Why is Palau worth visiting?
Palau is one of the most species-rich diving destinations on Earth: sharks, manta rays, and over 1,300 fish species live in reefs around roughly 500 mostly uninhabited limestone islands. Since 1 January 2020, 80% of its territorial waters have been under a complete fishing ban as a marine sanctuary, and every visitor signs an environmental pledge, the "Palau Pledge", on entry.
The Republic of Palau lies in western Micronesia, around 800 km east of the Philippines, on the boundary between the western and central Pacific. Constitutionally, Palau has been sovereign since independence in 1994 and is in a Compact of Free Association with the US, which remains responsible for defense.
Figures that change over time – fees, entry rules, flight schedules – reflect the state as of September 2026.
What is Palau like as a travel destination?
Palau has stayed manageable in scale as a tourism destination: around 20,500 people live in the country, more than half of them in and around the former capital Koror. The country deliberately caters to divers and nature-minded travelers rather than mass tourism – long sandy beaches are hard to find on most of the main islands.
Palau is administered across 16 states under a presidential republic; the seat of government has been Ngerulmud on the main island of Babeldaob since 2006, while Koror, with around 12,700 residents, remains the economic and tourist center.
Before the Spanish, German, Japanese, and finally American colonial periods, the islands were home to matrilineally organized clans, whose council structures still exist today alongside the modern government. The period of Japanese administration (1914–1944) left visible traces – from street names to the sashimi cuisine still widespread today.
Economically, Palau has leaned even more heavily on ecotourism since closing 80% of its waters to commercial fishing in 2020: dive shops, small guesthouses, and liveaboard boats define the offering, while large resort chains remain the exception.
What belongs on a tour of Palau?
Practically every trip begins in Koror, the only town with notable infrastructure, and continues by boat into the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. Travelers staying longer add the WWII battle sites on Peleliu and Angaur in the south, as well as the main island of Babeldaob in the north with its rainforest, waterfalls, and archaeological sites.
Koror and the Rock Islands
Koror is the starting point for almost all boat tours: most dive shops, restaurants, and Palau's only notable nightlife are here. From here it's 30 to 60 minutes by boat to the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012 with 445 uninhabited, densely forested limestone islands of volcanic origin covering around 100,000 hectares.
Within the Rock Islands lies Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau, "fifth lake"), one of around 70 marine lakes in the lagoon, but the only one open to visitors. According to estimates by the Coral Reef Research Foundation, up to 5 million endemic golden jellyfish swim there, having largely lost their sting through isolation from the open sea, and follow the sun's position across the lake every day.
Visiting the Rock Islands requires a permit from the Koror State Government: the Rock Island Permit costs USD 50 and is valid for 10 days, a separate Jellyfish Lake permit costs around USD 100, and dives are charged an additional daily fee. All permits must be carried during the tour and shown on request.
Blue Corner, German Channel, and the dive spots
Blue Corner is Palau's best-known drift dive: at a protruding reef edge, divers hold on with reef hooks while grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and bigeye jacks stream past in the current. At the German Channel, a reef passage blasted open by German colonial authorities, manta rays are regularly encountered at their cleaning stations, mainly from November to May.
Other fixtures include the Ulong Channel with its drift dive through a reef corridor, and the colorful Milky Way lagoon, whose fine white limestone mud on the bottom is traditionally used for skin treatments and gives the water its turquoise hue.
Peleliu and Angaur
On Peleliu, a good two hours by boat south of Koror, one of the most costly battles of the Pacific War raged from September to November 1944: the US 1st Marine Division fought its way through a network of over 500 Japanese caves and tunnels; the island was only declared secure after 74 days, with nearly 1,800 US soldiers killed and over 8,000 wounded or missing. Tank wrecks such as the Sherman tank "Flyin' Home" still lie in the jungle today, alongside caves with Shinto memorial stones and the Peleliu WWII Memorial Museum.
Neighboring Angaur is known for its wild rhesus macaques, introduced during the German colonial period, and for its quiet beaches, and is visited far less often than Peleliu.
Babeldaob – the main island
Babeldaob, at around 331 km², is Palau's largest island, but barely developed for tourism. The ring road ("Compact Road"), completed in 2007, connects the island's ten states and makes trips to the Ngardmau Waterfall possible – at around 30 m, Palau's highest waterfall, reachable via a 20- to 30-minute jungle trail or a former Japanese bauxite railway.
In the north lie the Badrulchau monoliths: 52 basalt stones arranged in two rows, some with carved faces, which according to tradition served as support pillars for a huge traditional meeting house (bai) and are estimated to be around 1,900 years old.
The outer atolls
Far to the southwest lie the rarely visited atolls of Kayangel, Sonsorol, and Hatohobei: without a regular ferry connection and with only irregular charter flights, they are practically accessible only to travelers with plenty of time and their own boat arrangements.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Koror State Government · The National WWII Museum · Lonely Planet
When is the best time to visit Palau?
