Money and payments
Cards and cash
Cash transactions are the norm; credit and debit cards are rarely accepted.
Tipping
Bargaining or tipping are not done on Nauru.
//
Oceania · MicronesiaDetailed guideIsland country in Oceania
Photo: d-online, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Nauru, officially the Republic of Naoero (pronounced NOW-air-oh), is a small island in the South Pacific Ocean south of the Marshall Islands. It is the world's smallest independent republic and third-smallest country by area; only Monaco and the Vatican City are smaller. An off-the-beaten-track destination if there ever was one, Nauru is also one of the least visited countries in the world, with about only 200 tourists a year. The remoteness and the fact that much of the island is a charmless open phosphate mine are two strong reasons for this.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Nauru.
Cards and cash
Cash transactions are the norm; credit and debit cards are rarely accepted.
Tipping
Bargaining or tipping are not done on Nauru.
English, Nauru
The official languages are Nauruan, a distinct Pacific Island language, as well as English.
You may need to buy a SIM card from the local operator Digicel if your home operator doesn't have a roaming contract with Nauru.
You should avoid tap water.
Water supply in Nauru is dependent on rainwater collected into tanks from the roofs of houses and from an aging reverse osmosis desalination plant. You should avoid tap water.
Nauru is a predominantly Christian country, and Christian values and rules of conduct apply.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Public transport and paid services in Nauru.
By public transport
There is a community or island bus which travels around the island every hour or so during the day. It costs 50 cents per trip around the island.
By car
Nauru is so small that it takes less than one hour to drive right around it. The 19-km Island Ring Road circles the island and is paved — however this is not the case for most of the inland roads.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Nauru.
Finding apps for Nauru…
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Yaren · Regional · INU
Loading places around the airport…
Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Yaren
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 29° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° |
| Avg. low | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 194 | 192 | 193 | 161 | 116 | 107 | 122 | 118 | 108 | 118 | 133 | 202 |
| Humidity | 80% | 81% | 82% | 82% | 81% | 79% | 79% | 78% | 78% | 78% | 77% | 80% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$75
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$200
Per person, per day
Luxury
$515
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $35 | $110 | $300 |
| Food and drink | $20 | $45 | $105 |
| Local transport | $10 | $20 | $45 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $65 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2021). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
—
We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Nauru. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Nauru If you decide to travel to Nauru: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Nauru. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler s Checklist.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel: check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator review your travel insurance policy for coverage monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Nauru.
Culture & historyThe Pacific War was a theatre of World War II including East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, separate from World War II in Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsFor the danger posed by landmines, see War zone safety. This is a travel topic that deals with all man-made structures under and above ground whose primary purpose is or was the extraction of natural resources as well…
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsAre the Galapagos Islands, Svalbard or Yakutsk not exotic enough? Perhaps then you should try to reach destinations you can be quite sure nobody you know has ever visited – places that are almost impossible to reach.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyWhether they're unusually short, unusually long, sound like a naughty English word, or are just plain silly, places with unusual names can be fun destinations.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.