Solomon Islands
Phone Code
+677
Capital
Honiara
Population
720,000
Native Name
Solomon Islands
Region
Oceania
Melanesia
Timezone
Solomon Islands Time
UTC+11:00
On This Page
Solomon Islands is a Melanesian archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. The country consists of 6 major islands (Guadalcanal, Choiseul, Santa Isabel, New Georgia, Malaita, Makira) and approximately 900 smaller islands spread across 28,400 km² of ocean. Honiara on Guadalcanal serves as the capital (population 80,000). Total population is approximately 720,000, predominantly Melanesian (95%). Solomon Islands covers 28,400 km² of land. The country gained independence from Britain in 1978. Solomon Islands is celebrated for world-class wreck diving in Iron Bottom Sound (50+ WWII-era ship wrecks accessible to divers), the Marovo Lagoon (world's largest double-barrier enclosed lagoon), traditional Melanesian culture (over 70 languages spoken, custom chiefs govern villages, traditional kastom practices), and Rennell Island (UNESCO World Heritage Site — raised coral atoll with Lake Tegano, world's largest lake on a coral island). Tropical rainforests, lagoons, beaches, waterfalls and remote villages complete the picture. Solomon Islands remain off-beaten-path destination with challenging logistics, minimal infrastructure, and authentic Pacific island culture — adventure travel for experienced travelers.
Visa Requirements for Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands offers visa-free entry for citizens of many countries. Most Commonwealth countries, EU countries, US citizens receive visa-free entry on arrival for 90 days (passport must be valid 6+ months, return ticket required, proof of sufficient funds may be requested). Entry stamp granted at Honiara International Airport. Citizens of some countries can obtain visa on arrival (varying durations — check current fees). Other nationalities require visa in advance through Solomon Islands diplomatic missions (very limited - main missions in Port Moresby, Wellington, Brussels, Taipei) - apply well in advance. Extensions available through Immigration Division in Honiara (requires passport, return ticket, accommodation details, extension fee, valid reason). Government advisories from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US periodically note elevated caution for Honiara — check your government's current travel advisory before planning a trip, and avoid any public demonstrations if present. Malaria is endemic (prophylaxis essential). English is official language alongside Solomon Islands Pijin (English-based creole widely spoken). Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) is currency.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry or Visa on Arrival
For tourism or business for citizens of Commonwealth countries, EU, US, and many others.
Visa Required (Advance Application)
For nationalities not eligible for visa-free or visa on arrival, requiring advance application through limited Solomon Islands diplomatic missions.
Important Travel Information
- •WWII-era sites and museums: Honiara War Museum (modest but informative — check current entry pricing) and Vilu War Museum (open-air collection of aircraft, tanks and artillery near the airport — check current entry pricing) display surviving WWII-era artifacts. Visible relics scattered across the islands: aircraft wrecks in inland jungle (P-38 Lightnings, F4U Corsairs, Japanese Zeros — accessible with local guides), Henderson Field (original 1940s airstrip, now Honiara International Airport), Bloody Ridge (memorial and historical markers), and Iron Bottom Sound — the strait between Guadalcanal and Savo Island holding 50+ wrecks accessible via diving. Kennedy Island (Western Province) commemorates the WWII story of John F. Kennedy's patrol boat with a monument. The wreck-dive concentration is one of the world's most significant.
- •World-Class Diving and WWII Wrecks: Solomon Islands offers exceptional diving — pristine coral reefs, abundant marine life, and an unparalleled concentration of WWII-era wrecks. Iron Bottom Sound contains 50+ sunken ship wrecks lying 20–100m deep (technical diving required for deeper wrecks). Accessible wrecks include USS Atlanta (cruiser, advanced dive), several Japanese transport ships, and smaller vessels. Visibility typically 20–30m. Marine life: reef sharks, rays, turtles, barracuda, tuna, reef fish, occasional dolphins and whales. Coral reefs relatively healthy compared to many Pacific locations. Marovo Lagoon (Western Province — world's largest double-barrier enclosed lagoon, UNESCO tentative list) offers pristine lagoon diving with sea mounts, channels, coral gardens — remote and undeveloped. Dive operators: Tulagi Dive (Tulagi island near Honiara, wreck specialists), Dive Gizo (Western Province), Liveaboard options (Iron Bottom Sound diving safaris) — check current pricing for daily dives and liveaboard packages. Best diving: April–November (dry season, calmer seas, best visibility); December–March wet season brings more rain and variable conditions. Diving infrastructure limited compared to major destinations — bring own equipment if possible; Nitrox not widely available; facilities basic. Solomon Islands diving rewards experienced divers seeking pristine reefs and historic wrecks without crowds.
