Country book · Oceania

Fiji

Warmth as a way of life, not a slogan

Fiji's 330-plus islands are known worldwide for genuine hospitality — 'Bula!' greets you everywhere — alongside coral reefs, kava ceremonies and a rich mix of Indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian culture.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

Hospitality really is a core cultural value, not marketing
The 'Bula spirit' of warm greeting and generosity is instilled from childhood and genuinely shapes daily interactions.
Rugby sevens is a genuine national obsession
Fiji's Olympic gold medals in rugby sevens are treated as some of the country's proudest modern achievements.
Kava ceremony is a real social institution
Sharing yaqona (kava) in a bowl with village elders remains a serious, respected ritual for welcoming guests and making decisions.
Indo-Fijians form a large, distinct part of the population
Descendants of Indian indentured labourers brought under British rule make up close to 40% of Fiji's population, with their own temples and cuisine.

Commonly believed, wrong

"All of Fiji is remote and undeveloped"
Suva is a genuine small city with universities, malls and a busy port, distinct from the resort islands most tourists see.
"It's a single homogenous island"
Fiji is an archipelago of over 330 islands, only about a third of which are inhabited.
"Everyone lives on resort islands like the ones in ads"
Most Fijians live in villages or in Suva and Nadi, quite separate from the luxury resort islands marketed to tourists.
"Fijian and Indo-Fijian cultures are the same"
They maintain genuinely distinct languages, religions and cuisines that coexist within the same small nation.

Highlights

The best of Fiji

The Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands

Postcard-perfect white sand and turquoise lagoons, a short boat ride from the mainland.

Traditional village kava ceremonies

A genuine cultural exchange, sharing the earthy, mildly numbing drink with village hosts.

World-class diving at the Great Astrolabe Reef

One of the largest barrier reefs in the world, teeming with soft coral and manta rays.

Suva's markets and museum

A real working capital with a lively produce market and the Fiji Museum's war-canoe history.

Culture

Cultural riches

Meke dance and storytelling

Traditional Fijian dance combining chant, song and movement to tell village and ancestral stories.

Rugby sevens as identity

Fiji's 2016 Olympic gold in rugby sevens is celebrated as the country's greatest sporting moment.

Village communal life

Land is largely communally owned, and village council decisions still shape much of rural daily life.

Diwali and Hindu festivals

Fiji's large Indo-Fijian population celebrates Diwali nationally, alongside Christian and Indigenous festivals.

Food

What to eat

Kokoda

Fiji's answer to ceviche — raw fish marinated in citrus and coconut milk with chilli and vegetables.

Lovo

An earth-oven feast of meat, fish and root vegetables wrapped in banana leaves, cooked over hot stones.

Rourou

Taro leaves cooked in coconut cream, often with corned beef or fish.

Roti and curry

Indo-Fijian curries and flatbread reflect the country's large Indian-descended community.

Cassava and dalo (taro)

Staple root vegetables served boiled or roasted alongside almost every traditional meal.

History

Important people in history

Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara

1970–1992

Fiji's founding prime minister, who led the country to independence from Britain in 1970.

Ratu Sir Josefa Iloilo

2000–2009

President during a turbulent political period, respected as a stabilising traditional chiefly figure.

Cities