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A view of the ocean from a plane window
Australia & Pacific

Kiribati

Kiribati is a remote country of low coral atolls in the central Pacific. The island you reach, and what it offers, will shape your trip.

Start with the essentialsPlan a trip to Kiribati

Kiribati is a country of 33 islands in the central Pacific, almost all of them low coral atolls. Tarawa, in the west, holds South Tarawa, the capital. Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, lies far to the east and is the largest atoll in the world by land area. The two ends are a long way apart, so most trips cover one area. Travelers come for lagoons, reefs and birdlife.

Access decides most trips here. Flights are infrequent, and on many outer islands lodging, food and medical care are basic. Check the flight schedule first, pick the island that fits your dates, then confirm what services it has before you book. Build spare days into your plan, since a delayed flight pushes back everything after it. Kiribati suits independent travelers who want one or two islands, not the whole country.

Five things to know before Kiribati

  1. Check you are on the visa-exempt list

    UK and Canadian passports can visit without a visa for up to one month with an onward ticket and enough funds. Check the visa exemption list on the Kiribati immigration site before you book. Visas and entry

  2. Keep AUD 20 in cash for the departure tax

    Kiribati charges a departure tax of AUD 20 at the airport. Carry it in cash in Australian dollars, the currency used across the country.

  3. Plan Tarawa and Kiritimati as separate trips

    The two main islands are more than 3,000 km apart and are linked through Fiji or Honolulu, not directly. Pick one base unless you have a lot of time.

  4. Bring enough Australian dollars

    Cards are accepted in very few places and ATMs are limited to South Tarawa. Bring the cash you need for rooms, food and transport, especially on outer islands. Money

  5. Carry a basic medical kit

    Health care is very limited and serious cases are flown out. Bring your own medicines, treat water before drinking, and buy insurance that covers medical evacuation. Travel insurance

Kiribati travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Visas and entry

Visa-exempt passports, onward tickets and the departure tax.

Read the guideTravel insurance

Medical evacuation cover for remote atolls.

Read the guideMoney

Why cash in Australian dollars matters here.

Read the guideGetting around

International routes via Fiji and Honolulu, and domestic flights.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Kiribati

See all attractions in Kiribati
Sacred Heart CathedralChurch · South TarawaSacred Heart Cathedralorange Himalaya LED signageSight · KiribatiAbemamaSight · KiribatiAbaiang

Destinations in Kiribati

When to go

  • Rainy days
  • Best
  1. JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Wetter, humid
  2. FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Wetter
  3. MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Wetter
  4. AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Showers
  5. MayRain19 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Hot, showers
  6. JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Drier
  7. JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Dry, breezy
  8. AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Dry, breezy
  9. SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low28°Driest
  10. OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Dry, hot
  11. NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Hot
  12. DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Wetter, humid

Average daily high and low in South Tarawa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KiribatiPut the places you like in Kiribati on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Kiribati

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Rain

28

Feels like
32°
Humidity
76%
Wind
18 km/h
Chance of rain
75%

South Tarawa

08:05 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+12

  1. Today29°26°75%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 75%.
  2. Wed28°26°74%Wednesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 74%.
  3. Thu29°27°38%Thursday: Rain. High 29°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 38%.
  4. Fri29°26°37%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 37%.
  5. Sat29°28°38%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 38%.
  6. Sun29°24°59%Sunday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 59%.

Updated 05:52 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Kiribati

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar
man riding horse in raceOctoberMelbourne CupOct 31 – Nov 7, 2026a bridge with a bunch of fireworks on itDecemberSydney New Year's EveDec 31, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027people inside tennis stadiumJanuaryAustralian OpenJan 11 – 31, 2027

Before you go to Kiribati

Phones in KiribatiRoaming is limited, check firstRead the guideTravel insuranceEvacuation cover is essentialRead the guideCash in AUDATMs only on South TarawaRead the guide
Rules for Kiribati, checked
A departure tax of AUD 20 is paid at the airport when you leave Kiribati.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more

Kiribati FAQ

Do I need a visa for Kiribati?

UK and Canadian passports can stay up to one month without a visa if they have an onward ticket and funds. Check the visa exemption list on the Kiribati immigration site for your nationality before booking.

How do I get to Kiribati?

Tarawa is usually reached via Nadi in Fiji, and Kiritimati via Nadi or Honolulu. Flights run only a few times a week.

What time zone is Kiribati in?

It spans three zones, from UTC+12 on Tarawa to UTC+14 on Kiritimati, which is among the first places on Earth to see each new day.

What can you do on Kiritimati?

Most visitors come for flats fly-fishing for bonefish, seabird colonies and diving. Accommodation is limited, so book lodging and flights together.

Is tap water safe in Kiribati?

No. Drink bottled, boiled or treated water, and be careful with ice and raw food.

DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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