--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Honiara, Solomon Islands | Wimup" description: "The 10 best things to do in Honiara: the Guadalcanal American Memorial on Skyline Ridge, the Central Market, the National Museum, the Bonegi wrecks, Vilu War Museum, Bloody Ridge and a boat to Savo." url: https://wimup.com/city/honiara type: City guide updated: 2026-10-19 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Honiara Honiara, Solomon Islands · Oceania · By Wimup Editorial, 10 min read Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands, on the north coast of Guadalcanal facing Iron Bottom Sound. It grew out of the American base of 1942 and replaced Tulagi as capital in 1952. The battlefields of the Guadalcanal campaign start at its edges, and two Japanese wrecks lie a swim off its western beaches. ## Quick answer The best things to do in Honiara are the Guadalcanal American Memorial on Skyline Ridge, a morning at the Central Market, the National Museum and the Parliament on its hill. Then go out along the coast road: west to the Bonegi wrecks and Vilu War Museum, east to Bloody Ridge and Red Beach, inland to Mataniko Falls with a village guide. Three or four days covers it. May to October is the dry season. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** May · Sep · Oct - **Ideal length:** 3–4 days - **Budget per day:** $90–180 - **Language:** English, Pijin - **Getting around:** Minibuses, taxis and hired drivers ## The 10 best things to do in Honiara ### 1. Look over Iron Bottom Sound from Skyline Ridge Memorial · Skyline Ridge, above central Honiara The Guadalcanal American Memorial, a 24-foot pylon on the ridge above town, honours those who died in the campaign of 1942 and 1943. It is also the best lookout in Honiara, across the city to the sound and Savo. - **Time:** 45 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** The walls around the pylon tell the campaign battle by battle; read them before you drive out to the sites. Links: [ABMC](https://www.abmc.gov/history/discover-the-history-of-guadalcanal-memorial?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Walk the Honiara Central Market Market · Mendana Avenue, central Honiara The city's food hall and its busiest square metre: betel nut, skipjack tuna, root crops and fruit from across Guadalcanal and Malaita, plus shell money and carvings. Come early, when the boats and trucks unload. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Keep a hand on your bag in the crowd, and ask before photographing stallholders. ### 3. Read the islands at the National Museum Museum · Mendana Avenue, central Honiara A compact museum of objects from every province, with traditional houses and wartime relics in the grounds. It is the best briefing on the country's many cultures before you leave the capital. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Check on arrival - **Best at:** Weekday morning - **Tip:** Hours are not published online; ask your hotel or the visitor bureau before you go. ### 4. See the National Parliament on its hill Landmark · Vavaea Ridge, central Honiara A conical concrete building finished in 1993 as a gift from the United States, in memory of the Americans who died on Guadalcanal. The dome is painted inside with traditional art, and the public gallery seats 600. - **Time:** 30 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** When Parliament sits - **Tip:** Sittings are not continuous; check the Parliament's own site to see it in session. Links: [Parliament](https://www.parliament.gov.sb/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Snorkel the Bonegi wrecks Dive site · Bonegi, west of Honiara Two Japanese freighters sank off this black-sand beach on the night of 13 November 1942. Bonegi II breaks the surface, so it can be snorkelled straight from the shore; Bonegi I lies deeper and is for divers. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Small landowner fee - **Best at:** Calm mornings - **Tip:** Pay the beach fee to the landowners at the entrance, and bring your own mask and fins. ### 6. Walk among the relics at Vilu War Museum Museum · Off the West Guadalcanal road, Vilu An open-air collection in the forest west of town, founded in 1975: a Wildcat fighter, a Type 97 tank, field guns and a 155mm howitzer, Japanese and American pieces side by side. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Small entry fee - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Access often needs arranging in advance; ask your hotel or a driver to call ahead. ### 7. Stand on Bloody Ridge Battlefield · Bloody Ridge, south of Henderson airport The ridge above the Lunga River where Merritt Edson's Marines held off a Japanese attempt to retake Henderson Field in September 1942. It is now a national peace park with a view back to the coast. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Go with a battlefield guide, who will walk you through the fight on the ground. ### 8. Hike to Mataniko Falls Nature · Trailhead at Lelei, inland from Honiara A walk of about two hours return from Lelei village to a waterfall that drops out of a dark gorge into a green pool. It is the closest wild place to the capital. