How to Experience the Real Fiji
Let’s begin by saying it’s not hard to find culture in Fiji. It’s living and breathing in the country from the moment you land in Nadi Airport and walk into the arrivals lounge to a smiling group of serenaders welcoming you into the country. From there on, you’ll hear “bula!” a million times from a million different people, and you are already experiencing the friendly culture of Fiji. However, Fiji is not just home to a single culture; Fiji is a melting pot of primarily Fijians and Indo-Fijians, which makes Fiji a home. You can immerse in the social fabric of Fiji through homestays, cultural activities, and visiting historical or culturally significant sites. Find out how to have an authentic Fiji cultural experience in this short guide.
By just getting out, exploring, and talking to the locals, you’ll soon feel like you’re getting a real Fiji experience. Be sure to visit the 5 Biggest Towns & Cities in Fiji and check out the 10 Historical Sites in Fiji.
Table of Contents
Fijian Words to Know
One way to start immersing oneself in Fijian culture is to use Fijian words! Although the people you encounter in Fiji’s tourist centres speak English fluently, many locals will appreciate the use of Fijian words.
Hello – Bula! or Yadra! (Pronounced “Yan-dra!”)
Yes – Io
No – Sega (Pronounced “Sen-ga”)
Please – Kerikeri
Thank you – Vinaka
Thank you very much – Vinaka vakalevu
See you later – Sota tale
Goodbye – Moce (Pronounced “Mo-theh”)
For more words, check out the 15 Fijian Words You Need to Know When Visiting Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comExperiencing the Fijian Culture in a Village or Homestay
One of the most authentic ways to experience the Fijian culture is to stay in a homestay or village.
Many Fijians open their homes up to tourists for free or at an extremely affordable price. Staying with a Fijian family in a homestay, farmstay, or village stay allows you to see the day-to-day life of Fijians. You’ll get to taste what food they eat, watch real ceremonies in action, play traditional Fijian games, talk to the locals and get a rich cultural experience. There’s no better way to get a taste of the Fijian culture than by staying in a Fijian home. These experiences can be found on websites like Airbnb, Couchsurfing.com, Expedia and Booking.com.
Some homestay experiences provide activities at an added cost (but cheaper than what you’ll find in resorts), such as Fijian cooking lessons, weaving, fishing and more. While these experiences are definitely worth trying, bear in mind that experiencing these activities will feel a lot different than resorts. For instance, a “cooking lesson” might just mean you help out a bit with the evening meal, and you’re likely to have to ask for life jackets when going on a fishing boat rather than assuming all the safety procedures have been organised. All in all, it’s important to remember that you are staying with and doing experiences with a local – not a professional. With the right expectations, you’re sure to have a blast and embrace this different way of travelling.
When doing a homestay in a Fijian village (which is likely to be the case), make sure to abide by village etiquette. This means that you will need to bring some kava roots (yaqona), as you are a new person entering the village. Present these to your host, who will organise the kava ceremony for you. You will also need to make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing. Ladies should have their legs covered past the knees; this is usually done with a sulu (sarong), and men usually wear a sulu on Sundays. Do not wear a hat or sunglasses on your head, as it is an insult to the village chief. For more advice, see our Guide to Fiji Village Etiquette and How to Choose the Best Homestay in Fiji + 5 Essential Tips.
Plus, start choosing your homestay from our 10 Best Village Stays in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comCultural Activities in Resorts
Another great way to get a Fijian cultural experience is by staying in a resort. It’s true!
Not only do almost all the resorts in Fiji have local people working there, which you will be engaging with every day, but resorts also have weekly entertainment, which will involve culture in the itinerary. It’s likely that you’ll see meke (Fijian dances) and drink some kava as part of a kava ceremony. This weekly entertainment tends to run on a schedule, which you’ll be made aware of when you check in at the resort.
Another way to experience the Fijian culture through a resort is by booking cultural activities with the resort. Some resorts do special activities to local villages, to see Sunday church services, weaving classes, Fijian cooking classes and more. Check a resort’s range of activities before booking to ensure they have the kind of Fiji cultural experiences you are looking for.
Doing cultural experiences through a resort ensures that you have all those “bucket list” experiences and see all the cultural ceremonies and performances that you want to witness.
© fijiopocketguide.comCultural Activities and Attractions
Outside of the resorts and Fijian villages, there are more ways to experience the local culture in Fiji. Independent tours and activities are another way to get a taste of the Fijian culture, especially if you are more of an independent traveller.
Guided village tours allow you to visit authentic Fijian villages while contributing to the local economy. The experience typically starts with a kava ceremony, beaming children excited to have visitors, and then that’s where tours start to differ depending on the village; you could be guided through historical sites, treated to cultural song and dance, visit the local school, and/or simply enjoy chatting with the locals. See guided experiences in the 10 Best Village Tours in Fiji. If you want the most authentic experience possible, you can visit villages independently too; just be sure to bring a sevusevu, as explained in our guide to Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village.
Other than village tours, you can experience the Fijian culture through formal tourist attractions like the Kalevu Cultural Centre at Gecko’s Resort on the Coral Coast or the Fiji Museum in Suva. Even some of Fiji’s most popular attractions, like the Sabeto Mud Pools near Nadi, are run by the local village and provide a fun and therapeutic experience with local food usually sold on sight. Speaking of food, experiencing any of the markets, for instance, in Nadi, Lautoka, or Suva, is an authentic slice of life! And the amazingly vibrant Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi gives an interesting insight into the Indo-Fijian culture… And the list goes on!
See what other cultural activities you could be getting involved in with our 10 Best Ways to Experience the Fijian Culture.
More About How to Have a Real Fiji Cultural Experience
That’s it for our guide to having a real Fiji cultural experience; for more information about Fijian culture, check out the following articles:
- 5 Fascinating Museums in Fiji
- Who are the People in Fiji
- 10 Best Ways to Experience the Fijian Culture
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to the Fiji Culture for Travellers.
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])
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