- •Traditional Culture and Remote Villages: Solomon Islands maintains strong traditional Melanesian culture (kastom) - custom chiefs govern villages, traditional practices persist, and local languages dominate (over 70 distinct languages across islands - linguistic diversity among world's highest). Betel nut chewing ubiquitous (areca nut with lime and pepper leaf - mild stimulant, stains teeth red, spitting common - culturally significant). Traditional houses (leaf-roofed structures), outrigger canoes, fishing methods, and subsistence agriculture continue in villages. Skull shrines (ancestral skulls in special shrines - some villages maintain this practice from headhunting past, though headhunting ceased by mid-20th century). Visiting villages requires permission from chiefs and sensitivity to local customs - bring gifts (betel nut acceptable), dress modestly, ask before photographing, respect tabu (taboo) areas and practices. Festivals include Provincial Days (celebrations with traditional dances, feasts), Independence Day (July 7), and local kastom events. Western Province (Gizo, Munda, Marovo Lagoon area) more accessible for cultural experiences. Malaita Province known for maintaining strong traditional culture but access difficult. Solomon Islands offers authentic Melanesian culture but cultural tourism underdeveloped - arrangements often informal, flexibility required.
- •Logistics, Challenges, and Adventure Travel: Solomon Islands tourism remains underdeveloped — infrastructure limited, transport challenging, costs high relative to facilities, English spoken but Pijin more common. Getting there: flights from Brisbane, Port Moresby and Fiji (Solomon Airlines — the national carrier, plus some international carriers) — check current fares, which run relatively high from Australia and New Zealand. Inter-island transport: domestic flights to provincial capitals (Munda, Gizo, Auki, Kirakira — small planes, limited schedules, weather-dependent — check current fares); ferries irregular and slow (cargo/passenger boats, no fixed schedules, rough seas, a budget option but time-consuming and basic). Accommodation: Honiara has hotels ranging from basic to moderate standards; provincial areas have guesthouses and dive resorts, often basic with power/water issues common — check current rates across the range. Food: Honiara has restaurants, markets and supermarkets; provinces rely on local food (fish, taro, sweet potato, sago), with limited variety. Costs run relatively high for the infrastructure level, particularly for meals, diving and domestic flights outside Honiara — check current pricing when budgeting, and note that budget travellers may struggle given limited cheap accommodation and food outside the capital. Health: malaria endemic (take prophylaxis, use repellent, sleep under nets), dengue fever risk, medical facilities basic (Honiara has a hospital, provinces have clinics — serious issues require medical evacuation to Australia at very high cost, so comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation coverage is essential). Safety: generally safe for tourists, with standard precautions sufficient; check current government travel advisories before departure. No ATMs outside Honiara (bring sufficient cash — Solomon Islands dollars or AUD; USD less accepted; credit cards rarely accepted outside major hotels). Internet very limited and slow outside Honiara. Solomon Islands requires adventurous spirit, flexibility, patience, and realistic expectations — rewards intrepid travellers with world-class diving, authentic culture, and a genuine Pacific island experience off the tourist trail.
Solomon Islands is a Melanesian archipelago of approximately 900 islands east of Papua New Guinea — one of the least-visited yet most distinctive destinations in the South Pacific. Iron Bottom Sound, the strait between Guadalcanal and Florida Island, holds the wreckage of over 50 ships now ranked among the most dramatic wreck-diving sites in the world. Marovo Lagoon is the world's largest double-barrier enclosed lagoon, a UNESCO-listed marine environment of extraordinary biodiversity and the setting for traditional Melanesian woodcarving culture. Rennell Island (UNESCO World Heritage) is a raised coral atoll with Lake Tegano — the world's largest lake on a coral island. The country has more than 70 distinct languages, traditional chiefs govern villages, and the kastom cultural system remains central to daily life. Most nationalities enter visa-free for 90 days. Malaria prophylaxis is essential.