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Guide fee - **Best at:** Dry season, early start - **Tip:** A guide from Lelei is required; the visitor bureau in Honiara can arrange one. Skip it after heavy rain. ### 9. Drive up Mount Austen Memorial · Mount Austen, behind Honiara The road from Kukum climbs through jungle to a summit clearing at 410 metres, with the white Japanese Peace Memorial in tended gardens. The view takes in Henderson and the battlefield plain. - **Time:** 1–2 hours - **Cost:** Small fee - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Hire a driver for the round trip and combine it with Bloody Ridge the same morning. ### 10. Cross to Savo Island Day trip · Savo Island, northwest of Guadalcanal A volcanic island about 30 minutes by boat across the sound. At dawn megapode birds bury their eggs in warm sand by Panueli, and a two-hour walk leads up past hot springs to the crater. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Tour price - **Best at:** Dawn start - **Tip:** Go with a local guide: the egg fields belong to families. Avoid June and July, when the crossing is rough. ## Best WWII sites around Honiara The battlefields east of town, best seen with a guide. 1. **Red Beach** (Landing beach · East Guadalcanal): Where the US Marines came ashore unopposed on 7 August 1942, east of the airport. 2. **Tetere Beach** (Wartime relics · Tetere): Rusting amphibious tractors left in the grass behind the beach, about 40 km east. 3. **Alligator Creek** (Battlefield · Near Henderson): The creek mouth where Ichiki's force was destroyed on the night of 20 to 21 August 1942. 4. **Henderson Field** (Airfield · East Honiara): The wartime airstrip both armies fought for, now Honiara International Airport. ## Best beaches near Honiara Black sand and palms along the west coast road. 1. **Turtle Beach** (Beach · West Honiara): A quiet, palm-fringed beach about four kilometres west of the centre. 2. **Bonegi Beach** (Beach · West Guadalcanal): Black sand for a picnic, with a wreck to snorkel off the shore. 3. **Tavutu Beach** (Beach · West Guadalcanal): A quieter alternative to Bonegi on the same western stretch of coast. ## Waterfalls and walks near Honiara Every trail crosses village land, so hire a guide where it starts. 1. **Mataniko Falls** (Waterfall · Lelei): Two hours return from Lelei to a falls in a gorge. A Lelei guide is required. 2. **Tenaru Falls** (Waterfall · East Guadalcanal): About four hours return on a flat, shady path by the river, with guides at Tenaru Village. 3. **Botanical Gardens** (Gardens · Rove): A quiet green space on the hill behind the city for a short walk among local plants. ## Best day trips from Honiara Boats leave the Honiara waterfront for the nearest islands. 1. **Savo Island** (Island · Central Province): Megapode egg fields, hot springs and a crater, half an hour across the sound. 2. **Tulagi** (Island town · Central Province): The first capital, across the sound on Florida Islands, with regular passenger boats. 3. **Auki** (Town · Malaita): The capital of Malaita, reached by the regular passenger boats from Honiara. ## Honiara's neighbourhoods The city runs along one coastal road, so these sit end to end. 1. **Point Cruz** (Waterfront · Central Honiara): The waterfront centre: the yacht club, the main hotels and the government offices. 2. **Chinatown** (Trading quarter · Central Honiara): The old trading quarter on the east bank of the Mataniko River. 3. **Kukum** (District · East Honiara): The eastern district on the highway toward the airport, and the road up Mount Austen. ## Best restaurants in Honiara Cafes and hotel kitchens along the waterfront. Confirm hours before you go. 1. **Lime Lounge** (Cafe · Central Honiara): The expat favourite for breakfast, salads and sandwiches in the centre. 2. **The Ofis** (Waterfront cafe · Honiara waterfront): Wood-fired pizza and wraps on the sea side, with a view out to Savo. 3. **Breakwater Cafe** (Cafe · Honiara): An Australian-style cafe and the city's breakfast meeting point. 4. **GG's Restaurant** (Hotel restaurant · Heritage Park): The Heritage Park Hotel's dining room, with European and pan-Asian dishes. 5. **Haydn's Steakhouse** (Steakhouse · Coral Sea Resort): The Coral Sea Resort's grill room for steaks and Western dishes. ## Best hotels in Honiara Rooms are few and priced high, so book ahead. 1. **Heritage Park Hotel** (Hotel · Central Honiara): A beachfront hotel in the centre with three places to eat, a pool and a gym. 2. **Coral Sea Resort** (Resort · Honiara): Villas in tropical gardens on the water, 1.5 km from the centre. 