It is driest from February to April, when on average around 180 to 200 mm of rain falls per month; from May to November rainfall increases significantly, peaking at around 375 mm in July. Water temperature stays at 28 to 30°C year-round, and diving is possible all year.
Koror: average daily high and low temperatures and monthly rainfall
| Koror | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Rainfall mm | 216 | 197 | 183 | 177 | 279 | 331 | 375 | 303 | 284 | 236 | 239 | 246 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station BABELTHUAP/KOROR AIRPORT (8 km, 54 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Official sources differ slightly on typhoon risk: Germany's Federal Foreign Office cites an elevated risk between June and November, while Austria's foreign ministry classifies Palau as outside the actual typhoon belt. In practice, Palau lies at the extreme southern edge of typhoon tracks and is hit less often and less severely than the more northerly parts of Micronesia – but a typhoon in the second half of the year cannot be ruled out.
For manta rays at the German Channel, November to May is considered the most reliable time at the cleaning stations, while visibility at many outer reefs is best during the drier months of February to April.
Water temperature varies little: it stays between 28 and 30°C year-round, so a wetsuit in Palau mainly protects against coral contact and jellyfish rather than cold. Rain showers in the wetter half of the year are usually short and heavy, followed by sun – all-day continuous rain is the exception even in July.
Travelers planning both Peleliu excursions and boat snorkeling should, where possible, avoid the wettest months of June to August, when boat trips occasionally get cancelled due to rough seas.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
What do you need to enter Palau?
Swiss, German, and Austrian nationals do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but do need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the trip. On arrival, the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee of USD 100 is additionally due, and every visitor signs the "Palau Pledge" directly in their passport.
Accepted travel documents are a passport, a temporary passport, and a children's passport; according to the Federal Foreign Office, a national ID card is not sufficient. A return ticket and sufficient funds for the stay must also be shown.
The Palau Pledge is the world's first environmentally themed entry commitment: instead of an ordinary entry stamp, every person receives an oath, stamped into their passport and addressed to Palau's children, to "tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully." Violations can, by law, be punished with fines of up to USD 1 million; since 2020, a ban on reef-toxic sunscreens, legislated back in 2018, has also been in force.
Only the official bodies are authoritative: the Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA, and Palau's immigration authority. Switzerland has no representation of its own on the ground; the Swiss embassy in the Philippines is responsible.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · National Geographic
What vaccinations and precautions does Palau require?
No vaccination is mandatory for direct entry; the CDC recommends hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid for most travelers in addition to standard vaccinations. Malaria does not occur in Palau, but dengue and Zika are transmitted by mosquitoes and require consistent mosquito protection.
A yellow fever vaccination is, according to the CDC, neither required nor recommended; a rabies vaccination is not considered routinely necessary, since infected dogs are rare in Palau, but can make sense for planned close contact with animals.
The Federal Foreign Office describes basic medical care as guaranteed only in larger towns – in practice, essentially Koror; for emergencies requiring evacuation, patients are usually transferred to the Philippines or Guam. Travel health and repatriation insurance is therefore strongly recommended.
Leptospirosis from contact with standing fresh water is another risk cited by the CDC – relevant especially for hikes to waterfalls and river crossings on Babeldaob.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How safe is Palau for travelers?
Both the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA rate Palau as politically stable and unremarkable in terms of safety. Violent crime is rare, though there are isolated cases of sexual assault against women traveling alone and of burglaries.
More common than violent crime is petty crime such as pickpocketing; the Federal Foreign Office recommends always keeping windows and doors locked in accommodation and vehicles and not leaving valuables visible.
Damage to protected marine areas is strictly punished: anyone who damages reefs or coral while diving, anchoring, or fishing risks substantial fines – a direct consequence of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary in effect since 2020. Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA before departure.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to Palau?
The international airport is Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) near Koror, with, according to FlightConnections, nonstop connections to 7 destinations in 7 countries, mainly in East and Southeast Asia. There is no direct nonstop connection from Europe; travelers from Switzerland, Germany, or Austria usually connect to a regional flight in Manila, Tokyo-Narita, or Guam.
| Region of origin | Destinations | Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| East Asia | Tokyo-Narita, Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau | United Airlines, China Airlines, Greater Bay Airlines, Cambodia Airways |
| Southeast Asia | Manila | Philippine Airlines, United Airlines |
| Pacific/Oceania | Guam, Brisbane | United Airlines, Qantas (Palau Paradise Express, seasonal) |
The flight from Koror to Brisbane, at around 2,700 miles (about 5 h 40 min), is the longest nonstop connection from Palau; the route is operated by Qantas as the Palau Paradise Express, usually weekly, and works as a connection from Australia and New Zealand.
There is no notable public transport on the ground: rental cars and taxis are comparatively cheap in Koror, while boat tours with local operators are the norm for the Rock Islands and outer reefs. An international driving permit is recommended for rental cars.
Sources: FlightConnections
How do you pay in Palau?
The national currency is the US dollar; conversion is therefore only needed for travelers from non-dollar countries, possible at banks in Koror for high fees. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants, and dive shops; outside Koror and on the outer atolls, cash is often indispensable.
