 6 months beyond arrival.
- Onward or return ticketRequired, with proof of accommodation and funds.
- Village feesMany reefs, wrecks and walks are on customary land; small "custom fees" are normal.
- Main airportHoniara International (HIR), 10 km east of the city.
🔗 Official sources: Visit Solomons (Tourism Solomons) · Solomon Islands Immigration. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Solomon Islands were last checked in October 2026.
🏝️ 10 Best Places to Visit in the Solomon Islands
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Solomon Islands, with the best months to see each one.
A huge lagoon of rainforest islands and reefs in Western Province, famous for wood carvers, kayaking and diving.
💡 Best time: May–OctThe Central Market, the National Museum and the US War Memorial on Skyline Ridge.
💡 Best time: All yearBloody Ridge, Red Beach and the Vilu War Museum, scenes of the 1942–43 Guadalcanal campaign.
💡 Best time: May–OctTwo Japanese transport ships you can snorkel from the beach west of Honiara.
💡 Best time: All yearAn active volcano island with hot springs and megapode birds that lay eggs in warm sand.
💡 Best time: May–OctA dive hub with WWII wrecks and the islet where John F. Kennedy swam after PT-109 sank.
💡 Best time: All yearExcellent diving and a shrine of ancestral skulls on a tiny island in Roviana Lagoon.
💡 Best time: May–OctOne of the largest uninhabited islands in the South Pacific, protected for its rainforest and turtles.
💡 Best time: May–OctArtificial islands built of coral and the tradition of shell-money making.
💡 Best time: May–OctThe world's largest raised coral atoll, around Lake Tegano; remote and on the World Heritage in Danger list.
💡 Best time: May–Oct🗺️ 7-Day Solomon Islands Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Combine Guadalcanal with the Western Province. Domestic flights and boats are limited, so plan bookings before you arrive.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Solomon Islands day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Honiara: arrive, visit the Central Market and the National Museum.
- Guadalcanal WWII: Skyline Ridge memorial, Bloody Ridge and the Vilu War Museum, then snorkel at Bonegi.
- Fly to Munda: dive or snorkel in Roviana Lagoon and visit Skull Island.
- Gizo: boat to Gizo for wreck diving and Kennedy Island.
- Marovo Lagoon: transfer to an eco-lodge; kayak among the islands.
- Marovo Lagoon: village visit, wood carvers and reef snorkelling.
- Return to Honiara: fly back for your international connection.
➕ With more time: visit Tetepare Island, the artificial islands of Malaita, or climb Savo's volcano.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Solomon Islands Cost?
Daily costs in the Solomons can be modest in village stays, but flights, boat transfers and resorts are expensive. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding international flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$50–90 | Village homestays and guesthouses, market food |
| Mid-range | US$150–260 | Hotels in Honiara, dive lodges, boat transfers |
| Luxury | US$350 + | Island resorts, dive packages, private charters |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Solomon Islands are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🛶 Boat transfers to lodges are often charged separately; ask what is included when you book.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are generally friendly and relaxed, but take care in Honiara: avoid walking alone at night, watch for petty theft, and avoid demonstrations, which can turn violent. Outside the capital, the main risks are malaria, the sea and remoteness. Take malaria precautions, use reef-safe sunscreen and carry insurance that covers medical evacuation, as medical care is limited. Saltwater crocodiles live in some rivers and mangroves, so ask locals before swimming.
Malaria is present on most islands; talk to a doctor before travel.
ATMs are in Honiara, Gizo and Auki; elsewhere you need cash in SBD.
Land and reefs belong to communities: ask before swimming, fishing or photographing.
Cover shoulders and knees in villages.
Spitting betel nut is banned in Honiara; watch for red stains on the pavement.
"Tank iu tumas" means thank you very much.
🏨 Best Hotels in the Solomon Islands: 8 Top Picks
Honiara has business-style hotels, while the Western Province has dive resorts and eco-lodges on the water.
Honiara's leading hotel, by the sea in the centre.
Check prices on Booking.com →A waterfront resort with a pool and restaurants.
Check prices on Booking.com →A long-running seafront hotel in the town centre.
Check prices on Booking.com →A friendly hotel with a pool, slightly away from the centre.
Check prices on Booking.com →A base for diving Roviana Lagoon, close to Munda airport.
Check prices on Booking.com →Bungalows over a clear lagoon, with a famous over-water bar.
Check prices on Booking.com →Beachfront bungalows on a small island, good for snorkelling.
Check prices on Booking.com →A well-known dive resort on the edge of Marovo Lagoon.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Solomon Islands: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of price levels; some lodges are not on Booking.com, so contact them directly if the search shows no rooms. 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 Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands has a national university and a modern regional campus in Honiara.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands National University (SINU) | Honiara | Public |
| University of the South Pacific – Solomon Islands Campus | Honiara | Regional public |
The national university, established in 2013.
Visit website →A campus of the regional university owned by 12 Pacific countries.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Solomon Islands: the main higher education institutions in the Solomon Islands. Last checked: October 2026.
🌺 Solomon Islands Culture & Food
Solomon Islands culture is based on kastom (custom), family clans and the wantok system of mutual support among people who share a language. Most land is owned by communities, not individuals. Shell money from Malaita is still used in bride price and ceremonies, and panpipe ensembles and wood carving are famous. The islands were a key battleground in World War II, and became independent from Britain on 7 July 1978.
Food is simple and fresh: fish, coconut, sweet potato, taro, cassava and tropical fruit. Try slippery cabbage cooked in coconut milk, motu (food cooked in an earth oven), fresh tuna, and cassava or taro pudding. The Honiara Central Market is the best place to see local produce.
❓ Travel Guide to Solomon Islands: FAQ
Where are the Solomon Islands?
The Solomon Islands are in the southwest Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. The capital is Honiara on Guadalcanal.
Do I need a visa for the Solomon Islands?
Citizens of the USA, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries get a free 30-day visitor permit on arrival. Others need an e-visa before travel.
What is the best time to visit the Solomon Islands?
May to October is the drier season and the best time for most travel. Diving is good all year.
How do you get to the Solomon Islands?
Solomon Airlines and Virgin Australia fly to Honiara from Brisbane in about 3 hours. Connections are also available via Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Is the Solomon Islands safe for tourists?
The Solomon Islands are generally friendly, but take care in Honiara at night and avoid demonstrations. Take malaria precautions and carry insurance with medical evacuation.
What currency is used in the Solomon Islands?
The Solomon Islands dollar (SBD). Bring cash for the outer islands, as ATMs are only in a few towns.
Is the Solomon Islands good for diving?
Yes. It has some of the best WWII wreck diving in the world, around Guadalcanal, Gizo and Munda, plus healthy reefs in Marovo Lagoon.
How many days do you need in the Solomon Islands?
At least seven to ten days to see Honiara and the Western Province, because domestic flights and boats take time.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Solomon Islands
- Visit SolomonsOfficial tourism information
- Solomon Islands ImmigrationVisitor permits and e-visas
- UNESCO: East RennellWorld Heritage listing
- Smartraveller: Solomon IslandsAustralian government advice
Finished this travel guide to Solomon Islands? 🌍 More Pacific guides: Papua New Guinea · Vanuatu · Fiji · Nauru · Australia
⚖️ Compare Solomon Islands with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
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