3. **Solomon Kitano Mendana** (Hotel · Point Cruz): A 96-room hotel overlooking Point Cruz on Mendana Avenue, with a pool. 4. **King Solomon Hotel** (Hotel · Central Honiara): A hillside hotel with a cable car up to its rooms and a view of the sound. ## Festivals & annual events in Honiara (2026) - **New Year's Day** (1 January): A national holiday; the city empties to family gatherings and the beaches. - **Easter** (March–April): Good Friday to Easter Monday are public holidays in a strongly Christian country. - **Whit Monday** (May–June): A national holiday after Pentecost, kept by the churches across town. - **King's Birthday** (June): A national holiday for the monarch, head of state of the Solomon Islands. - **Independence Day** (7 July): The 1978 independence anniversary, with the main parade and ceremonies in Honiara. - **Guadalcanal Province Day** (1 August): The provincial holiday for Guadalcanal, observed in the capital. - **Guadalcanal campaign anniversary** (7 August): A dawn service at the American Memorial on Skyline Ridge marks the 1942 landings. - **Christmas** (25–26 December): Christmas Day and the national day of thanksgiving close the year. ## Must-try dishes in Honiara, Solomon Islands - **Poi**: Fermented taro, often named the national dish. - **Ulu**: Breadfruit, roasted or boiled, served beside almost any meal. - **Cassava pudding**: Grated cassava and coconut milk baked in banana leaf on hot stones. - **Motu**: The earth oven of hot stones, used for fish, pork and root crops. - **Slippery cabbage**: A leafy green that turns silky when cooked in coconut milk. - **Skipjack tuna**: Bought whole at the Central Market, baked and served with rice and chilli. - **Coconut crab**: A giant land crab cooked whole for a feast, where it is still sold. - **Betel nut**: Not a dish but everywhere: areca nut chewed with lime and pepper leaf. ## Honiara transport & airports - **Honiara International Airport** (HIR): The old Henderson Field, about 10 km east of the centre. Taxis and minibuses wait outside the terminal, and hotels arrange transfers. - **Minibuses** (Bus): Public minibuses run the length of the coastal road for a flat fare in town. Outside Honiara service is thin. - **Taxis** (Taxi): Common in town and hailed on the street. Few have meters, so agree the fare before you get in. - **Boats to the islands** (Sea): Regular passenger boats leave the Honiara waterfront for Tulagi and Auki; inter-island ferries go further. Leave a spare day. ## Honiara at a glance - **Country:** Solomon Islands - **Region:** North coast of Guadalcanal, on Iron Bottom Sound - **Population:** 129,569 (2019 census) - **Founded:** 1942 as a US base; capital since 1952 - **Name:** A Ghari name for the land west of Point Cruz - **Language:** English is official; Solomon Islands Pijin is spoken by all - **Currency:** Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) - **Time zone:** UTC+11, no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +677 - **Airports:** Honiara International (HIR), the former Henderson Field - **Power:** 230 V, 50 Hz, Australian-style plugs - **Climate:** Dry May to October, wet November to April ## Interesting facts - Honiara replaced Tulagi as capital in 1952, because Tulagi had been wrecked in the war. - Iron Bottom Sound takes its name from the dozens of ships and planes sunk there in 1942 and 1943. - The airport began as Henderson Field, the airstrip the whole Guadalcanal campaign was fought over. - The Parliament building was a US$5 million gift from the United States, completed in 1993. - The name Honiara first belonged to the strip of land west of Point Cruz, where the yacht club now stands. ## Honiara travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Honiara? Three or four. One for Skyline Ridge, the market, the museum and Parliament, one for the battlefields east of town, one for Bonegi and Vilu to the west, and a fourth for Mataniko Falls or Savo. Add more to reach the Western Province by boat or plane. ### When is the best time to visit Honiara? May to October, the dry season, when rain, heat and humidity are lowest. September is quieter than July and August. November to April is the wet season; cyclones are not common but can occur then. The Savo crossing is roughest in June and July. ### Do you need a visa for the Solomon Islands? It depends on your passport. Many nationalities get a visitor permit on arrival, others need an e-Visa first, and stays run to a maximum of 90 days in 12 months. Carry six months of passport validity and an onward ticket, and check the official immigration rules before you fly. ### Can you visit the WWII sites without a tour? The American Memorial and the Parliament are easy alone by taxi. The battlefields, Vilu and the waterfalls sit on customary land and are poorly signed, so a driver or a battlefield guide makes the day work and settles the small fees owners charge. ### How do you get around Honiara? Minibuses run the coastal road for a flat fare, and taxis are easy to find in town. Few taxis have meters, so agree the fare first. For the coast road and the hills, hire a car with a driver for the day through your hotel. ## Nearby guides - [Port Vila](https://wimup.com/city/port-vila.md): Vanuatu · 10 picks - [Nadi](https://wimup.com/city/nadi.md): Fiji · 10 picks - [Brisbane](https://wimup.com/city/brisbane.md): Australia · 10 picks - [All of Oceania →](https://wimup.com/oceania): 23 cities Part of the [Solomon Islands guide](https://wimup.com/country/solomon-islands.md) · [Oceania](https://wimup.com/oceania.md) ## Sources - [Look over Iron Bottom Sound from Skyline Ridge: ABMC](https://www.abmc.gov/history/discover-the-history-of-guadalcanal-memorial?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [See the National Parliament on its hill: Parliament](https://www.parliament.gov.sb/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.