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🇸🇧Things to Do in Solomon Islands
From WWII wrecks off Guadalcanal to the vast Marovo Lagoon - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
The Solomon Islands sits at the heart of some of the fiercest WWII Pacific fighting, and the wrecks of ships and planes lost during the Guadalcanal campaign still lie in its waters, making it one of the world's most significant wreck-diving destinations. Beyond the history, the Solomons hold vast lagoon systems and traditional island life largely untouched by mass tourism. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Iron Bottom Sound, Guadalcanal
Named for the dozens of WWII warships and aircraft sunk here during the naval battles of the Guadalcanal campaign, now a major wreck-diving destination.
📍 Guadalcanal
🚉 The wreck-strewn sound is dived from Honiara, with boats leaving the waterfront - Bonegi and the Hirokawa Maru are shore dives 12km west of town on the coastal road.
Marovo Lagoon
One of the largest saltwater lagoon systems in the world, ringed by double barrier reefs and traditional villages, with excellent snorkeling and diving.
📍 Western Province
🚉 Solomon Airlines flies from Honiara to Seghe in about an hour, and lodges collect guests by boat; the alternative is the overnight passenger ship from Honiara, which takes about 20 hours.
Skull Island
A small island in the Western Province holding a shrine of ancestral skulls tied to the region's headhunting history, visitable with a local guide's permission and explanation.
📍 Western Province
🚉 The shrine islet is in the Vonavona lagoon near Munda, reached by outboard canoe in about 30 minutes with a local guide, who is required to enter the site.
Honiara
The Solomon Islands' capital, with WWII memorials, a National Museum covering the country's cultural history, and a lively central market.
📍 Honiara, Guadalcanal
🚉 The capital has no formal bus network: shared minibuses run the single coastal road for a flat fare, and taxis cover the rest - the airport is 11km east of the centre.
Mark Solomon Islands, get the stamp
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Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in the Solomon Islands?
A week covers Honiara's WWII sites and a few days in one lagoon area; 10 days or more allows time to reach the more remote Western Province diving sites.
What's the best time to visit the Solomon Islands?
April-November is the drier season and generally the more comfortable time to visit. The wet season and cyclone risk run roughly December-March.
Is the Solomon Islands good for a first-time visit?
It's more suited to travelers comfortable with basic infrastructure and inter-island logistics - Honiara has established tourism services, but reaching the outer lagoons takes more planning.
Do I need a visa to visit the Solomon Islands?
Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or visit visa-free for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: commerce.gov.sb.
What are some things to do in the Solomon Islands on a tight budget?
Snorkeling the lagoons with your own gear and visiting Honiara's WWII memorials and museum cost little, though wreck diving and remote lagoon lodges add up quickly given the logistics involved.
Can I rent a car in the Solomon Islands, and what licence do I need?
You can on Guadalcanal, and it helps for the wartime sites along the coast road - but the country is nearly a thousand islands, and almost everything else is reached by plane or boat. A foreign licence is accepted for visits of up to three months, with an International Driving Permit recommended alongside a licence not in English; the minimum age is generally 25. Traffic drives on the left, and roads outside Honiara are unsealed. Confirm current arrangements with your accommodation, as rental fleets are small.