7-Day Budget Itinerary for Fiji
Swap sitting in the same resort for one week for a 7-day itinerary exploring the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. While the outer islands are appealing, sticking to the mainland takes out the associated expenses of overwater travel, making it a smart option for travellers on a budget. Plus, Viti Levu has it all: brilliant beaches, bustling cities, villages alive with traditions, inland rainforests, mountains, scrumptious Fijian and Indo-Fijian cuisine, clear waters with coral reefs, and so much more! In this Fiji budget itinerary: 5 days, we recommend only the free and cheap things to do each day, as well as the top budget accommodations to help make your money go further in Fiji.
If you’re looking for an itinerary with less travelling, see What to Do for 7 Days in Fiji on a Budget.
How to Get Around Fiji in 7 Days
Viti Levu is well-connected with sealed roads around the exterior of the island. Your two options for getting around Fiji on a 7-day road trip are renting a car or taking public transport.
Taking Public Transport to Travel Fiji in 7 Days
All the cities and towns mentioned on the itinerary below are connected by local and express buses. This is by far the cheapest option for getting around Fiji, where getting from Nadi to Suva will only cost you around FJ$20-$30, and allows travellers to really get to see Fiji like a local. The downside is that you don’t have as much flexibility as you would when driving a car.
Once you arrive at a destination, getting around will involve using the local buses, taxis and resort transfer services. Some of the resorts are out of town but will offer complimentary pick-ups so call them first before booking a taxi.
For more information, see Public Transport in Fiji.
Renting a Car for a 7-Day Road Trip in Fiji
For more freedom to do all the activities mentioned in this itinerary, renting a car in Fiji is a good way to go. Although much more expensive than taking the buses, expect to pay between FJ$160-$400 a day depending on the vehicle, rental cars provide the ultimate convenience. The itinerary below takes you on a complete loop of Viti Levu meaning your rental car can be dropped off in the same place as you start, avoiding any expensive one-way fees. Check out The Best Car Rentals in Fiji to see some rental car options.
© Chris McLennan - Tourism FijiDay 1 – Nadi
Welcome to Viti Levu, Fiji! Once you have gone through the airport arrival process, picked up your rental car or purchased your bus ticket, it’s time to explore one of Fiji’s largest cities. If you’re intrigued by the culture of a Fiji city, head into town where you can mingle with the locals are the markets, check out the vibrant Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple and indulge in the city’s eateries. Alternatively, escape to nature immediately by taking the Nadi back roads to the Sabeto Valley, home to hot pools and the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. For more advice exploring Nadi on the cheap, see The Guide to Nadi on a Budget.
Things to Do in Nadi on a Budget
- Check out the markets, such as the Nadi Handicraft Market, The New Nadi Farmers’ Market and the Namaka Market
- Try Fijian food or one of the cheap Indo-Fijian curries – see Cheap Eats in Nadi
- Have a drink at one of the beach bars in Wailoaloa Beach or in Nadi town – more information in The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Nadi.
- Admire the colourful Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple
- Lather yourself in therapeutic mud at the Sabeto Mud Pools
- Walk among tropical forest at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Get more inspiration from 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Nadi.
Budget Accommodation in Nadi
- Bamboo Backpackers
- Bluewater Lodge
- Tropic of Capricorn
- Smugglers Cove Beach Resort & Hotel
- Victoria Hotel Fiji
- Nadi Downtown Hotel
- Wailoaloa Beach Resort
- Airport Ace Hotel
- Capricorn International Hotel
- Aquarius on the Beach
Find out more about the best accommodations in 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Nadi.
© Mark Snyder - Tourism FijiDay 2 – Nadi to Rakiraki
Drive Time: 2h30mins
Today you drive or take the bus through the spectacular coastal scenery of the Suncoast, famous for having the longest sunshine hours in Fiji. For those on a self-drive tour, there are plenty of sights to see along the way between the Church of the Black Christ and the Tomb of Udre Udre – the tomb of a once feared cannibal. Otherwise, we recommend heading straight to the Ellington Wharf near Rakiraki to take a boat to Nananu-i-Ra Island, home to several backpackers and budget lodges.
Things to Do in Rakiraki on a Budget
- Explore the towns of Lautoka and Rakiraki
- Take a tour to Navala Village, a traditional 200-year-old village deep in the mountain landscape of Viti Levu (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Kayak, hike and snorkel at Nananu-i-Ra Island
- Go on a snorkelling trip to the outer reefs from one of the beach resorts
- Visit the historic St Francis of Xavier Church, also known as the Church of the Black Christ dating back to 1917.
For more information on each activity, see 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do on the Suncoast.
Budget Accommodation in Rakiraki
Check out our 8 Budget Accommodation on the Suncoast for more details.
© Hermann Luyken on WikipediaDay 3 – Rakiraki
Spend some more time relaxing in Rakiraki/Suncoast doing activities you might have missed yesterday. If you’re staying on Nananu-i-Ra Island, hit one of the hikes in the morning for epic views of the mainland and the Nakauvadra Ranges. There’s also fantastic snorkelling available just outside McDonald’s Nananu Beach Cottages where there is a marine reserve. Those who stayed on the mainland can join one of the village visits or day trips to the outer reefs, organised with the Volivoli or Wananavu Beach Resorts.
