Travel tips · Fiji
Fiji travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: KhufuOsiris, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Fiji's population is mainly iTaukei (Indigenous Fijians) and Indo-Fijians, descendants of plantation labourers, with Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities. Village life is organised around chiefs, extended families and church, and visitors are welcomed warmly with 'bula'. Respecting village customs — gifts of kava root, modest dress and no hats — matters more than any formal etiquette.
Key facts
- Language
- English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi
- Currency
- FJD
- Plugs
- Type I sockets (as in Australia and New Zealand), 240 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in Nadi, Suva and many resorts is treated, but many visitors prefer…
- Emergency
- 911 (ambulance and fire); 917 (police)
Things to know
- When visiting a village, bring a bundle of yaqona (kava root) as a sevusevu gift for the chief or headman; your guide will present it.
- Remove hats and sunglasses in villages; wearing a hat is considered an insult to the chief.
- Never touch someone's head, which is regarded as sacred.
- Cover shoulders and knees in villages; wear or borrow a sulu (sarong).
- Remove shoes before entering homes and temples, and sit cross-legged on the floor in a bure.
- Sunday is for church and rest in villages; keep noise and activities low-key.
- Book Beqa Lagoon shark dive ahead: Dives run on set days and fill up in peak season; book in advance with a dive operator.
- Island resorts charge for compulsory meal plans; compare the total cost, not just the room rate.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Fiji. Many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box for a collective tip if you wish to reward good service.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bula | Hello / welcome / life |
| Vinaka | Thank you |
| Vinaka vakalevu | Thank you very much |
| Moce | Goodbye (pronounced 'mo-thay') |
| Io | Yes |
| Sega | No |
| Kerekere | Please |
| Namaste | Hello (Indo-Fijian greeting) |
What to wear
Beachwear is fine at resorts, but cover up in towns and villages: a sulu or knee-length shorts and a T-shirt. Reef shoes help on coral beaches.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type I sockets (as in Australia and New Zealand), 240 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water in Nadi, Suva and many resorts is treated, but many visitors prefer bottled or filtered water, and outer islands often use rainwater.
- Emergency number
- 911 (ambulance and fire); 917 (police)
- Phone and internet
- Local SIM cards from Vodafone Fiji and Digicel are sold at Nadi airport; resort Wi-Fi is common but can be slow, and coverage is limited on remote islands.
- Time zone
- Pacific/Fiji
The main risks are sun, coral cuts and currents near reef passages; swim where resorts advise and wear reef shoes. Cyclones are possible from November to April, so follow official warnings. In Nadi and Suva, watch for street touts and petty theft after dark.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Fiji's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Fiji?
Tipping is not expected in Fiji. Many resorts have a staff Christmas fund box for a collective tip if you wish to reward good service.
+Can you drink the tap water in Fiji?
Tap water in Nadi, Suva and many resorts is treated, but many visitors prefer bottled or filtered water, and outer islands often use rainwater.
+What plugs are used in Fiji?
Type I sockets (as in Australia and New Zealand), 240 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Fiji?
English, Fijian and Fiji Hindi.