The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Unsplash
The Complete Travel Guide to Suva

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva 👒 [2024]

© Unsplash

How to Plan the Best Trip to Suva, Fiji

Welcome to a whole new side of Fiji you probably never knew existed. Far from your sandy shores and luxury resorts, Suva is a bustling harbourside city and, indeed, the capital city of Fiji. Rich in colonial architecture, a lively mix of cultures, parks and fantastic eateries, Suva makes an exciting destination to add to the itinerary when travelling around Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

No matter what type of traveller you are, whether you’re on a budget, looking for luxurious hidden gems, or travelling with kids, we’ll guide you through the sights and accommodations in this complete travel guide to Suva.

Frequently Asked Questions About Suva

Let’s not beat around the bush; here are the most commonly asked questions travellers have about visiting Suva.

What is Suva Known For?

Suva is known for being the capital city of Fiji.

Is Suva a Nice City?

Mixing tropical life with the conveniences of shops and restaurants, as well as colonial history, Suva is a nice city to visit.

Where is Suva Located?

Suva is located on the southwest coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

What is the Weather Usually Like in Suva?

The daily average temperature in Suva is 25°C/77°F, while the yearly average rainfall is 3,065mm/120.7″. Find out more in What is the Weather Like in Fiji?

How Do You Get to Suva?

Direct international flights from the South Pacific islands, Australia, New Zealand and Korea arrive in Fiji at Nadi International Airport. Suva is around 200km (125 miles) drive away from Nadi and can be accessed by air via Nadi Airport or by road via the Queens Road or Kings Road. See 6 Ways to Get to Suva for more information.

Which is Better, Nadi or Suva?

Nadi has more access to tourist attractions and tours, as well as to hotspots such as Denarau and the Mamanuca Islands. Suva is perhaps better for locals but has the advantages of being closer to the Pacific Harbour and the historically significant and off-the-beaten-track islands of the Lomaiviti Group.

How Big is Suva?

Suva is a relatively compact city at around 10.13mi² (26km²) and has a population of around 97,500. See how this compares to Fiji’s other cities in The 5 Biggest Towns & Cities in Fiji.

Finally, check out the Information, Shops & Services in Suva for more practical tips.

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Unsplash

What to Do in Suva

There’s more to Suva than checking out the architecture and indulging in the city’s restaurants, although they are pretty good too. The capital has some charming gardens and a museum that are an obligatory addition to anyone’s itinerary, as well as appealing day trips to the nearby Colo-i-Suva Forest Park and beyond.

The Top Experiences in Suva

What are the must-dos? Here are some of the Suva highlights:

  • See ancient Polynesian artefacts at the Fiji Museum
  • Meet the locals at the Suva Municipal Market
  • Explore Thurston Gardens and My Suva Park
  • Chase waterfalls in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
  • Treat yourself to a spa day at the 6 Best Day Spas in Suva
  • Visit Orchid Island (more info and book tickets on Viator and Tripadvisor)
  • Do a guided trek with Talanoa Treks
  • See the city’s architectural marvels like the Parliament House, the Sacred Heart Church, the University of the South Pacific, the Grand Pacific Hotel
  • Take one of the many exciting day trips from Suva

… And the list continues over in our 17 Best Things to Do in Suva.

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Unsplash

Where to Stay in Suva

Aside from our top recommendations listed alongside this complete travel guide to Suva (or at the bottom, if you’re reading this on mobile), we’ve compiled the best accommodations and resorts based on price, suitability for families or couples, as well as more premium offerings. What’s more, each article is written by real travellers rather than a dodgy algorithm! Yay!

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Kay Services Tour

Budget Holidays in Suva

The free and cheap attractions, such as the picturesque Suva parks, museum, Colo-i-Suva Forest Park and more, as well as the affordable street food and accommodation, makes staying in Suva on a budget a breeze! If you’re travelling around Viti Levu, then Suva is definitely a place to spend a few days in to replenish your stocks and get some city experiences before moving on. Start planning your budget trip to Suva with The Guide to Suva on a Budget.

Things to Do in Suva on a Budget

  • Visit the Fiji Museum
  • Go for a walk in the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park – guided walks of Colo-i-Suva are also available with Kay Services Tour (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
  • Do some city sightseeing
  • Go shopping in the Suva shopping malls
  • Check out the city parks.

For more inspiration, check out our 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Suva.

Where to Stay in Suva on a Budget

Compared to elsewhere in Fiji, Suva is a cheap city to stay in. The city has a choice of budget hotels, backpacker hostels and quite an abundance of affordable homestays and holiday homes. Check out our 10 Budget Accommodations in Suva for our recommendations.

complete-guide-to-suva© Tourism Fiji

Luxury Holidays in Suva

Although there are many divine luxury resorts across the islands of Fiji, contrastingly, there is not much emphasis on luxury in Suva. Nevertheless, you can still stay in Fiji’s capital city without roughing it thanks to the range of upscale hotels, which offer luxury experiences, such as day spas and gourmet restaurants. Find out more in The Luxury Guide to Suva.

Luxury Activities in Suva

Like the sound of those? See more “treat yourself” activities in our list of 6 Best Luxury Experiences in Suva.

