Nauru Stays of 3 to 7 Days
A stay on Nauru is shaped by the flight timetable. Nauru Airlines is the only passenger carrier and flies a few times a week, so you cannot choose any arrival and departure date you like. Most visitors spend three nights between flight rotations, and a full week suits divers, researchers and people who want a slow Pacific stay. Check nauruair.com for current days before you book anything else.
Before you book
A visa is required and must be arranged before travel, because there is no visa on arrival. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after you arrive, and applicants are typically asked for proof of accommodation and an onward ticket. Airlines may refuse boarding if visa clearance is not in their system, so sort it out first. Money is Australian dollars in cash. Cards are not accepted, and the single ATM at Menen Hotel is often out of cash, so bring enough for every day.
Where to stay
Menen Hotel is the largest, government-owned and on the east coast above Anibare Bay, with one restaurant and one bar. OD-N-Aiwo Hotel is in Aiwo and is the tallest building on the island. Ewa Lodge and Goodworks serviced apartments are the other options. The main hotels are booked directly by email or phone rather than through online booking sites.
A three-day plan
Day 1, arrival and the coast. Check in, then take the ring road, about 19 km around, along the east coast to Anibare Bay. Walk the sand and stay out of the open water, where rip currents run. Finish at the Aiwo cantilevers for sunset, then eat at the hotel restaurant or a local diner.
Day 2, war history and Topside. Visit Command Ridge for the twin Japanese guns and the bunker, then go through the mined limestone pinnacles of Topside with a local driver. In the afternoon, walk the road around Buada Lagoon and see Moqua Well in Yaren. In the evening, look for a football match at Linkbelt Oval or take a drink on the cliff terrace at Menen Hotel.
Day 3, sea and Parliament. Spend the morning on a game-fishing charter from Anibare Boat Harbour for tuna and wahoo, if you can arrange one. In the afternoon, look at Parliament House in Yaren from the outside, then head for the airport.
Extending to a week
Extra days let you repeat the east coast at different tides, fit in a second fishing trip, join a local football weekend and spend a longer morning on Topside. Divers should bring their own regulator, BCD and dive computer, and arrange tank fills and boat transport in advance through Menen Hotel, because there is no full-service dive shop.
Safety for a long stay
Normal travel precautions apply. Cyclone and swell risk runs from November to May, and heavy surf and rip currents affect the east coast. There are no lifeguards. Topside has no shade, a very high UV index and sharp rock, so wear closed shoes and carry water.
Booking
For stays, contact the hotels directly. You can search Viator for any new Nauru experiences. Read the UK government travel advice for Nauru before you go, and see flights on Nauru Airlines .
Read more: Day trips on Nauru and Nauru 5-day itinerary .