Visit Nauru: planning a trip to the world's smallest republic

At 21 square kilometres, Nauru can be circled in under an hour on its coastal road. Behind the belt of coconut palms, the central plateau shaped by more than a century of phosphate mining offers a landscape like no other, with coral pinnacles, Japanese relics and ocean views.

Why visit Nauru?

Nauru, an isolated coral island in the central Pacific, has no official capital: Parliament and the main government offices are in the district of Yaren. Visitors come mostly out of curiosity, to see the pinnacles left by phosphate mining, circle an entire republic in a day and meet a population of about 12,000.

What to discover in Nauru?

The coastal belt and the island loop

A road of about twenty kilometres circles the whole island, following the coastal strip where most of the population lives. By bike, allow half a day with stops: Anibare Bay in the east, the districts of Yaren and Aiwo, and the old phosphate port facilities. Swimming is limited to the few reef passages at high tide, as the coral flat is largely exposed at low tide and currents are strong beyond it.

Topside, the phosphate plateau

The central plateau, known as Topside, covers most of the island and has been mined for phosphate since the early 20th century. What remains is a landscape of grey limestone pinnacles with little vegetation, striking but hard going on foot. At Command Ridge, the island's highest point at about 70 metres, a Japanese gun and bunkers from the Second World War still stand. Half a day with a local is enough, with sturdy shoes and water.

Buada and regional connections

Buada Lagoon, a small body of brackish water ringed with coconut palms, is one of the few green spots in the interior, a few minutes' drive from the coast. Stays usually last three or four nights, timed around Nauru Airlines flights from Brisbane, in Australia. The same airline serves other Pacific islands, including Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, making it possible to fit Nauru into a circuit of several micro-states.

Cities to visit in Nauru

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Not to miss in Nauru

Three places are enough to get the measure of an island you can cross in a few minutes.

Command Ridge

The island's highest point, where a Japanese gun and Second World War bunkers overlook the mining plateau and the ocean all around.

Anibare Bay

The island's finest beach, on the east coast, with pale sand and turquoise water, though swimming is best kept for calm days.

Moqua Well

An underground freshwater lake in Yaren district, long a water source for islanders, best explored with a local guide who knows the cave.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to go around Nauru?
About 30 to 45 minutes by car without stopping, as the coastal road is around twenty kilometres long. By bike, allow half a day with breaks at Anibare Bay and Yaren. You can even walk the loop in a day, setting off early to avoid the heat.
Why is a Nauru visa hard to get?
Nauru receives very few tourists and requires a visa issued in advance for most nationalities, including EU citizens. Applications go through the country's immigration services and usually require a confirmed hotel booking. Processing can be slow: start the paperwork several weeks before departure.
What is left of phosphate mining on Nauru?
Mining, which began in the early 20th century, has left most of the central plateau covered in limestone pinnacles, and extraction continues on a smaller scale. Its revenue made Nauru one of the richest countries per capita in the 1970s, before a sharp economic decline.
Can you see Japanese relics on Nauru?
Yes, the island was occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. A gun and bunkers can be seen at Command Ridge, on the plateau, and other fortifications remain near the coast. A local can take you there, as the mining tracks are not signposted.
How can you combine Nauru with other Pacific countries?
Nauru Airlines links Brisbane with Nauru and extends some rotations to other Pacific islands, such as Tarawa, Majuro or Fiji, depending on schedules. A multi-country circuit is therefore possible, provided you accept weekly frequencies and check connections carefully.
Where can you swim safely on Nauru?
Anibare Bay, in the east, is the most pleasant beach, but the sea there is often rough. Elsewhere, the reef is exposed at low tide and forms a shallow flat. Swim at high tide in passages known to locals and never venture beyond the reef edge.
Why does Nauru have no official capital?
No law designates a capital. Parliament, government offices and the international airport are all in the district of Yaren, which therefore plays that role in practice. On an island of 21 square kilometres, the distinction is mostly symbolic.

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