Photo: Honiara · Kahunapule Michael Johnson from Pukalani, Hawaii, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0
First-Timer Guide 🇸🇧Solomon Islands: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Solomon Islands
A typical first trip here runs about $975 to $1,325 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is a rough estimate from PINYA regional pricing, not hand-reviewed yet, and not a live price. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Poi, taro cooked and pounded to a smooth paste; served alongside fish or meat at village meals
- Kumara (sweet potato), a staple across all islands, baked, boiled, or added to stews
- Coconut-based dishes, virtually every savory dish uses fresh coconut cream as the cooking medium
- Fresh fish and shellfish, barramundi, red snapper, and giant clams are caught and eaten daily
- Betel nut, chewed ubiquitously as a mild stimulant; offered as a gesture of welcome in many communities
- Independence Day (July 7), national holiday celebrated with canoe races, traditional dances, and cultural displays in Honiara
- Traditional shell money (tafuliae), red-and-white shell disk currency from Malaita is still used in bride price ceremonies and community exchange
- War canoe races, the elaborate ornamental war canoes of the Western Province are raced at cultural festivals
- WWII dive sites, Ironbottom Sound near Guadalcanal holds dozens of sunken warships; one of the world's greatest wreck diving destinations
- Kastom villages, traditional communities on Malaita live largely unchanged, with initiation rites and ancestral practices still practiced
English is the official language, though Solomons Pijin (a Creole) is the true lingua franca between the country's 70+ language groups. English is used in government, schools, and tourism.
Learning a few Pijin phrases like "halo" (hello) and "tenkiu tumas" (thank you very much) is appreciated. Melanesian communication is often indirect, listen for contextual meaning.
- Always seek permission before photographing people or entering villages, kastom rights extend to land and cultural performances
- Remove shoes before entering homes and some community buildings
- Dress conservatively, bikinis and shorts are only appropriate at resort beaches; cover up when moving through town or visiting villages
- The islands are deeply Christian, Sunday activities are limited and silence during church hours is respected
Best Time to Visit
The Solomon Islands are warm and humid year-round; the drier season is the more comfortable time to visit, while the wetter months bring more rain.
- Peak: May to October
- Shoulder: April, November
- Off season: December to March, the wetter months
Source: met.gov.sb
Getting Around
- Domestic flights link the provinces.
- Boats connect nearby islands.
- Honiara has taxis and buses.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: Remote lodges and domestic flights drive the largest costs, and the dry season is the busiest.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit the Solomon Islands?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is the Solomon Islands safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Solomon Islands
Updates for Solomon Islands will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.