What Clothing to Pack for a Holiday to Fiji
Ah, packing… Whether you hate it or enjoy it, packing right for a holiday to Fiji is essential. You don’t want to forget anything crucial or end up buying items in Fiji that you annoyingly know you have back home. Plus, you want to pack the right clothes for the weather and what activities you will be doing. Fiji enjoys consistently warm temperatures throughout the year, usually 24-31°C (75-88°F) in the day and 18-25°C (64-77°F) in the evening. With that in mind, all of the clothes listed in the clothes packing list for Fiji below is useful to pack for Fiji all year round. So continue reading to see what clothes to pack for Fiji!
For more packing advice, see The Complete Packing List for Fiji, as well as Essentials to Pack for Fiji. Plus, find out what the weather is like for the month you are visiting in our Weather & Climate category.
Tips for Packing for Fiji
- If you’re taking a domestic flight, helicopter or seaplane transfer in Fiji, pack lightly! The baggage allowance is much smaller than what’s allowed on international flights – around 15kg (33lbs) for checked baggage per person
- On a similar note, if you are taking a domestic flight that connects to an international flight, book them all together to get the international baggage allowance
- Be aware of things that you’ve packed that you need to declare when arriving in Fiji
- If travelling for one week, pack for each day. If travelling for longer, pack for one week then make use of the laundry services available in most resorts and hotels
- Pack versatile outfits, for example, what can be used for a village visit might also be suitable as an evening outfit for dinner
- Use Packing Cubes to organise your suitcase – see more handy gadgets in 18 Must-Have Gadgets to Pack for Fiji.
Casual Clothing
Due to the warm temperatures, most people in Fiji wear casual and light clothing to keep cool, particularly cotton or bamboo fabrics. The thing to note is the different clothing you can wear in resorts compared to in villages and towns. In resorts, it’s acceptable to wear short shorts or walk around in a bikini. However, in villages and towns, respect the local customs by wearing more modest clothing. While most resorts have a casual dress code for dining, some of the luxury resorts may have a fine dining establishment with a smart dress code, so pack accordingly. You may also want to pack a light jacket or cardigan to cover up on cooler evenings.
Men
- Shorts
- Light shirts
- T-shirts
- Light sleepwear (if sleeping in your undies isn’t somehow warm enough)
- Light jacket for cooler evenings
- Outfit for smart-casual dress code restaurants at luxury resorts
- Warm fleece or jacket if you plan to do mountain hikes
- Underwear
Women
- Shorts/Skirts/Dress
- Dresses/Skirts below the knee for village visits (We recommend light fabrics such as this sustainable bamboo dress by MosoMorrow)
- Singlets/T-Shirts
- Light shirt/T-shirt to cover the shoulders for village visits
- Sarong (Sulu) for village visits
- Light sleepwear
- Light jacket/Cardigan/Pashmina for cooler evenings
- Outfit for smart-casual dress code restaurants at luxury resorts
- Warm fleece/Jacket if you plan to do mountain hikes
- Underwear
Swimwear
The water is where you’re likely to spend A LOT of time in Fiji. For this reason, we recommend packing two pieces of swimwear, because no one likes scraping on a wet bathing suit! For men, boardshorts are the usual choice of swimwear, as opposed to tight Speedos. For women, we recommend a bikini for casual days by the pool and something more stable for watersports or if spending time in a village. A rash vest is a good idea for sun protection, especially for children! Finally, while resorts often provide snorkelling gear, you can’t be sure what state they will be in. So if you prefer, pack your own snorkel gear.
Men
- Boardshorts
- Snorkel gear (if you’re not staying in a resort or prefer your own)
- Beach/Travel towel
- Rash vest (for sun and surf protection)
- Beach bag/Day pack
Women
- Bikini for beach/pool
- One-piece for watersports/village stay
- Snorkel gear (if you’re not staying in a resort or prefer your own)
- Beach/Travel towel
- Rash vest (for sun and surf protection)
- Beach bag/Day pack
Sun, Rain and Insect Protection
There are a few elements that you will want to protect yourself from in Fiji, including the sun, rain and insects. With UV levels between 4-11 in Fiji, sun protection is essential. Protect your head from the sun with a cap, floppy sunhat, bandana or whatever you are into. Sunglasses will protect your eyes and make seeing more comfortable. Sun protection is more essential for kids, so make sure they are covered up in and out of the water and try not to let them get too exposed to the sun during midday. An extra precaution is UV protection fabric tops.
A light rain jacket or umbrella is another essential, especially if travelling in the wet season (November to April). And for an extra precaution against mosquito bites, consider packing an insect repellent top. See more ways to protect yourself from mosquitos in the 10 Best Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent.
Men, Women and Children
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Light cotton shirt to cover arms
- Light rain jacket/Small umbrella
- UV protection top
- Insect repellent top
Shoes
Finally, what are you going to wear on your feet? Sandals or flip-flops are comfortable enough in warm temperatures. With so many walking trails around Fiji, it’s also a good idea to pack walking shoes or sandals, or hiking boots if you plan to do some more hardcore trekking. Finally, reef shoes are essential for island-hopping, snorkelling or paddling in the sea.
Men and Women
- Flip-flops/Sandals
- Reef shoes
- Walking shoes/Sandals
- Hiking boots (if doing a multi-day hike)
More About Clothes to Pack for Fiji and Other Tips
Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.