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Capital and largest city of Vanuatu
Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Vanuatu Cultural Centre
Dusty exhibits relating to the culture and history of Vanuatu. There are often live demonstrations of sand drawing.
Mele Cascades
Stands at a height of 35 metres and is famous for its natural pools that make it perfect spots for swimming. There are independent guided tours that lead to the cascades.
Mele Island
A small resort islet known as Hideaway Island. Offers snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. 24/7 ferry service from Mele Pier, next to the Beach Bar. Famed for the world's first underwater post office, opened in 2003 at a depth of 3m offshore.
The National Library is the national library of Vanuatu, located within the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and contains about 15,000 books, serving both as a national repository for "rare and special" material, and as a lending library. It was established in April 2004.
Pretty beach at the far end of the Pango peninsula. Decent snorkelling at a coral reef just offshore, but exposed to ocean waves at high tide. Basic showers, toilets and changing rooms. Bring reef shoes, food and water.
One of Vanuatu's largest and best-regarded dive shops. Full range of PADI courses, including instructor development training.
A cricket ground which hosted the matches in the 2019 ICC Women's Qualifier EAP tournament in May 2019.
Korman Stadium is the national stadium and the home of the Vanuatu national football team and has a capacity is 6,500. Korman stadium was named for one of Vanuatu's politicians, the head of the Vanuatu Republican Party, Maxime Carlot Korman.
Hunanese home cooking by Chinese for Chinese that doesn't pull its punches on the chillies. Try the braised hongshao pork belly (Chairman Mao's favorite dish), the steamed fresh snapper or the daily rice bowls. Cash only.
Possibly the only sit-down restaurant in all of Vanuatu that serves a (slightly jazzed up) version of actual Ni-Vanuatu food in a lovely, rustic courtyard overflowing with greenery. Curries, ribs, steaks and tuna served with your choice of yam, manioc, taro or kumala. In addition, the Farmacy cafe here serves up coffee, smoothies and breakfast favorites.
Casual garden restaurant that serves up the best tacos in Vanuatu, although this is admittedly not a terribly lofty bar. 500 VT tacos and 1000 VT margaritas on Taco Tuesday.
Likely the most famous restaurant in Vanuatu, l'Houstalet has been serving up an eclectic menu of "French Pacific" cuisine since 1973. The specialties here are lobster, coconut crab and civet de roussette, giant bat in red wine sauce. It's pricey for what you get, though, and service can be glacial.
Often ranked as Port Vila's top restaurant, the concept here is simple: steaks of premium Vanuatu beef that you grill to your liking on a sizzling hot stone. Basic steaks from under 2000 VT, but wagyu will set you back closer to 5000 VT.
Your classic barefoot beachside bar right on the dark volcanic sands of Mele Bay, with cold beer and mediocre pub grub (pizzas, burgers). The main draw here is the rather impressive fire show held every Friday; book ahead in season if you want a table, and prearrange your transport back to town.
Basic motel rooms and a mixed dormitory. Pool, air-con.
Formerly Lagoon Beach Resort
Beachfront, restaurant and bar, BBQ, outdoor pool, kayaks, fishing rods, beach volleyball court, playground and trampoline.
Bungalows and apartments with balconies, outdoor pool. Mangoes Restaurant serves organic produce, local seafood, Santo beef and sweet treats.
Ten waterfront bungalows, eight lagoon view studio units and one honeymoon spa bungalow. Swimming pool, waterfall, kayaks, patanque, professional tour desk.
Vanuatu's largest hotel, in a 1970s-vintage concrete block. Day Spa, nine-hole golf course, two swimming pools, kids club, tennis courts, kayaks, paddleboards, and catamarans.
Opened 1969, this was the first major resort to open in Vanuatu, set on sprawling grounds on the shores of Erakor Lagoon. Very popular among families.
A resort in Port Vila's harbour. It has areas that allow children. A ferry runs back and forth to the main downtown area.
Based on an island in the lagoon. Great snorkeling, but the bungalows have seen better days. A free ferry takes you to and from the island. Open to day trippers (2000/1000 VT adult/child), half of which can be used as credit for food & drinks.
Set on the shores of Erakor Lagoon and provides superior self-contained accommodation. The resort is designed to take advantage of the cooling breeze of the South Pacific trade winds.
Opened 2017, this is the newest of Port Vila's large resorts, with a private beach, three restaurants and a large pool. Walking distance to central Port Vila, but the Achilles heel is that the beach faces Erakor Lagoon, which is off limits for swimming.
Tucked away at the quiet far end of the Pango peninsula, the beautifully manicured French-run Paradise Cove has only 10 villas, a small pool and above all direct access to a fine sheltered snorkeling reef. The downside to the tranquility is that there is nothing within walking distance and the French-inspired restaurant, while tasty, charges like a wounded bull (mains 4000 VT).
The largest supermarket in Vanuatu, with a wide range of expensive imports and some local goods, including spectacular Vanuatu beef. Also has a decent wine selection and French cheese.
Vanuatu's only modern shopping mall worthy of the name. 20 rather upmarket shops, cinema, French bakery-cafe, decent food court.
The main market in Port Vila, which mostly sells fruits and vegetables. A great place to sample tropical fruit, but get here early since most places close or run out by noon. There are also some affordable local lunch options.
By boat
Many cruise ships visit Port Vila and cruises are a very popular way of exploring Vanuatu and the surrounding Islands.
By bus
Buses in Port Vila are really shared taxis: Toyota Hiace-type minivans with red "B" license plates, they shuttle up and down the main roads of Port Vila.
By taxi
Easily spotted by the "TAXI" sign on the roof and the "T" license plate, there are much fewer taxis than buses on the road.
By rental car
In addition to the usual suspects (Hertz, Europcar, Avis etc), World Rental Car rents out cars from 10,000 VT/day.
By scooter or bike
E-Bikes Vanuatu rents out e-bikes (A$55/day), mopeds (A$95/day) and scooters (A$35/day). Pickup/dropoff service available.
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Port Vila · International · VLI
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