Sightseeing in Honiara

October 31, 2026

Most of what visitors see in Honiara is tied to the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942 and 1943. Many people died at these places, and several lie among unexploded weapons, so visit them quietly, stay on cleared ground and take a local guide where one is advised. Fees are paid in Solomon Islands dollars (SBD), and land around the capital is customary, so a small cash kastom fee is common.

Guadalcanal American Memorial

The memorial stands on Skyline Ridge, reached along Skyline Drive by taxi or car. It was dedicated in 1992 and is run by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Entry is free. The ridge looks over Honiara, the Mataniko valley and Iron Bottom Sound. Hours can change, so check the site page at abmc.gov before you set out.

Bloody Ridge

On 12 to 14 September 1942, Edson’s Raiders and the Parachute Battalion held this ridge against Kawaguchi’s brigade. It was declared the first national park in Solomon Islands in August 2017 and renamed Bloody Ridge National Historical Park in May 2025, and squatters have been cleared. The Japanese embassy laid a wreath there on 16 September 2025. Unexploded ordnance remains, so keep to cleared paths and go with a guide.

Vilu Military Museum

Vilu lies west of Honiara, under an hour by car, about 1 km down a track off West Guadalcanal Road. There is no roadside sign, so ask for directions. Fred Kona founded it in 1975, and a family runs it now. Exhibits include parts of an F4F-4 Wildcat, an F4U-1 Corsair, a P-38F Lightning, an SBD Dauntless and a Japanese Betty bomber, with Type 96 howitzers, a Type 88 anti-aircraft gun and a Type 97 tank turret. Monuments honour Japanese, American, New Zealand, Australian and Fijian dead. Shells lie on the lawns: look, and never touch. The collection is smaller than it was in the 1990s. Ask about the entry fee when you arrive.

Japanese Peace Memorial, Mount Austen

A memorial park stands on Mount Austen, which is separate from Skyline Ridge. Visit it with a guide and keep a quiet tone.

Alligator Creek

American Marines gave this name to the Ilu River, and the fighting there is also called the Battle of the Tenaru, after a map error. Beside the road stand an American pillar and a Japanese pillar of the Ichiki Regiment. The creek is a tidal lagoon behind a sandbar in crocodile country, and nobody should enter the water.

National Parliament Building

A gift from the United States costing about US$5 million, the building first sat in November 1993. Its conical concrete roof blends Temotu and Guadalcanal styles. View it from the outside, and do not count on a public tour.

National Museum

On Mendana Avenue, this single-room museum shows dance, shell currency, weapons and archaeology. A 2016 listing gave weekday hours around 9:00 to 16:30 and Saturday morning, free with donations. Check ahead before you go.

Safety

Never touch rusted metal or anything that might be a munition. Theft happens around the central market and local beaches. See the UK government safety advice for the areas needing particular care.

City sights and guides

For the museum, market and waterfront, a local guide or taxi driver can be found through your hotel, and general city tours can be searched on GetYourGuide .