←Palau travel guide
Koror State, Palau
Koror
Palau's bustling hub, gateway to world-class reefs and dive sites
AdventureBeachesNature & OutdoorsWildlife
Koror is home to roughly two-thirds of Palau's population and serves as the country's commercial, dining, and tourism centre. Compact enough to explore on foot, it lines its streets with dive shops, museums, and waterfront restaurants that face the forested Rock Islands just offshore.
Check Palau visa requirements →
Best time to visit
December to April
Region
Koror State
Main airport
Palau ROR (ROR)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Koror
UNESCO World HeritageNature
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
A UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2012, the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon encompasses roughly 445 uninhabited limestone islets scattered across 100,200 hectares of turquoise water. The islands' distinctive mushroom-shaped silhouettes rise from some of the most biodiverse reef systems on earth, hosting over 385 coral species, 700-plus fish species, and 13 species of shark. Visitors explore the lagoon by boat, kayak, and snorkel, discovering hidden coves, marine lakes, and white-sand beaches tucked between forested limestone walls.
Nature
Jellyfish Lake
Jellyfish Lake sits on Eil Malk Island within the Rock Islands and contains millions of golden jellyfish that have evolved in isolation, having lost the potent sting of their open-ocean relatives. Every day the jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake following the arc of the sun, creating a surreal spectacle for snorkellers moving through the warm, amber-tinged water. Visitors require a Rock Islands permit to enter, and sunscreen is prohibited to protect the lake's delicate ecosystem.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Koror
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Palau
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Palau page at Yoogo.
Palau uses the United States Dollar (USD) as its official currency. Card payments are accepted at larger hotels, dive operators, and some restaurants in Koror, though smaller establishments and outer islands operate on a cash-only basis, so it is advisable to carry sufficient notes.
Palau is generally considered a safe destination with low rates of violent crime. Petty theft can occur in tourist areas, so standard precautions around valuables apply. The main risks are environmental, including strong ocean currents at dive sites and the possibility of tropical cyclones between June and December.
Koror is compact and can be explored on foot or by taxi. Beyond the main island, most transport is by boat, with tour operators running day trips to the Rock Islands, Peleliu, and other outer islands. Rental cars are available for exploring Babeldaob via the paved Compact Road, and ferries connect Koror to Peleliu several times a week.
The dry season from December to April brings the clearest skies, calmest seas, and underwater visibility that can exceed 40 metres, making it the peak period for diving and island touring. The wet season from May to November sees more rainfall and occasional rough weather, though diving remains possible and accommodation rates are noticeably lower.
Palauan and English are the two main official languages, and English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and dive shops throughout Koror. Outside the main tourist areas, particularly in older communities on Babeldaob, Palauan is the dominant language, and a few words of greeting in Palauan are warmly received by locals.
Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for travellers to Palau, and it is worth consulting a travel health professional at least four to six weeks before departure. Malaria is not present in Palau, but dengue fever has been recorded, so using insect repellent and staying in screened or air-conditioned accommodation is advisable.
Tipping is not a standard custom in Palau, and service charges are not typically added to bills. Leaving a small gratuity at restaurants or for dive guides is appreciated but entirely at the visitor's discretion, and no offence is taken if one is not given.
Palau has two local mobile networks, PNCC (PalauCel) and Palau Mobile, both offering 4G LTE coverage in and around Koror and along the main Compact Road on Babeldaob. Airalo offers regional Oceania packages that cover Palau for travellers who prefer to arrange data connectivity before arrival. Coverage drops off significantly in the Rock Islands and on outer islands.