Where should you stay in Fiji?
Fiji offers diverse destinations like the Yasawa Islands, perfect for first-time visitors, and Coral Coast, known for its stunning beaches. Nadi, close to the airport, offers convenience and Indian culture, while Vanua Levu provides an authentic, less crowded experience. Fiji caters to various preferences with its range of options.
If you prefer sunny and sandy beaches, lush and striking natural landmarks, powerful waterfalls, and luxurious resorts, Fiji is the right place for you.
This guide is here to help you to make a choice on where to stay in Fiji, and the answer to that question shouldn’t be that hard: you just have to check what the particular islands have to offer and see which one suits you the most. Let us be your guide!
The 4 Best Places to Stay in Fiji
Two of the four best parts of Fiji are located on Viti Levu, the largest island in the country. The two other islands are completely separate yet very close to Viti Levu.
Don’t worry about the transport, since all of the islands on our list have their own separate airports, which makes getting there quite easy. For everything else, there are boats and small planes that cruise around the territory.
Our favorite parts include:
- The Yasawa Islands: A group of 12 closely connected islands, full of resorts and traditional villages, they’re the perfect choice for first-time visitors to Fiji.
- Coral Coast (Viti Levu): Probably the most famous tourist magnet in Fiji, also housing fantastic resorts, as well as striking natural landmarks and probably the best beach in the country.
- Nadi (Viti Levu): A large city in the western part of the island, very close to the airport, and the most suitable place for budget travelers in Fiji.
- Vanua Levu: Boasting two charming cities, the second largest island in Fiji is the perfect choice for those who prefer untouched natural beauty and an authentic atmosphere.
Where to Stay in Fiji: Best Areas & Hotels
Everybody knows that Fiji is a major tourist hub, mainly because of the striking ocean, sunny beaches, beautiful natural landmarks, and developed accommodation system. Some of the best hotels and resorts in the southern hemisphere are located here.
Viti Levu and the Yasawa Islands offer the most both in terms of numbers and versatility. The main island of Fiji is full of hotels of all shapes and sizes.
Coral Coast has a lot of luxurious, five-star resorts, but Nadi is the most versatile and the most suitable choice for budget travelers. Vanua Levu is not as developed as Viti Levu and has less to offer in terms of accommodation options.
Most of the hotels and resorts are located in Savusavu. That being said, whatever you’re looking for, make sure you stay close to one of the two larger cities on Vanua Levu. The rest of the island has practically nothing to offer.
1. The Yasawa Islands
Przemyslaw Skibinski/Shutterstock
When we try to see Fiji with our mind’s eye, we usually imagine a myriad of tiny tropical islands, the ocean colored in every possible shade of blue, lush and thick rainforests, and numberless sandy and sunny beaches.
The Yasawa Islands, located just a few miles from the coast of Viti Levu, is a material manifestation of that idea, and because of that, it’s a perfect choice for first-time travelers to Fiji.
The Yasawa Islands offer a fantastic choice for a carefree and relaxed vacation. Some of the best beaches in Fiji, for example, are located scattered along those islands. All of them are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, relaxing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Here are the seven most popular, listed in no particular order:
- Yasawa Island Resort Beach
- Octopus Resort Beach
- Oarsman’s Bay Lodge Beach
- Nanuya Island Resort Beach
- Blue Lagoon Beach Resort Beach
- Botaira Beach Resort Beach
- Honeymoon Beach
As we already mentioned, they offer innumerable places for snorkeling and scuba diving. There are plenty of chances to swim with the majestic manta rays and snorkel and dive (completely safe) with the sharks.
Most of these activities are located near or in the resorts, but the most famous of them all are placed near the Blue Lagoon. Some other popular activities among tourists are hiking or cruising around the islands.
The Sawa-I-Lau Caves are a must-see natural landmark located on the small island with the same name. And if you want to rent a boat and experience the natural beauty while sailing, join Captain Cook Cruises Fiji — it’s the most popular and reliable option.
