Places / Oceania / Solomon Islands
Honiara
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At a glance
- Country
- Solomon Islands
- Region
- Honiara (Guadalcanal)
- Population
- 90,000
- Best time to go
- May to October
- Main airport
- Honiara International (HIR)
- Coordinates
- 9.43°S, 159.95°E
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Overview
Honiara is the small, unpolished capital of the Solomon Islands, strung out along the north coast of Guadalcanal. It grew up around the American base built during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942 and 1943, and wartime relics are everywhere.
It is not a place for sightseeing in the usual sense. Come for the markets, the history and the reefs, and as a starting point for the islands beyond.
Things to see
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Photo: Torbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 4.0 Central Market
The liveliest place in town, piled with betel nut, tropical fruit, smoked fish and shell money from the outer islands.
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Photo: Phenss, CC BY-SA 4.0 Solomon Islands National Museum
A small museum with traditional canoes, carvings and displays on the country's many island cultures.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain US War Memorial at Skyline Ridge
Marble walls on a hill above town tell the story of the Guadalcanal campaign, with wide views of Iron Bottom Sound.
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Photo: Torbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 4.0 Vilu War Museum
An open-air collection of aircraft wrecks and guns set in a garden west of the city.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Snorkel the Bonegi wrecks
Two Japanese transport ships lie just off the beach west of town, easy to reach with a mask and fins.
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Photo: Unknown photographer, Public domain Battlefield tour
Local guides lead trips to Bloody Ridge and other sites of the 1942 fighting.
Find tours -
Photo: mjwinoz, CC BY 2.0 Boat to Tulagi
The former colonial capital in the Florida Islands is reached by boat across Iron Bottom Sound.
Where to stay
Point Cruz and the waterfront
Central hotels near the market and harbour are the most convenient.
Hotels in Point Cruz and the waterfrontEast along Kukum Highway
Some hotels and guesthouses sit between the centre and the airport, with sea views.
Hotels in East along Kukum Highway
Getting around
Taxis are cheap and plentiful but rarely metered, so agree a fare first. Minibuses run along the main coast road.
The airport lies about 11 kilometres east of the centre, roughly 20 minutes by taxi.
When to go
The drier season from May to October is the most comfortable time to visit. From December to April it is hotter and wetter, and tropical cyclones are possible.
Plan your trip to Honiara
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.