Understand
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WARNING: Port Vila was hit hard by an earthquake in December 2024. While most tourist infrastructure is back to normal and visitors are welcome, as of March 2025, a part of the city centre remains a fenced-off Red Zone where all businesses are closed and no pedestrians and cars can enter. See the VCCI Earthquake Recovery site for maps and updates. |
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Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital, is a common starting point for tourists and divers exploring various islands, beaches and diving spots in Vanuatu. The many natural reefs and shipwrecks scattered around the country are popular with divers.
Get in
[edit]By plane
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The following airlines offer international services to Port Vila:
- Air Vanuatu from Nadi, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland
- Virgin Australia from Brisbane
- Solomon Airlines and Fiji Airways from Nadi
Local services are also available from nearby islands.
Following concern at the condition of the runway, extensive repairs have been undertaken. These were completed in December 2019.
By boat
[edit]Many cruise ships visit Port Vila and cruises are a very popular way of exploring Vanuatu and the surrounding Islands.
Get around
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By bus
[edit]In Port Vila the buses are van and mini-buses with a red B on the left side of the number plate. They largely traverse the main road take you directly to your destination. There are no scheduled services and are perhaps best thought of as cheap, but shared taxis. Wave at them to stop one heading in the direction you want to go. They are plentiful within the city and outside the city you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. If one looks full, just wait for the next one. The buses are used by locals, but are very friendly, cheap, and easy to use by tourists. Fares are usually calculated per person. The cost is usually 150 vatu per person unless you are travelling a longer distance, e.g. Mele Cascades - in which case expect to pay 200 vatu per person. There are significantly fewer buses on the road on Sundays.
By taxi
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Easily spotted by the "TAXI" sign on the roof and the "T" license plate, taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. Price is calculated by meter, and is usually around 500vt for short journeys within Port Vila, which makes them cheaper than the bus if there are 3 or more of you.
To and from the airport, there are fixed fares to most accommodations around Port Vila, which are posted on a board in the arrival section. Figure on 3000vt to the city.
By bus
[edit]Public buses, which are actually Toyota Hiace-type minivans marked with a red "B" license plate, shuttle up and down the main roads of Port Vila. They can be hailed at designated bus stops or anywhere else there's a bit of space, and for a flat fare of 150 vatu (2025), they'll take you anywhere you want to go in Port Vila (or, if you pay a bit extra, outside it). The driver chooses the route, so you may not go there in a straight line, but you'll get there eventually. Buses are by far the cheapest way to get around and quite safe.
See
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- 1 National Museum of Vanuatu. Specialises its exhibits relating to the culture and history of Vanuatu.
- 2 Evergreen Cascades Waterfall (10 kilometres outside Port Vila). Stands at a height of 35 metres and is famous for its natural pools that make it perfect spots for swimming. There are independent guided tours that lead to the cascades.
- 3 Mele Island. A small resort islet known as Hideaway Island. Offers snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. It is 15 minutes boat access from the capital. There is the world's first underwater post office, opened in 2003.
- 4 National Library. The National Library is the national library of Vanuatu, located within the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and contains about 15,000 books, serving both as a national repository for "rare and special" material, and as a lending library. It was established in April 2004.
- 5 Vanuatu Cultural Centre (Bislama: Kaljoral Senta, French: Centre Culturel du Vanuatu). A founded in 1955, and is the national cultural institution of Vanuatu.
Do
[edit]There are markets selling a variety of local goods such as fruit and vegetables. They close on Sundays unless there is a cruise ship in port.
Sport
[edit]- 1 Independence Park, Port Vila. A cricket ground which hosted the matches in the 2019 ICC Women's Qualifier EAP tournament in May 2019.
- 2 Korman Stadium. Korman Stadium is the national stadium and the home of the Vanuatu national football team and has a capacity is 6,500. Korman stadium was named for one of Vanuatu's politicians, the head of the Vanuatu Republican Party, Maxime Carlot Korman.
Buy
[edit]Port Vila is a duty free zone for tourists, so duty free alcohol and cigarettes are cheap in Port Vila. Buy your duty free before going to the airport as the airport duty free prices are slightly higher and the range not as great.
Stores cannot sell alcohol to take away between midday Saturday and Monday morning. This does not apply to bars and restaurants.