Regarding accommodation options and restaurants, you’ll be glad to know that there are numerous resorts, apartments, and hotels scattered on the 12 islands, ranging from cheap but decent accommodations to very luxurious hotels.
The restaurant options, on the other hand, are not so great since most of them are located in the resorts.
The Yasawa Islands Budget Hotels
- Smile and Sun Homestay is a very cheap and very nice accommodation located in the southern Yasawa Islands — a smaller island called Namara. The place offers a terrace, a nice view, and a fridge and kitchenware on the premises. It also offers a nice breakfast.
- Naqalia Lodge is a family-owned affordable accommodation, once again, located on Namara Island. Don’t let the cheap price fool you because it offers a nice location on the beachfront, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, an airport shuttle, and a nice breakfast.
The Yasawa Islands Mid-Range Hotels
- Oarsman’s Bay Lodge is a decent three-star accommodation with an on-site restaurant and a bar. Like almost all the accommodations in Fiji, it has a private beach and is located on the beachfront. It’s particularly suitable for a couples vacation, and it offers tasty breakfast in the shared lounge.
- Coralview Island Resort is a not-very-expensive three-star resort located on the beachfront of the island Tavewa, offering a private beach, a restaurant, and a bar on the premises. It also has a terrace, a shared lounge, and a garden, and its family rooms offer beautiful views of the ocean.
The Yasawa Islands Luxury Hotels
- Navutu Stars Resort is a quite expensive and very luxurious four-star hotel located on the small secluded island called Yaqeta. It offers an outdoor pool, a designated private beach area, a spa and wellness center, and a bar and restaurant on the premises.
- Paradise Cove Resort is another fabulous four-star resort, this time located on Naukacuvu Island. You can reach the place either by boat or seaplane. It has no less than two swimming pools, a private beach, a bar and a restaurant, and a spa and wellness center. They can also organize an airport shuttle upon request.
2. Coral Coast
North Devon Photography/Shutterstock
Coral Coast is one of the two top locations — together with Nadi — on Fiji’s main and largest island called Viti Levu. It covers an area of nearly 80 miles along the southern coast, stretching roughly from Sigatoka to the capital Suva.
It has all of Fiji’s best characteristics: endless sandy beaches, coral reefs, and crystal clear water, along with striking tropical nature and the island’s oldest national park.
One of the main reasons that tourists choose the Coral Coast as their permanent residence is the numerous natural landmarks in the area.
The first on the list is obviously Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, located right next to the city of the same name. Established in 1989, it offers your best chance to experience the endemic flora and fauna from this part of the world.
Slightly to the east but very close to both the National Park and Sigatoka lies another, more family-friendly attraction, Kula Wild Adventure Park. It offers a more formalized and directed experience.
Two other national landmarks, which are also a must-see, are the Biausevu Waterfall (near Warwick) and the unusually large Naihehe Caves, deeper in the mainland.
Probably the best beach in Fiji is also part of the Coral Coast. Natadola Beach, to the west of Sigotaka, offers pure white sand, a lot of shade under the trees, and interesting activities like horse riding.
If you’re more into history, take a look at the pre-colonial history of Fiji through the lens of the famous Tavuni Hill Fort (near Lawai) or the interesting and interactive Vatukarasa Village.
Both of them will give you insight into Fiji’s culture and history. The accommodation options are numerous, but they’re scattered along the coast.
There are plenty of high-end resorts, a lot of three-star accommodations, but not many hotels in the budget range. Speaking plainly, the Coral Coast is a prime tourist destination for high-end visitors.
Coral Coast Budget Hotels
- Beachouse Resort is a very cheap but great three-star hotel and a quite reliable budget option on the Coral Coast. Located on the beachfront and offering a private beach, it also provides airport shuttles, air-conditioned rooms with mosquito nets, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, and a nice breakfast.
- Rainforest Eco Lodge is another cheap but nice three-star hotel located just 15 minutes away from the capital of Fiji, Suva. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, free parking and Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, a nice breakfast in the morning, and professional room service.