Get more ideas of what to do today by following The Guide to the Suncoast on a Budget.
© Matthias Süßen on WikipediaDay 4 – Rakiraki to Suva
Drive Time: 3h10mins
After getting the boat back to Ellington Wharf, get back on the road with a scenic drive inland on Viti Levu passing through small villages. If you have your own transport, take a detour to Takalana Bay Retreat and consider treating yourself to a dolphin or snorkelling cruise to Moon Reef. At Wailotua Village (the westernmost village of the two with the same name), ask one of the villagers if you can have a guide to see the Wailotua Snake God Cave – you won’t regret it and it will only cost a couple of bucks! Your trip today ends in Suva, Fiji’s capital city, where you’ll want to save some time to check out the Fiji Museum and enjoy some food and drink. Get more advice from The Guide to Suva on a Budget.
Things to Do in Suva on a Budget
- Walk through the rainforest to waterfalls in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park – Guided walks are also available with Kay Services Tour (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Visit the Fiji Museum containing artefacts dating back 3,700 years
- Do some shopping at the Suva Municipal Market
- See historical architecture like the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Grand Pacific Hotel and the Government Buildings
- Grab some Fijian, Indo-Fijian and Chinese cuisine in the city – see Cheap Eats in Suva.
For information on each activity and more, see 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Suva.
Budget Accommodation in Suva
- City Private Hotel
- Tagimoucia House Hotel
- Town House Apartment Hotel
- Capricorn Apartment Hotel
- Southern Cross Hotel
- Suva Motor Inn
Check out our 10 Budget Accommodation in Suva for more options.
© Aaron March - Tourism FijiDay 5 – Suva to Pacific Harbour
Drive time: 1 hour
A short drive away from Fiji’s administrative capital is Fiji’s adventure capital, the Pacific Harbour. The town is famous for its adrenaline activities, including white water rafting, shark dives, jet boating, ziplining and more. Needless to say, these activities are not necessarily kind on the budget but there are some experiences definitely worth the extra bucks – see 10 Must-Dos on the Pacific Harbour & Beqa for our recommendations.
For those wanting to stick to a strict budget, there are plenty of ways to relax on the Pacific Harbour, from wandering around the Arts Village to kayaking, snorkelling and playing beach volleyball at the Uprising Beach Resort.
See The Guide to Beqa & the Pacific Harbour on a Budget.
Things to Do in the Pacific Harbour on a Budget
- Explore the coast or river by kayak
- Listen to the harmonious singing at a church service
- Check out more than 50 shops and 14 eateries in the quirky Arts Village
- Get the real “locals experience” by doing a homestay
- Lounge by the pool at one of the resorts.
Get more inspiration from our 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do on the Pacific Harbour.
Budget Accommodation in the Pacific Harbour or Beqa
See 5 Best Budget Accommodation on the Pacific Harbour & Beqa for more details.
© Tourism FijiDay 6 – Pacific Harbour to the Coral Coast
Drive time: 1-2 hours (depending on which accommodation you choose)
Today includes a beautiful coastal drive through Fiji’s popular Coral Coast! Here, you have 80km/50miles of bays and beaches to explore along the Queens Road. The Coral Coast has a great mix of tourist resorts, where activities are easy to organise, as well as Fijian villages and towns so you are never too far from experiencing the real Fiji. Follow our tips in The Guide to the Coral Coast on a Budget for more information.
Things to Do on the Coral Coast on a Budget
- Drive or take a tour to the Biausevu Village and Waterfall where your village guide will take you on a walk to a picturesque waterfall (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Watch the glassblowers at work at Hot Glass Fiji
- Walk in the interesting environment of the Sigatoka Sand Dunes
- Visit the Kula Wild Adventure Park to see native wildlife and have fun on the ziprails and waterslides (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Grab some Cheap Eats on the Coral Coast
Get more inspiration from 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do on the Coral Coast.
Budget Accommodation on the Coral Coast
- Rendezvous Surf Camp Fiji
- Mango Bay Resort
- Shalini Garden Hotel & Apartments
- Tambua Sands Beach Resort
- Blue West Villas
- Bedarra Beach Inn
- The Beachhouse
- Namuka Bay Lagoon
Take a look at our top picks in our 9 Best Budget Accommodation on the Coral Coast.
© FijiPocketGuide.comDay 7 – Coral Coast to Nadi Airport
Drive time: 1-2 hours (depending on which Coral Coast accommodation you start from)
Either drive to the Nadi Airport where you can return your rental car or take the bus to where your journey in Fiji ends. At the airport, you’ll be able to do some last-minute souvenir shopping, sit down with a meal and hop on a plane to your next destination!
More Advice for a Fiji Budget Itinerary for 7 Days
- 17 Ways to Save Money When Travelling in Fiji
- 30 Tips for Travelling in Fiji
- What to Do for 7 Days in Fiji on a Budget
That’s it for this Fiji budget itinerary for 7 days (one week). Get even more one-week trip plans in The Best Fiji Itineraries for 1 Week. Plus, don’t forget to bookmark The Complete Travel Guide to Fiji on a Budget. Trust us, there’s a lot of useful tips in there!