- 1 Au Bon Marché Numbatu. The largest supermarket in Vanuatu, with a wide range of expensive imports and cheap local goods, including spectacular Vanuatu beef. Also has a good wine selection and plenty of French cheese.
- 2 Port Vila Market. The main market in Port Vila. Severely damaged by the 2024 quake and closed until further notice.
- 3 Seaside Market. Small market hall, now temporarily extended to cater for the closure of the main market.
Eat
[edit]- 1 L'Houstalet, Captain Cook Ave, ☏ +678 22303. Daily 5-9PM. Likely the most famous restaurant in Vanuatu, l'Houstalet has been serving up an eclectic menu of "French Pacific" cuisine since 1973. The specialties here are lobster, coconut crab and civet de roussette, giant bat in red wine sauce. It's pricey for what you get, though, and service can be glacial. Mains 2000 VT.
Drink
[edit]Alcohol is reasonably expensive in Port Vila. Expect to pay between 300VT and 500VT for a local beer or between 400VT and 600VT for imported beers.
Sleep
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Port Vila has Vanuatu's widest range of accommodation, but most of it consists of posh resorts priced for Australian visitors on Australian budgets, meaning you're generally looking at A$300/20000+ vatu per night. Off-season (outside school holidays), long stay and package rates can be much cheaper.
The listings below cover greater Port Vila, including Mele, Pango, and the lagoons of Erakor and Emten. For listings elsewhere on the island, see Efate.
Budget
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- Paradise Cove Resort has immediate access to a very fine reef for snorkeling. Will cost about AU$20 one way to get to/from Port Vila. Note that nature may enter your bungalow in the form of ants or spiders.
- MG Cocomo Resort (Formerly Lagoon Beach Resort), Teouma Road, ☏ +678 25505, fax: +678 25515, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Beachfront, restaurant and bar, BBQ, outdoor pool, kayaks, fishing rods, beach volleyball court, playground and trampoline. Approximately US$185.
- Mangoes Resort, ☏ +678 24923, fax: +678 24037, [email protected]. Bungalows and apartments with balconies, outdoor pool. Mangoes Restaurant serves organic produce, local seafood, Santo beef and sweet treats.
- Sunset Bungalows, Teouma Road, ☏ +678 29968, fax: +678 29970, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Ten waterfront bungalows, eight lagoon view studio units and one honeymoon spa bungalow. Swimming pool, waterfall, kayaks, patanque, professional tour desk. Approximately US$150.
- Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu, Tassiriki Park, ☏ +678 22040, fax: +678 22461, [email protected]. Day Spa, nine-hole golf course, two swimming pools, kids club, tennis courts, kayaks, paddleboards, and catamarans.
Splurge
[edit]- Warwick Le Lagon, Elluk Road, Efate (Off Kumul Highway), ☏ +678 22313, [email protected]. The most popular and largest of the resorts. It has been operating for over 30 years. It offers substantial discounts for children, as a result there are lots of children here during the Australian school holidays.
- Iririki Island, ☏ +61 3 9326 6579, [email protected]. An exclusive resort situated in Port Vila's harbour. It used to be "adults only" but since 2006 it has areas that allow children. A ferry runs back and forth to the main downtown area.
- Erakor Island Resort, Erakor Lagoon (close to Le Lagon), ☏ +678 26983, [email protected]. Based on an island in the lagoon. Great snorkeling, but the bungalows have seen better days. A free ferry takes you to and from the island. Open to day trippers (2000/1000 vatu adult/child), half of which can be used as credit for food & drinks.
- Poppys on the Lagoon, Captain Cook Av, Erakor Lagoon, ☏ +678 23425, [email protected]. Set on the shores of Erakor Lagoon and provides superior self-contained accommodation. The resort is designed to take advantage of the cooling breeze of the South Pacific trade winds.
- 1 Ramada Resort Port Vila. Opened 2017, this is the newest of Port Vila's large resorts, with a private beach, three restaurants and a large pool. Walking distance to central Port Vila, but the Achilles heel is that the beach faces Erakor Lagoon, which is off limits for swimming.
Stay safe
[edit]The narrow channel of Erakor Lagoon on the east side of the city, where many large hotels are located, is contaminated with raw sewage and not safe for swimming or fishing. The bay on the west side is better, but you'll still want to stay outside the city if snorkeling off the beach is a priority.
Walking around Port Vila at night is best avoided, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.