Coral Coast Mid-Range Hotels
- Yadua Bay Resort & Villas is a relatively inexpensive four-star resort located near the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park and right on the coral coast. It has an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, room service, and a nice breakfast every morning.
- The Pearl South Pacific Resort, Spa & Golf Course is another not-so-expensive but fabulous four-star resort with a golf course. Located next to Pacific Harbor, it also has a swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, numerous restaurants and bars on its premises, and an airport shuttle service.
Coral Coast Luxury Hotels
- InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, an IHG Hotel is a huge and super-luxurious five-star resort. Simply put, it’s one of the best accommodation options in Fiji. Offering no less than three swimming pools, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant and bar, and a beachfront location, it has all the amenities you can think of. The breakfast is quite famous too.
- Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji is another unambiguously perfect five-star resort located on the isolated Yancun Island. It has an outdoor swimming pool, a children’s playground, a nine-hole golf course, location on the beachfront, and an on-site restaurant and a bar. The accommodation offers airport shuttles too, and it’s particularly suitable for couples.
3. Nadi (Viti Levu)
Viktor Hejna/Shutterstock
We can say without any qualifications that Nadi is one of the most visited and attractive cities in Fiji. There are innumerable reasons for that, but we think that Nadi is located very close to the largest airport in the country.
And it has, by far, the largest concentration of hotels of all kinds in Viti Levu. The airport, for example, is only 15 minutes from the city by car, and that’s quite convenient for tourists from all around the world.
The other most striking and interesting thing about Nadi is that it boasts a large Indian population, as well as the largest and most beautiful Hindu temple in this part of the world.
Almost every visitor to the city has a picture of Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, and it’s truly a sight to see. Also, thanks to the well-developed and integrated Indian culture, Nadi offers innumerable Indian restaurants where you can savor their well-known recipes.
Other things worth your attention around and near the city are connected to nature.
The Garden of the Sleeping Giant offers more than 2,000 types of orchids and other beautiful plants; Denarau Beach is famous for its unusually warm water and wide and long stretches of sand; lastly, Nausori Highlands are the perfect destination for enthusiastic hikers.
In Nadi, you’ll also find an interesting combination of natural landmarks and spa treatments. Probably the most visited place is the Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool, where you’ll get to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the natural mud pools.
Tifajek Mud Pool & Hot Spring is another option and offers practically the same experience. We recommend Nadi to budget travelers without any qualification.
Because of the high level of concentration of all kinds of hotels, this city offers some of the cheapest accommodation in Fiji. Those looking for a more luxurious option won’t be disappointed too since Nadi also offers a bunch of high-end resorts.
Nadi (Viti Levu) Budget Hotels
- Capricorn International Hotel is a very cheap but also quite charming two-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. Apart from being close to the Nadi Airport, it also boasts a spa and wellness center, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, as well as free parking, free Wi-Fi, and room service.
- Sailors Beach Fiji is another very cheap but great two-star hotel, but this time, located not near the airport but right on the waterfront. It also has a swimming pool, a restaurant on the premises that offers tasty breakfast, professional room service, and decent family rooms.
Nadi (Viti Levu) Mid-Range Hotels
- Hexagon International Hotel, Villas & Spa is a perfect three-star hotel that boasts mid-range prices as well as luxury options. It has no less than two swimming pools, rooms equipped with all the amenities, a restaurant, a bar, and a spa and wellness center on its premises.
- Nalagi Hotel is another three-star (or three-and-a-half star) hotel that boasts two outdoor swimming pools. Aside from the pools, it offers a scenic view of the Nadi Bay, professional room service, facilities for disabled people, and a bar and restaurant on the premises.
Nadi (Viti Levu) Luxury Hotels
- Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji is a very luxurious four-star hotel located right on the beachfront and only 15 minutes from Nadi Airport. It offers a lush tropical garden on its premises, as well as an on-site restaurant and a bar. It, too, has no less than two large swimming pools.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island is another very luxurious four-star hotel with a garden, located on the outskirts of Nadi. Boasting a designated private beach, an outdoor swimming pool, and a restaurant and a bar on the premises, it also offers a nice breakfast in the morning and fast room service.
