←Solomon Islands travel guide
Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands
Honiara
Capital life on Guadalcanal's north shore
CultureHistory & Heritage
Honiara is the nation's capital and largest city, set on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal where a bustling Central Market draws islanders from across the archipelago each morning. The National Museum and Cultural Centre on Mendana Avenue offers a compact but illuminating window into traditional Solomon Islands life, from carved artefacts to reconstructed island dwellings.
Check Solomon Islands visa requirements →
Best time to visit
May to October (dry season)
Region
Guadalcanal Province
Main airport
Honiara (HIR)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Honiara
UNESCO World HeritageNature
East Rennell
East Rennell is Solomon Islands' only UNESCO World Heritage Site, occupying the southern third of Rennell Island, the largest raised coral atoll in the world. At its heart lies Lake Tegano, a 15,500-hectare brackish lake that is the largest lake in the insular Pacific, home to an endemic sea snake, hundreds of diatom species, and numerous endemic birds. The site's remarkable isolation has produced an ecosystem of exceptional scientific value for the study of island biogeography.
History
Iron Bottom Sound
Iron Bottom Sound lies off the north coast of Guadalcanal and takes its name from the more than 50 diveable wrecks that litter its floor, remnants of some of the most intense naval battles of the Second World War fought between August and December 1942. Ships including the Hirokawa Maru and aircraft such as Japanese Zeros rest at depths accessible to recreational divers, many now encrusted with coral and inhabited by dense schools of fish. The surrounding battlefield landscape, including jungle-hidden tanks and artillery, adds a powerful historical dimension to any visit.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Honiara
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 Solomon Islands
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Solomon Islands page at Yoogo.
The Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) is the national currency. Card acceptance is limited largely to hotels and a small number of restaurants in Honiara, so carrying sufficient cash is advisable, particularly when travelling to outer islands.
Petty crime including pickpocketing and theft is a concern in Honiara, and visitors are advised to remain vigilant, avoid displaying valuables, and exercise extra caution after dark. Unexploded Second World War ordnance also poses a hazard in some rural and coastal areas.
Inter-island travel relies primarily on domestic flights operated by Solomon Airlines and Fly Solomons, which connect Honiara to provincial centres across the archipelago. Boat services, including passenger ferries and small motorised vessels known locally as banana boats, provide a slower but widely used alternative between closer islands.
The dry season from June to September offers lower rainfall, more bearable humidity, and excellent underwater visibility, making it the most popular period for diving and general tourism. April to May and October to November are also reasonable shoulder periods, while the wet season from November to April brings heavy rain and an elevated risk of tropical cyclones.
English is the official language and is used in government and education, though it is spoken fluently by only a small proportion of the population. Solomon Islands Pijin, an English-based creole, serves as the common lingua franca understood by most Solomon Islanders, alongside more than 70 local Melanesian and Polynesian languages.
Malaria is present throughout most of the Solomon Islands year-round, and antimalarial medication is strongly recommended; travellers should consult a travel health clinic well in advance of departure. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine immunisations are also widely advised, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Tipping is not a customary practice in the Solomon Islands and is generally not expected in restaurants, hotels, or taxis. Appreciation for good service is warmly received, but visitors are under no social obligation to leave a gratuity.
Local SIM cards from Our Telekom and Bmobile are available in Honiara and provide 3G and 4G coverage across the main islands, though connectivity on outer islands is limited. International eSIM plans from providers such as Airalo also offer data coverage for the Solomon Islands, and can be set up before departure for convenient connectivity on arrival.