Why is Papua New Guinea worth visiting?
Papua New Guinea packs more linguistic diversity than any other country on Earth into a land area of around 462,840 km², alongside rainforest from sea level to over 4,500 m, barely developed diving grounds, and one of the last regions where traditional culture still visibly shapes everyday life. The country lies east of Indonesia and shares the island of New Guinea with the Indonesian province of Papua.
Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia on 16 September 1975; administration has since been organized into four regions (Papua, Highlands, Momase, Islands) with around 20 provinces in total.
Figures that change over time – the security situation, visa rules, flight schedules – reflect the state as of September 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia
What is Papua New Guinea like as a travel destination?
In tourism terms, Papua New Guinea is the opposite of a well-worn destination: hardly any chain hotels, few continuously paved roads, and infrastructure that varies enormously by region. Travelers mostly move in organized small groups with local guides rather than independently, because both the security situation and the road network require it.
The landscape ranges from tropical coasts, via the 1,126-km Sepik, New Guinea's longest river, to mountain ranges with peaks over 4,500 m; climate, vegetation, and the traditional way of life vary accordingly from one region to the next.
Economically, the country relies on resources – natural gas, gold, copper – as well as coffee growing in the highlands; the tourism sector is small by comparison and concentrated on niches such as diving, birdwatching, trekking, and cultural festivals.
Travelers looking for an uncomplicated standard trip with tightly scheduled infrastructure are in the wrong place in Papua New Guinea; those willing to commit to an organized, often regionally limited program experience one of the culturally richest regions in the world.
Sources: Wikipedia · PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
Which regions belong to Papua New Guinea?
The country is divided into four very different tourist regions: the capital region around Port Moresby in the south, the highlands with their sing-sing festivals, the Momase region around the Sepik River in the north, and the Islands region with New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville. Almost no roads connect the regions; travel is mostly by domestic flight.
Port Moresby and the Papua region
Port Moresby, the capital in the National Capital District, is the starting point for most international trips and for access to the famous Kokoda Track. At the Bomana War Cemetery on the outskirts lie more than 3,000 Allied soldiers who fell during the Pacific War. In Milne Bay Province to the east, with the port town of Alotau, lie diving grounds for muck diving as well as the Trobriand Islands, known for the traditional Kula Ring, a ceremonial exchange network between the islands.
The highlands
Seven provinces make up the highlands, shaped by coffee growing around Goroka and peaks such as the 4,509-m Mount Wilhelm, the country's highest mountain. The region is known for its sing-sing festivals: the Goroka Show in Eastern Highlands Province and the Hagen Show in Western Highlands Province bring together dozens of tribes each year with traditional face paint, feathered headdresses, and dance. In Hela Province live the Huli, known for elaborately crafted wigs made from their own hair, worn by men during ceremonies.
Sepik: art and river culture
The Sepik, at 1,126 km New Guinea's longest river, flows into the Bismarck Sea and is home to dozens of language groups, chief among them the Iatmul. At least 100 villages line its banks, known for elaborate wood carvings, masks, and meter-long garamut drums carved from hollowed-out tree trunks; the region is considered one of the most productive art-producing river landscapes in the world.
New Britain and the Islands region
On New Britain lies Rabaul, a town in a volcanic caldera: on 19 September 1994, the volcanoes Tavurvur and Vulcan buried around 80% of the buildings under ash, destroyed the airport, and forced the provincial capital to relocate to Kokopo. Tavurvur remains regularly active to this day, most recently with a larger eruption in 2014, and can be observed from a lookout point. Around Rabaul, some 100 km of tunnel and cave systems built by Japan recall the time when up to 110,000 Japanese soldiers were stationed here.
Sources: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
When is the best time to visit Papua New Guinea?
The dry season from May to October is considered the most pleasant time to visit large parts of the highlands and coasts, with daytime highs of around 30 to 32°C in Port Moresby. From November to March or April, the monsoon brings significantly more rainfall, with an elevated risk of flooding and landslides.
Port Moresby: average daily high and low temperatures and monthly rainfall
| Port Moresby | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall mm | 231 | 186 | 294 | 147 | 90 | 69 | 25 | 35 | 35 | 44 | 69 | 112 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PORT MORESBY JACKSONS INTL (4 km, 45 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
The Federal Foreign Office cites an elevated risk of tropical cyclones, flooding, and landslides for the rainy season from November to March, peaking between December and April, especially in the mountainous highlands. For the Kokoda Track, the dry season is correspondingly recommended, since the trail becomes significantly more slippery in the rain and river crossings become more dangerous.
Dates such as the Goroka Show in September or the Hagen Show vary slightly from year to year; anyone traveling specifically for a sing-sing festival should confirm the current date in advance with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority.
Papua New Guinea also lies in one of the most seismically active zones in the world, with regular earthquakes and several permanently active volcanoes such as Manam, Kadovar, and Bagana; tsunamis following undersea earthquakes are possible regardless of season. Anyone planning a trip should therefore keep an eye on current volcano and earthquake warnings from local authorities alongside the rainy season, especially for trips near the coast or to the Islands region.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
What do you need to enter Papua New Guinea?
