A Guide to the Port of Suva for Cruisers + 5 Best Shore Excursions

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Suva – The Capital of Fiji

One of the main ports of call in Fiji for cruise ships, Suva offers a vibrant and versatile port of call to explore. You’ll land on the main wharf of Suva right in the heart of the city.

For those who don’t want to venture too far from the ship (or too much time away from the spa), Suva has its own display of eateries, sights and cultural experiences.

Discover the city highlights of Suva, including the bustling Municipal Market with its colourful produce, the historic Fiji Museum showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage, and the grand Government Buildings with their impressive colonial architecture. Don’t miss a stroll through the lush Thurston Gardens or a visit to the vibrant Sacred Heart Cathedral. For a taste of local life, wander through the shops along Cumming Street or enjoy a picnic in Albert Park.

To see a mixture of Suva highlights with a fantastic local tour guide, check out Guided Walking Tours Suva, giving you cultural, societal and historical context to your Suva sightseeing escapade.

Plan more of your visit to Suva with the 20 Best Things to Do in Suva and find places to eat in The Food Guide to Suva.

Must-Dos Near Suva

If you have time to explore Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji which Suva is based, which most cruise passengers do, here are some of the places well worth visiting and things well worth doing:

• Pacific Harbour: Get your adrenaline pumping with river tubing or white water rafting on the Navua River. For a more leisurely experience, take a long boat tour along the same river. Dive enthusiasts can’t miss the thrilling shark diving opportunities or explore vibrant coral reefs on a scuba diving excursion.
• Wainadoi: Cool off at the picturesque Wainadoi Waterfall swimming hole, a hidden gem just outside of Suva. On your way, stop at the roadside snack stalls for a taste of local treats. For more adventure, visit the Kila Eco Adventure Park for zip-lining and other exciting activities.
• Colo-i-Suva Forest Park: Immerse yourself in nature with short forest walks, leading to stunning waterfalls and refreshing swimming holes. It’s the perfect escape from the city hustle and a chance to experience Fiji’s lush interior.

For more details about these activities, as well as much much more experiences, check out the 15 Best Things to Do in the Pacific Harbour & Beqa and The Best Day Trips from Suva.

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5 Best Suva Shore Excursions for Cruise Ship Passengers

Take the hassle out of exploring the island by joining one of the guided tours of Suva! If the shore excursions offered by your cruise ship are a bit out of your price range (we all know that cruise ships can sometimes charge up to three times the price of what you would pay for the tour if you booked independently), then these are the best tours to take you around the island which you can book yourself.

1. Suva Walking Tour – Guided Walking Tours Suva

Discover the hidden gems of Suva with Peter, a creative poet and city critic who provides fascinating two-hour tours. You’ll love the in-depth cultural education Peter provides, weaving storytelling that covers Fiji’s multicultural history, class, society, and even the history of coups. It’s like getting a crash course in Fijian culture while stretching your legs! The tours operate seven days a week, and bookings can be made through Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. (A website is coming soon, but why wait?) During your adventure, you’ll visit twelve sites around Suva. Don’t miss Cumming Street, highlighted as Suva’s original street, or his fascinating walk through the Suva Municipal Market with tastings included!

2. Jewel of Fiji Tour – Discover Fiji Tours

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and start discovering the “real Fiji” on the Jewel of Fiji Tour with Discover Fiji Tours. After being picked up from port, you’ll be whisked away to the Pacific Harbour, home to the Navua River. From there, you’ll take a longboat journey up the river to visit a local village for a traditional Fijian lunch, swim in a series of natural pools created by majestic waterfalls and experience floating down the river on a traditional bilibili raft. Check out more experiences on the Pacific Harbour here.

3. Nature and Waterfall Tour – Kay Services Tour

Just a short drive from Suva, the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park is a stunning piece of tropical paradise with waterfalls and natural swimming pools. One way to experience it from Suva Wharf is on the Nature and Waterfall Tour with Kay Services Tour. The private tour takes you on various short walking trails to learn more about Fiji’s flora and fauna through your knowledgeable guide. You’ll have time to take a dip in the forest pools if you wish and have plenty of photo opportunities with the forest’s waterfalls. Plus, this tour has a place in our 10 Best Fiji Shore Excursions.

4. Suva City Sightseeing Tour – Hot Fiji Tours

Swap the stress of sorting out logistics for getting around Suva with this easy-going Suva City Sightseeing Tour with Hot Fiji Tours. This 6-hour private tour takes you from Suva Wharf to visit all of the main highlights of Fiji’s capital, including the Botanical Gardens, the Grand Pacific Hotel, President’s Residence and any other sights that you have on your list, as this tour can be custom-made for you. Check out some of the Suva highlights you might want to include in the 15 Things to Do in Suva.

5. River Tubing Adventure – River Tubing Fiji

The River Tubing Fiji tour, based in Pacific Harbour, offers shore excursions taking you 22 km (14 mi) inland by boat, where you’ll experience a journey through rainforest, rapids, gorges, and waterfalls, including a visit to a Fijian village. The tour includes a walk through the village, a swim at Sabata Waterfall, and a riverside lunch featuring local dishes such as BBQ chicken, lamb, sausage, kokoda, ferns, root crops, and pumpkin salad. Guests are advised to bring sunscreen, hats, a towel, a change of clothes, a water bottle, reef shoes, and a sulu. The water levels can vary, allowing for a high-water return or a 4-5 km (2.5-3 mi) stretch of shallow water.

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How to Tour Suva Independently

If you’d rather make your own way around Suva, you can either walk around the city centre or, to get further afield, jump in a taxi, hire a taxi driver for the day, or hire a car. Car hire is available in abundance in Suva with some rental companies even delivering vehicles to port. Find out more in the Best Car Rentals in Suva.

Alternatively, you can still enjoy the full flexibility of having your own vehicle without the hassle of driving by hiring a taxi driver for the day. Taxis wait eagerly outside of the Suva Wharf to meet incoming ships. Drivers can take you to the desired stops on your itinerary, or they can take you to their suggested stops, much like a private tour. Find out more about hiring a driver in How to Hire a Driver in Fiji: A Guide to Private Drivers in Fiji.

Should you just want to walk around the city centre independently, check out our 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Suva and 10 Best Historical Sites in Suva which gives you a few ideas for attractions to visit. Also, a self-guided tour of the city is available by picking up “The Suva Walking Guide” from the Suva City Library (257 Victoria Parade) – or just save the link!

Finally, for more information about getting around Suva including using the buses, dive into our Suva Transport Guide: 8 Ways to Get to (& Around) Suva.