Where to Stay in Luxury in Suva

Suva has a limited but fabulous selection of high-end hotels to choose from. Check out your options in our list of the 5 Luxury Hotels in Suva.

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Matthias Süßen on Wikipedia

Family Holidays in Suva

Families visiting Suva with kids will not find it too much of a challenge keeping the little ones entertained. Suva has all your city activities for kids that you would expect, such as playgrounds and cinemas, as well as a few unique activities like the Fiji Museum, the Orchid Island cultural centre and the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park. But for beach holidays and kids’ clubs, it would be better to look elsewhere, even the nearby Pacific Harbour. Take a look at Guide to the Pacific Harbour & Beqa for Families for tips. For more advice for staying in Suva, see The Guide to Suva for Families.

Family Activities in Suva

  • Play in the playground, build sandcastles and have a picnic at My Suva Park
  • Get some splash time in at Damodar Aquatic Centre or your hotel pool
  • Have a cultural day at Orchid Island (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
  • Explore the forests and waterfalls of the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
  • Take a day trip to the Pacific Harbour.

And the list goes on! Check it out in our 10 Things to Do in Suva with Kids for more inspiration.

Where to Stay in Suva

Find hotels and apartments with family rooms, swimming pools or other child services in our 10 Family Accommodations in Suva.

complete guide to suva© Maksym Kozlenko on Wikipedia

Adults-Only Holidays in Suva

As you may have discovered when reading our other guides, such as The Adults-Only Guide to Denarau Island and our The Adults Only Guide to the Mamanuca Islands that there are sections of resorts, complete resorts and even entire islands in Fiji that are “adults-only”. However, you will not find any accommodation with such luxuries in Suva, apart from private holiday homes. But all is not lost, as there are a few child-free zones in some of Suva’s activities for adults – get more advice in The Adults-Only Guide to Suva.

Adults-Only Activities in Suva

For more information on each activity, check out the 5 Adults-Only Activities in Suva.

Where to Stay in Suva for an Adults-Only Holiday

While there might not be any adult-only resorts in Suva, your next best option is to choose one of the hotels that attract more adult clientele or has facilities, such as a spa or a bar, that are child-free. Check out our recommendations in our 5 Accommodations in Suva for Adults. Alternatively, staying in a private holiday home will ensure you only spend your time in Suva with who you choose.

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Michael Coghlan on Flickr

Foodie Holidays in Suva

Suva really is a foodie’s paradise. With a wide range of eateries and food-orientated experiences, you’ll learn a lot about Fiji through its flavours. Bustling markets, street food and fine dining make up the food scene in Suva so it’s worth sticking around for a while just to treat your tastebuds. Find out more about foodie travel in Suva with The Food Guide to Suva: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Things to Do in Suva for Foodies

  • Visit the Suva Municipal Market
  • Take a cooking class to learn how to cook Indo-Fijian dishes with Ruby’s Masterclass
  • Have a unique dining experience on Tiko’s Floating Restaurant
  • Sample something spicy at an Indo-Fijian curry house
  • Get up early for the Suva Fish Market.

And if that hasn’t made your mouth water enough, then check out our 9 Things to Do in Suva for Foodies and the 8 Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Suva.

Where to Eat in Suva

  • Eden Bistro & Bar (11 Bureta Street)
  • Singh’s Curry House (Cnr Gordon Street and Victoria Parade)
  • Maya Dhaba (281 Victoria Parade)
  • Tiko’s Floating Bar (Stinson Parade)
  • Daikoku Restaurant Suva (Dolphin Plaza, Victoria Parade)

Where to Stay in Suva for Foodies

Looking for a place to stay with a delectable restaurant or even a self-contained apartment so you can spruce up your own creations from the market? Check out our 10 Best Accommodations in Suva for Foodies.

The Complete Travel Guide to Suva© Unsplash

Weddings, Honeymoons and Romantic Getaways to Suva

Again, when compared to the rest of Fiji, Suva seems less exciting as a destination for a Fiji wedding, honeymoon or romantic getaway. Nevertheless, if you are looking for city vibes, a tropical garden or a city park to say “I do”, then you have found the place! A few up-scale hotels have attractive wedding venues, as well as luxurious rooms ideal for honeymooning couples. Additionally, there are some activities you could be doing to celebrate a special occasion with your loved one or “just because”. Get more tips in The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Suva.

Things to Do in Suva for Couples

So make your special time away together truly special with these 10 Most Romantic Things to Do in Suva for Couples. Plus, check out the 8 Wedding Venues in Suva.

Where to Stay in Suva for Couples

Whether you’re seeking a base for a romantic getaway, renewing your vows or starting the rest of your lives together, we list your best options in our 5 Best Wedding & Honeymoon Hotels in Suva.

More Suva Travel Tips

That’s it for our complete travel guide to Suva but by no means the end of our advice! Check out the following guides for more interesting tips about Fiji’s capital city:

Finally, plan more of your travels from Suva using The Complete Travel Guide to Fiji and 31 Tips for Travelling in Fiji.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Fiji. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Fiji’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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