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MyPassportStory › Destinations › Nauru
🇳🇷Things to Do in Nauru
From Anibare Bay's coastline to WWII relics at Command Ridge - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world by area, a single raised coral island that was once one of the wealthiest nations per capita on Earth due to phosphate mining - a boom now long past, leaving a mined-out interior and a genuinely unusual, low-key visitor experience. Here are 3 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Anibare Bay
One of the few sandy beach areas on Nauru's otherwise rocky coastline, with a boat harbor and a popular spot for locals and the island's small number of visitors alike.
📍 Anibare District
🚉 Nauru Airlines flies from Brisbane and Fiji to the island's single airport; Anibare Bay is 10 minutes from it on the ring road, and the whole island can be circled in half an hour.
Command Ridge
The highest point on Nauru, used as a lookout post by occupying Japanese forces during WWII, with rusting guns and bunkers still in place, and views across the entire island.
📍 Yaren District
🚉 The island's highest point, with its Japanese wartime guns and radio bunker, is a short climb from the ring road above Aiwo - a taxi or hired car covers the approach.
Nauru's Coastal Ring Road
A single road circling the island's roughly 19km perimeter, doable by car or bike in under an hour, passing most of Nauru's coastal points of interest in one loop.
📍 Island-wide
🚉 The 19km ring road is the country's only significant road and circles the entire island - buses are informal, so a hired car, a taxi or a bicycle is how visitors see it.
Mark Nauru, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Nauru?
2-3 days covers the island thoroughly given its small size - flights to Nauru are also infrequent, so trip length is often shaped by the flight schedule itself.
What's the best time to visit Nauru?
Nauru is warm and humid year-round; the wetter season typically runs November-February.
Is Nauru good for a first-time visit?
It's very off the beaten path - flights are limited and infrequent, and tourism infrastructure is minimal, so it suits travelers specifically seeking one of the world's least-visited countries.
Do I need a visa to visit Nauru?
Most nationalities need a visa arranged in advance, as Nauru does not offer visa-free entry or visas on arrival for most visitors. Check the official visa information for your nationality: naurugov.nr.
What are some things to do in Nauru on a tight budget?
Driving or cycling the coastal ring road and visiting Command Ridge cost nothing beyond transport, and local food is inexpensive - though flights to Nauru itself are a significant fixed cost given how few routes serve the island.
Can I rent a car in Nauru, and what licence do I need?
There are a small number of hire cars, usually arranged through your hotel rather than a rental desk, and they are the practical way to see the island - though the ring road is only 19km and can be cycled. A foreign licence is accepted for visits, and the minimum age is generally 21 to 25. Note that Nauru requires a visa arranged in advance for almost every nationality, which is a larger obstacle than the driving. Confirm both with your accommodation well before travelling.