Discover Solomon Islands
Iron Bottom Sound sits directly between Guadalcanal and Florida Island, the specific channel opposing naval forces had to use to reach Henderson Field during a series of naval engagements in 1942 and 1943 — that geographic chokepoint is why so many ships from both sides ended up sunk in the same relatively small strait rather than scattered across the wider Pacific. The wrecks sit at a range of depths because ships went down at different points in the channel and at different stages of sinking, which is also why some suit recreational diving while others, deeper and further out, require technical certification. Decades underwater in relatively warm, current-swept tropical water have left the wrecks heavily encrusted with coral and sponge growth, turning steel warships into genuine artificial reefs that now support their own marine ecosystems.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The strait between Guadalcanal and Florida Island holds over 50 sunken WWII-era ship wrecks: destroyers, cruisers, troop transports and submarines — all in diveable depths of 20–70 m with remarkable visibility. USS John Penn, HIJMS Kinugasa, transport Hirokawa Maru are among accessible wrecks. The wreck-dive concentration is on a scale matched only by Chuuk Lagoon.
Marovo Lagoon in New Georgia is the world's largest double-barrier enclosed saltwater lagoon, ringed by volcanic islands, reef, and outer barrier. Exceptional marine biodiversity — one of the richest coral ecosystems in the Pacific. The surrounding villages are renowned for hardwood carving, particularly of traditional shield and spirit figures. UNESCO-nominated natural and cultural landscape.
Henderson Field (now Honiara International Airport), Bloody Ridge memorial, and the hillside jungle WWII-era sites are accessible from Honiara. The National War Memorial and the American Memorial both stand near the capital. Aircraft wrecks — F4F Wildcats, P-400 Airacobras, Zero fighters — lie in the jungle and shallows, accessible with local guides.
Rennell Island is the world's largest raised coral atoll, with Lake Tegano — the largest lake on a Pacific island — covering a third of the island's southern end. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The lake is brackish, interconnected with the sea, and home to endemic species. Extremely remote: charter flight from Honiara, minimal infrastructure, extraordinary isolation.
Solomon Islands retains one of the most intact living Melanesian cultures in the Pacific: more than 70 distinct languages, traditional chiefs governing villages, kastom law operating alongside national law, skull shrines in the bush, and traditional dancing and ceremonies. Woodcarving in Marovo Lagoon villages is among the finest in Melanesia. Village homestays and guided cultural experiences are available.
Money & Currency
Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)
Currency code: SBD
Practical Money Tips
Solomon Islands Dollar Is the Only Practical Currency
The Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) is the official currency. USD and AUD are not widely accepted outside a small number of Honiara hotels. Exchange at ANZ or BSP (Bank South Pacific) branches in Honiara on arrival — exchanging outside the capital is unreliable.
ATMs Exist in Honiara — Rare Elsewhere
ANZ and BSP have ATM branches in Honiara's central area. Outside the capital — including Gizo, Auki, and the outer island groups — ATMs are scarce or non-existent. Withdraw enough SBD in Honiara to cover your entire trip before departing.
Card Acceptance Is Very Limited
A small number of hotels and larger restaurants in Honiara accept Visa or Mastercard. Outside the capital, card acceptance is essentially absent. Do not rely on card payments anywhere beyond Honiara's main hotels.
Cash Is Essential — Carry More Than You Think
The Solomon Islands operates almost entirely on cash. Village guesthouses, inter-island ferries, local markets, and guides require SBD cash. Carry significantly more than your estimated needs — resupply outside Honiara is not possible.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Accredited missions for Solomon Islands
Most Commonwealth countries, EU citizens and US citizens receive visa-free entry on arrival for 90 days; some other nationalities can get a visa on arrival, and a small number need to apply in advance through one of the country's limited diplomatic missions.
Some of it — several wrecks sit at recreational depths and are accessible to certified open-water divers, but the deeper wrecks require technical certification, so check with a local dive operator about which sites match your experience level.
Generally yes for the areas tourists visit, though it's worth checking your government's current travel advisory before planning a trip, since conditions in Honiara specifically can shift; standard travel precautions apply elsewhere.
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.