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Port Vila Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: relaxed Laid-back Tropical Scenic Authentic
Ideal trip length
4–10 days
Busiest
May-October

Updated September 2026

Port Vila

About Port Vila

Port Vila opens onto tropical island life, with reef waters, rainforest and Pacific culture shaping the capital of Vanuatu on Efate Island.

Laid-back Port Vila centers on a scenic waterfront, where island rhythms meet markets, French and Melanesian influences, and seafood stalls.

Port Vila Market brings fresh produce and local dishes, while Mele Cascades and the Vanuatu Jungle Zipline lead into the surrounding rainforest; Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary adds snorkeling and diving offshore. Most stays run four to ten days, with Waterfront & Central Port Vila offering the easiest base for reaching Mele and sampling laplap or tuluk.

Where to stay

Hotels in Port Vila

Book direct on our own Port Vila hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Port Vila

Places to stay in Port Vila

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 78 of 81 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 11 hotels qualify

  1. Erakor Island Resort & Spa8.8/10 · 95 reviews · 4-star
  2. Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila8.5/10 · 219 reviews
  3. Nasama Resort8.3/10 · 181 reviews · 4-star
  4. Breakas Beach Resort7.8/10 · 230 reviews · 4-star
  5. Grand Hotel & Casino7.8/10 · 180 reviews · 4-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 27 hotels qualify

  1. M Resort & Spa9.7/10 · 50 reviews
  2. Eratap Beach Resort9.6/10 · 70 reviews · 5-star
  3. Paradise Cove Resort9.4/10 · 80 reviews · 4-star
  4. South Pacific Memories9.3/10 · 54 reviews · 4-star
  5. Tamanu on the Beach9.3/10 · 66 reviews

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 29 hotels qualify

  1. Mariner Apartments8.8/10 · 84 reviews · 4-star
  2. Pacific Lagoon Apartments8.7/10 · 113 reviews · 4-star
  3. Waves at Surfside8.7/10 · 60 reviews · 4-star
  4. Vanuatu Beachfront Apartments8.6/10 · 108 reviews · 4-star
  5. Retreat Seaside8.5/10 · 124 reviews · 3-star

Port Vila at a glance

Check-in / check-out
2:00 PM / 11:00 AM
Free parking
71 of 74 hotels (96%)
Pool
51 of 78 hotels
Climate
Tropical
Languages
Bislama, English and French
Local currency
VUV (VUV)
Local time
(GMT+11)
Ideal trip length
4–10 days
Cost level
3 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Waterfront & Central Port Vila
Tap water
Bottled water recommended
Tipping
Not customary, but appreciated for good service

History, culture and food in Port Vila

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 70 · Good

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

Laplap Tuluk Coconut Crab Fresh Seafood

Hotel facts in Port Vila

Based on 78 of 81 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking71 of 7496%
Swimming pool51 of 7865%
24-hour front desk20 of 7826%
Facilities for disabled guests10 of 7813%
Family rooms15 of 7819%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate1 of 781%
Kitchen or kitchenette16 of 7821%
Airport shuttle2 free46 of 7859%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
3-star15 of 2125 m²usually 18 m²–37 m² · 13 hotels
4-star24 of 3036 m²usually 28 m²–40 m² · 12 hotels

When to visit Port Vila

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: July, August and September Busiest: May-October
  1. Jan
    0

    Often avoided: heavy rain and cyclone-season weather

  2. Feb
    0

    Often avoided: heavy rain and cyclone-season weather

  3. Mar
    0

    Often avoided: heavy rain and cyclone-season weather

  4. Apr
    14

    Rainy (240 mm)

  5. May
    27

    Rainy (168 mm)

  6. Jun
    41

    Rainy (160 mm)

  7. Jul
    53

    Vanuatu Independence Day

  8. Aug
    50

    Drier travel weather

  9. Sep
    50

    Drier travel weather

  10. Oct
    44

    Vanuatu Constitution Day (rainy (154 mm))

  11. Nov
    29

    Rainy (174 mm)

  12. Dec
    39

    Rainy (173 mm)

Things to do in Port Vila

7 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

3 places

Port Vila Market

Central Port Vila 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Mele Cascades & Waterfall

Mele 3 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Various 4 hours

Outdoors

Best in the afternoon

2 places

Ekasup Cultural Village

Ekasup 2.5 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Blue Lagoon

East Efate 3 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Any time of day

2 places

Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary

Mele 4 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Vanuatu Jungle Zipline

Mele 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Port Vila itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
3 Days in Port Vila — First-Timer Highlights
First-timer highlights

3 Days in Port Vila — First-Timer Highlights

3 days11 stops

Discover the vibrant culture, stunning nature, and relaxed island charm of Vanuatu's capital.

Things to book

Tours and activities in Port Vila

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Port Vila

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

Laplap 95 · Outstanding
Tuluk 87 · Outstanding
Coconut Crab 78 · Very good
Fresh Seafood 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Port Vila Market 95 · Outstanding
Mele Cascades & Waterfall 91 · Outstanding
Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary 87 · Outstanding
Ekasup Cultural Village 83 · Very good
Blue Lagoon 78 · Very good
Vanuatu Jungle Zipline 74 · Good
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling 70 · Good

Who it suits

Couples 95 · Outstanding
Families 90 · Outstanding
Friends 85 · Outstanding
Adventure 80 · Very good
Nature 75 · Very good
Budget 70 · Good

Planning tips

Carry Vatu for local markets and smaller vendors. 95 · Outstanding
Respect local customs and dress modestly when visiting villages. 83 · Very good
Stay hydrated and use strong sun protection due to the tropical climate. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Getaways from Port Vila

Places people from Port Vila travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Port Vila

How many places to stay are there in Port Vila?

There are 83 hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Port Vila. They include 16 hotels and 10 apartments.

When is the peak season in Port Vila?

The peak season in Port Vila is May-October.

Which area is a good base in Port Vila?

The travel guide suggests staying in Waterfront & Central Port Vila when visiting Port Vila.

Are there tours and activities in Port Vila?

Yes, 45 tours and activities are listed in Port Vila.

How many hotels in Port Vila have free parking?

71 of the 74 hotels in Port Vila with verified parking details list free parking (96%). 1 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Port Vila?

2:00 PM at 41 of the 69 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (17 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Port Vila?

11:00 AM at 36 of 73 hotels with a verified check-out time; 10:00 AM at 29.

How many hotels in Port Vila have a pool?

51 of 78 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.