4. Vanua Levu
ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock
All of the places that we talked about in the previous sections are very famous destinations, and they’re usually swarming with tourists. They’re great, but they miss one thing only: the authentic feel and atmosphere of Fiji before it became a magnet for visitors from all around the world.
If you prefer something more relaxed, someplace less crowded and noisy, and you want to experience the inchoate and almost pure Fiji, make sure you take Vanua Levu as your permanent residence.
Bear in mind that it’s significantly less urban and developed in comparison to Viti Levu and its cities. You won’t find any elite hotels or luxurious resorts, or famous restaurants here — but the natural beauty and the beaches are simply perfect.
Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji, right after Viti Levu. It boasts two major settlements or cities, and you’ll probably stay in one of them since most accommodation options and restaurants are located there.
Labasa — in the northern part — is larger, with a population of around 25,000 people. Savusavu, on the other hand, is in the south, with no more than 5,000 people to its name, but it is slowly growing into a considerable tourist destination.
As we mentioned earlier, most of the activities available at Vanua Levu are connected to its natural landmarks.
The waterfalls are especially memorable, and we recommend that you take a look at the two most important: Vuadomo Village and Waterfall and Nakawaga Waterfall.
But, to be completely sincere, most of the visitors come to Vanua Levu because of the innumerable places for scuba diving and snorkeling. Because the beaches are not very crowded, and the oceans calm, it offers peace and quiet for ocean enthusiasts.
The island is not very urbanized, and there aren’t plenty of hotels, apartments, or resorts. No matter the type of accommodation you are looking for, stay close to one of the two mentioned cities.
Vanua Levu Budget Hotels
- Bay View Barbers Lodge is a very cheap but quite decent hotel that’s particularly suitable for couples. It offers a restaurant and a bar on the premises, furnished family rooms with all amenities, professional room service, an airport shuttle available, and a nice breakfast.
- Sigasiga Sands Boutique Resort is a great three-star resort located on the beachfront, with a designated private beach. There are volleyball and badminton courts on the premises. Sigasiga Sands also has an on-site restaurant, offers free parking and free Wi-Fi, and boasts speedy room service.
Vanua Levu Mid-Range Hotels
- Fiji Lodge Vosa Ni Ua is a decent accommodation located only ten minutes from the Savu Savu airport. There’s free Wi-Fi and parking on the premises of the hotel, family, non-smoking rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, and a designated area for all kinds of sports, snorkeling, and diving.
- Naveria Heights Lodge is a relatively cheap four-star resort with a nice outdoor swimming pool and a sun terrace. Some of the rooms have spa baths, and all of them offer panoramic views of the ocean. There’s a spa and wellness center and a fitness center on the premises too.
Vanua Levu Luxury Hotels
- Namale All Inclusive Resort & Spa is a very expensive and luxurious resort and definitely one of the best accommodations. It boasts a huge area offering two swimming pools, a beachfront location and a private beach, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, and a nice breakfast every morning.
- Savasi Island Resort is another great, luxurious resort that comes at a relatively low price. It has a private beach. In addition, it boasts a spa and wellness center, a free airport shuttle, an on-site bar and restaurant, and very fast room service.
So, Where Should You Stay in Fiji?
Reaching the end of this guide brings us closer to the answer to where to stay in Fiji. To leave you with a more clear-cut picture of this fantastic and beautiful country, let’s do a quick recap:
| 🏆Best for First-Time Visitors | The Yasawa Islands |
| 🥂 Most Luxurious Area | Coral Coast (Viti Levu) |
| 💸 Most Budget-Friendly area | Nadi (Viti Levu) |
| ⛱️ Best for Relaxing on the Beach | Vanua Levu |
So, with so much to see and do and technically no bad place to stay, what are you waiting for — book your trip today and experience all that Fiji has to offer!