Learn About the History of Fiji at these Fiji Museums
If there’s one thing you can rely on for a rainy day, or more importantly, to get a better understanding of a country, it’s a museum. Fiji has its own small selection of museums, but they might not all be the perfectly polished and finely curated museums you are used to.
Sure, there is the Fiji Museum in Suva or the Levuka Museum in the Lomaiviti Islands, where you’ll feel most familiar with their organised displays of fascinating artefacts. But venture to the hidden collections of some of Fiji’s resorts or the outdoor cultural centres of the Coral Coast and Suva, and you’ll find yourself learning about Fiji in a whole new way.
Take a look at the best museums in Fiji!
Table of Contents
1. The Fiji Museum (Suva)
Fiji’s most iconic museum, The Fiji Museum, is situated in the administrative capital of Fiji, Suva. The museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in Fiji’s culture and history, with some archaeological pieces dating back more than 3,500 years!
Explore permanent exhibitions on Fiji’s maritime history in the “Maritime Gallery”, social history in the “History Gallery”, and the “Girmit Gallery” dedicated to the Indo-Fijian story. There are often temporary exhibitions telling stories about cultural artefacts, like Masi or Fiji’s fashion over the centuries, which are also worth spending some time in.
Plus, be amazed by the species once found all over the islands in the “Natural History Gallery”. Note that there is a reasonable entry fee.
See more of the 10 Best Historical Sites in Suva while you’re in the area.
Location: Thurston Gardens, Suva, Viti Levu.
© FijiPocketGuide.com2. Levuka Museum & Community Centre (Ovalau, Lomaiviti Islands)
[Update: Double-check that the Levuka Museum has reopened before planning to visit].
There’s plenty of history to uncover in Fiji’s first colonial capital, Levuka, on the island of Ovalau. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was an important trading town in the 19th Century, so even exploring the town and its original buildings feels like a living museum.
Regardless, Levuka has its own museum full of trinkets and relics from those early trading days. Established within a renovated storehouse built in 1878 by Morris Hedstrom, the Levuka Museum & Community Centre serves multiple functions, from housing historic artefacts to being a public library.
Find out more things to do there in the 20 Best Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands.
Location: Beach Street, Levuka, Ovalau, Lomaiviti Islands.
© Captain Cook Cruises3. Kalevu Cultural Centre (Coral Coast)
Although it’s not strictly a museum, the Kalevu Cultural Centre hidden within Gecko’s Resort on the Coral Coast provides a great insight into the way of life in a traditional Fijian village.
Either view the exhibitions with interpretation panels for a good hour of reading, or visitors can book a one-hour guided tour to learn about the Fijian history, culture and traditions through a mix of demonstrations, traditional-style Fijian buildings and Q&As with your guide.
Check out more things to do on the Coral Coast here.
Location: Gecko’s Resort, Cuvu, Coral Coast, Viti Levu.
© FijiPocketGuide.com4. Sigatoka Sand Dunes Visitor Centre (Coral Coast)
While the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is renowned for its stunning natural landscape, the park’s Visitor Centre is a hidden gem that history buffs will love. This museum-like attraction houses a fascinating collection of archaeological discoveries unearthed from the park itself.
Step inside, and you’ll be transported back in time as you admire the ancient Lapita pottery, remnants left behind by Fiji’s earliest settlers. But that’s not all – the centre is a treasure trove of information about Fijian culture, local flora, and fauna.
You’ll find yourself captivated by the informative displays that bring the natural and cultural heritage of Fiji to life. Oh, and for more about those hiking trails, check out the 20 Best Walks & Hikes in Fiji.
Location: Visitor Centre Car Park, Queens Road, Yadua, Coral Coast, Viti Levu.
© FijiPocketGuide.com5. Orchid Island Cultural Centre (Suva)
More history and culture awaits at Orchid Island, which is best described as an outdoor museum. The centre celebrates all thing Fiji with traditional-style bures, Fijian plants and animals, craft demonstrations, a drua canoe on display and more!
Location: Queens Road, Veisari, Viti Levu. Approximately 10 km (6 mi) west of Suva.
© othree on Wikipedia6. [CLOSED] Ba Civic Museum
[Update: The Ba Civic Museum is now closed]
For those venturing on the road-less-travelled, the Kings Road on Viti Levu, don’t miss the Ba Civic Museum. Located in Fiji’s most populated district, this museum has many stories to tell about the diverse range of people who have lived here.
See mock-ups of Fijian bures, how the early Indo-Fijians lived when they arrived as labourers for the sugar trade, and much more in this fascinating museum in Fiji.
Check out more things to do in Ba here.
Location: Ba, Suncoast, Viti Levu. (Take the first right when heading east across the Ba River bridge).
© Public DomainMore About Museums and Art Galleries in Fiji
That’s it for our guide to museums and art galleries in Fiji; for more information about Fijian culture and art, check out the following articles:
- 10 Things to Do in Fiji on a Rainy Day
- 10 Fascinating Historical Sites in Fiji
- The Complete Guide to Culture in Fiji
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in How to Have a Real Fiji Cultural Experience.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
