Port Vila

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The capital of Vanuatu on the west coast of Efate, a harbour town looking across the water to Iririki, with its international airport inside the city.

Fly to Port Vila All of Vanuatu

Arrival: Bauerfield International · VLI
To the city: About 4 km to the centre
Private jets: Customs at Bauerfield; slots required
Best time: July to September

The city

A harbour, two islands and a museum.

Port Vila grew around the country’s most important harbour, and it remains Vanuatu’s capital and its place of business. Out on the water lie two small islands: Iririki, facing the waterfront, and Ifira, home to many of the families who hold the land by custom. The Erakor Lagoon is five minutes’ drive from the centre.

The Vanuatu Cultural Centre, in front of Parliament at Saralana Park, keeps the National Museum, and the market hall is where the town comes to shop. The climate is hot and wet for most of the year; from July to September the rain eases below 100 millimetres a month and the afternoons settle at 26 to 28 °C.

The National Museum The collections of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, at Saralana Park in front of Parliament.
The market hall The town’s market, facing a painted wall on the administration building across the street.
Vila Harbour The view across to Iririki and Ifira, the two islands of the harbour.

Arriving

An airport inside the town.

Bauerfield International lies within the city, about four kilometres from the centre, and is Vanuatu’s airport of entry, with customs on site.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights Travellers from Europe, Asia or the Americas reach Port Vila by connecting through one of the Pacific’s regional hubs. Business & First fares Private Jet Private jets Business jets land at Bauerfield on a 2,600-metre runway, with customs, jet fuel and a control tower open from six in the morning to eight at night. Slots are required and handling is mandatory, so the flight is best arranged well ahead. Charter a jet

Approximate flying time by midsize jet

Nadi 1 h 35
Brisbane 2 h 45
Papeete 6 h 05
Singapore 9 h 45 long-range jet
San Francisco 12 h 30 long-range jet

When to go

July to September.

The climate is tropical and humid. From November to May the rain is heavy, around 200 millimetres a month or more, and afternoons reach 30 or 31 °C. July to September is the driest and freshest time.

31° J 316
31° F 274
31° M 321
30° A 255
29° M 210
27° J 180
26° J 94
27° A 87
28° S 87
29° O 134
29° N 192
31° D 187

Best months Bauerfield station normals (Deutscher Wetterdienst)

Where to dine

One table worth the drive.

No MICHELIN Guide covers Vanuatu. The national tourism office describes the cooking at this adults-only retreat as gourmet; in town we found no high-end table we could confirm open in 2026.

The Point Restaurant Tourist office, gourmet cuisine Seafood and local produce The Havannah, Havannah Harbour, about 25 km north-west

Elsewhere in Vanuatu

More reasons to come.

All of Vanuatu

Flying to Port Vila?

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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet