SuvaCapital
Fiji · Country profile
Suva is the bustling, tropical capital of Fiji, the port city of the South Pacific that spreads across the peninsula of the south-east coast of the great island of the Viti Levu, where the mountains of the interior meet the sheltered harbour. The capital of the country since the late nineteenth century, when the British made the town the seat of the colony, it is a lively, densely built city of the markets, the colonial buildings, the universities and the waterfront, with the thick green of the hills rising directly from the streets. The municipal market, the museum of the country, the grand colonial buildings of the government quarter and the park of the heart anchor the essential visits, while the weekends crowd the bus terminal and the promenades with the people of the islands and the many cultures of the country. Warm, green and endlessly busy, Suva is the vibrant, easygoing capital of the great island nation of the Pacific.
About Suva
Suva is the capital of Fiji. The city's documented population is around 94,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Fijian Dollar (FJD) and English and Fijian are spoken; the dialling code is +679.
The Municipal Market and the Produce of the Islands
Suva is a busy, city-like capital where the essential circuit moves between the municipal market, the museum of the country and the colonial government buildings of the centre, with the parks and the seafront of the town carrying the leisure of the weekdays. The markets of the city, from the great produce market of the town to the craft and the flea markets of the centre, run the commerce of the whole region, and the museum, the grand hotel district and the multicultural temples of the capital anchor the cultural circuit. The day trips of the region reach the rainforests and the waterfalls of the interior and the islands of the nearby reef, and the whole busy delta of the capital vibrates with the cheerful, multi-ethnic energy of the Fijian nation.
The Museum of the Country and the Grand Hotel of the Town
The climate of the capital is the warm tropical, with the humid, rainy season and the cyclone risk of the southern summer, and the drier, sunnier trade-wind winter the classic pleasant season of the year. The dollar of the country is the currency, with the English, the Fijian and the Hindi the languages of the town. The market, the museum and the parks make the core circuit, and the waterfalls and the reefs of the island lie beyond the suburbs. Light cotton clothing, rain protection for the summer showers and a swimsuit complete the easy, sensible preparation for the tropical capital.
The Temples and the Town of the Capital
The municipal market of the capital, the great multi-stall market at the heart of the town, draws the whole of the region to its huge floors of the produce, its curry spices and its handicrafts, and the market day of the town, when the surrounding islands pile their yams, their cassava and their kava onto the stalls, is the most vivid scene of the capital. The museum of the country, housed in the gardens of the heart with its extraordinary displays of the Fijian canoes, the carved clubs and the teeth of the paramount, is the essential cultural gateway of the city, and the historic grand hotel of the town, the celebrated colonial landmark with its verandas and its royal palm, anchors the old civic district. The temples of the Indian community, the mosque of the market and the churches of the town give the crowded capital its deep multi-faith, multi-civilian beating heart.
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- Country
- Fiji
- Population
- 94,000
- Coordinates
- -18.1416, 178.4422
- Capital
- Suva
- Region
- Oceania
- Currency
- Fijian Dollar (FJD)
- Languages
- English, Fijian
- Calling code
- +679
- Country code
- FJ
Entry requirements for Fiji
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Fiji for tourism.
Getting to Suva
The nearest airports we list:
Cities in Fiji
Other cities we cover in Fiji:
Frequently asked questions
Is Suva the capital of Fiji?
Yes — Suva is the capital of Fiji.
What currency do I need in Suva?
The local currency is the Fijian Dollar (FJD). Languages spoken in Fiji include English and Fijian.
What is the dialling code for Fiji?
The international dialling code for Fiji is +679.
Which airport is nearest to Suva?
The nearest airport we list is Nadi International Airport (NAN), about 114 km away.
How far is Suva from the nearest airport?
Suva is about 114 km from Nadi International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Fiji?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (visa on arrival), Canada (visa on arrival), France (visa on arrival), Germany (visa on arrival) and India (visa on arrival). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Suva? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.