ATMs are concentrated in Koror; on Babeldaob, Peleliu, and especially on the outer atolls, travelers should carry enough cash, since card payment is not possible everywhere there.
Dives, boat tours, and the mandatory Rock Islands permits are usually paid directly on site in US dollars, often already included in the price of liveaboard or multi-day packages. Tipping is not mandatory but common in the dive industry, which is heavily shaped by US tourism – USD 10 to 20 per day is often cited for guides and boat crew.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · how-2-tip.com
Where do you stay in Palau?
The largest selection of hotels, guesthouses, and dive resorts is in and around Koror, with short distances to restaurants and the boat docks for the Rock Islands. Travelers who want to reach the best dive sites without long boat rides can instead choose a multi-day liveaboard that anchors directly in the lagoon.
Large international chain hotels are rare; common instead are medium-sized resorts, often geared toward dive groups, as well as simpler guesthouses. On Babeldaob and the outer atolls there are only scattered accommodations, usually without a fixed booking platform.
Travelers who want to explore Peleliu and Babeldaob alongside diving benefit from a base in Koror with day trips; those who mainly dive benefit from a liveaboard with access to more distant outer reefs.
What do you eat and drink in Palau?
Everyday cuisine combines traditional staples such as taro, cassava, and fish with a strong Japanese influence from the colonial era – sashimi and sushi are a natural part of the menu at many restaurants in Koror. Chewing betel nut remains a fixed part of daily life today.
According to estimates from the 1990s, over 76% of Palauans regularly chewed betel nut at the time, with the market estimated at several million US dollars a year; the combination of betel nut, lime, and pepper leaf is as much a part of social life as coffee is elsewhere.
Traditionally, value was measured not in money but in exchanged goods: those who built a house or canoe were paid in traditional Palauan money, while among women, "toluk" – originally used as vessels, now ceremonial objects – are still exchanged at important life events today.
What traditions shape Palau?
A central element of traditional culture is the "bai", a meeting house richly painted with stories and myths, which once served as the political and social center of every village. Society is traditionally matrilineal: land ownership and rank pass down through the female line.
The 52 basalt monoliths of Badrulchau on Babeldaob are considered the remains of a particularly large, mythical bai and rank among the oldest known structures on the island.
The bai tradition lives on in craft form through carved "storyboards": wooden reliefs that tell legends and everyday scenes, now produced mainly as handicrafts for travelers.
What can you experience in Palau?
At the heart of any trip is diving and snorkeling at world-class spots such as Blue Corner, German Channel, and Jellyfish Lake. For those who don't want to get in the water, options include kayaking through the Rock Islands, hiking to the Ngardmau Waterfall, or exploring the battle sites and caves of Peleliu.
Kayak tours through the Rock Islands lead to hidden coves and caves that boats can't reach; multi-day camping kayak tours are organized by local operators.
For non-divers, snorkeling at Jellyfish Lake and on the shallower reefs of the Rock Islands offers an accessible way into Palau's underwater world, with no certification needed.
Those interested in history combine a day trip to Peleliu with a guided tour of the WWII Memorial Museum and the cave systems with a quieter hour on Angaur's beach.
On Babeldaob, a hike to the Ngardmau Waterfall, a visit to the Badrulchau monoliths, and a drive to the seat of government at Ngerulmud can be combined into a quieter land day without a boat.
Sources: The National WWII Museum
How do you travel responsibly in Palau?
Since 1 January 2020, 80% of Palau's territorial waters have been under a complete fishing ban as the Palau National Marine Sanctuary – one of the largest fully protected marine areas in the world. Every entering person also personally affirms, with the "Palau Pledge", to respect the country's reefs, animals, and culture.
In 2018, Palau was the first country in the world to legally ban reef-toxic sunscreens containing ingredients such as oxybenzone; such products are sometimes confiscated on entry, and mineral sunscreen is recommended.
The remaining 20% of the economic zone forms a Domestic Fishing Zone reserved for local fishing; commercial fish export from the sanctuary itself remains banned.
Sources: Marine Conservation Institute
What can Palau be combined with?
Via Guam or Manila, Palau combines well with other Micronesian destinations such as Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, where travelers encounter a similar diving culture but a different island culture. Alternatively, Manila serves as a springboard for continuing on through the Philippines.
Those continuing on to East Asia use the nonstop connections to Taipei, Hong Kong, or Tokyo-Narita as a natural continuation; toward Oceania, Guam offers itself as a stopover with its own, US-influenced travel program.
Who is Palau suited for, and who should think twice?
Palau suits both experienced and beginner divers, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to experience the history of the Pacific War on the ground. It is less suited to travelers seeking classic beach holidays, a lively nightlife, or broad tourism infrastructure outside Koror.
- Well suited: divers of all experience levels; kayaking and hiking enthusiasts; those interested in the history of the Pacific War.
- Less suited: anyone seeking long sandy beaches or large resort complexes – other Pacific destinations suit that better; budget-conscious travelers, since dive packages and permits noticeably raise trip costs.