Unlike most neighboring South Pacific countries, Swiss, German, and Austrian nationals need a visa for Papua New Guinea, applied for before travel at a PNG representation or online. Since 2025, a free Digital Arrival Card must also be filled out up to 72 hours before arrival. Other nationalities are subject to their own rules; the country's immigration authority is authoritative.
The passport must remain valid for at least six months on arrival; a national ID card is not accepted. A yellow fever vaccination is required only when entering from a WHO-designated risk area.
Only the official bodies are authoritative: the Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA, the FDFA, and Papua New Guinea's immigration authority. Check current information before departure.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What vaccinations and precautions does Papua New Guinea require?
According to the CDC, malaria occurs year-round across the entire country below 2,000 m, with chloroquine-resistant strains; malaria prophylaxis with atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or tafenoquine is recommended for practically every travel route. The CDC additionally recommends hepatitis A and B, typhoid for most travelers, and Japanese encephalitis for longer stays.
A polio booster is recommended, since the CDC reports that poliovirus has been detected in the country. Other risks include dengue fever, Zika, and Ross River fever from mosquito bites, plus leptospirosis and melioidosis from contaminated water.
The Federal Foreign Office describes medical care as "well below European standards", with inadequate equipment and hygiene outside the largest cities. More serious emergencies often require costly evacuation to Australia, which is why travel health and repatriation insurance with sufficient coverage is essential.
Consistent round-the-clock mosquito protection, safe drinking water, and caution around animal contact – also because of rabies risk – significantly reduce the remaining health risks.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How safe is Papua New Guinea for travelers?
According to the Federal Foreign Office, crime in Papua New Guinea is overall very high, especially in the urban centers of Port Moresby, Lae, and Mount Hagen, with armed robbery, carjacking, and burglary as the most common offenses. The highland provinces of Southern and Western Highlands, Hela, and Enga, as well as Bougainville, are considered particularly risky; elevated caution applies to the rest of the country. Check the current situation with the Swiss FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
Violent riots and looting occasionally occur in Port Moresby and Lae; short-term curfews and states of emergency are possible in affected areas. The foreign ministries rate the named highland provinces and southern Bougainville as markedly riskier than the rest of the country.
Independent travel is not recommended by either foreign ministry; organized group tours with local guides are common and significantly safer. Driving and walking after dark should generally be avoided, and women traveling alone face an elevated risk of sexual assault.
This assessment should be taken seriously, but is no reason to rule out the whole country: organized tours to the Kokoda Track, the Sepik, or diving resorts in Milne Bay and New Britain have taken place regularly for years and mostly operate outside the risk centers mentioned above.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to Papua New Guinea?
The main international airport is Jacksons International Airport (POM) in Port Moresby, with nonstop connections to 29 destinations in nine countries. There is no direct nonstop connection from Europe; travelers from Switzerland, Germany, or Austria usually connect via Brisbane, Singapore, or Tokyo.
| Origin | Airline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane (Australia) | Air Niugini, Qantas | around 15 flights per week, the most important hub |
| Cairns (Australia) | Air Niugini | shortest connection to northern Australia |
| Singapore | Air Niugini | connects to flights from Europe and Asia |
| Tokyo-Narita (Japan) | Air Niugini | year-round nonstop connection |
| Guangzhou (China) | China Southern Airlines | year-round nonstop connection |
Between regions there are hardly any roads: the Highlands Highway connects Lae with Goroka, Kundiawa, Mount Hagen, and Mendi, but doesn't reach Port Moresby. The capital is therefore unreachable by road from any other major city; travel between regions runs almost exclusively via domestic flights, mostly with Air Niugini.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, public transport and coastal ships don't meet international safety standards; spontaneous use for travel outside organized tours is discouraged.
Sources: FlightConnections · Wikipedia · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How do you pay in Papua New Guinea?
The national currency is the kina (PGK); credit cards are accepted in hotels and larger shops in Port Moresby, Lae, and tourist resorts, while cash is mandatory in most other regions. ATMs are largely limited to the larger cities.
On organized tours in the highlands, along the Sepik, or at remote diving resorts, enough cash in kina should be carried, since neither card payment nor ATMs are available; many tour operators also require prepayment in US dollars or kina locally.
At local markets, for example for handicrafts along the Sepik or bilum bags in the highlands, payment is made directly in kina, and haggling is common. Small bills make it easier to pay porters and guides on the Kokoda Track, as well as admission or photography fees in villages that receive tourist visits.
Sources: Wikipedia
Where do you stay in Papua New Guinea?
Port Moresby, Goroka, and Mount Hagen offer the most reliable hotel infrastructure, while specialized lodges in the highlands and diving resorts in Milne Bay or around Kimbe Bay on New Britain target travelers with a specific program. Along the Sepik, you mostly stay in simple guesthouses or directly in villages.
Large international chain hotels are largely absent outside Port Moresby; small, often family-run lodges and diver-focused resorts define the picture. Those hiking the Kokoda Track stay overnight in simple camps along the route.
Because regions are connected only by air, it's worth booking accommodation for each leg in advance through an experienced operator rather than searching on the ground on a whim.
What do you eat and drink in Papua New Guinea?
Staple foods are sweet potato, taro, yams, and plantains, supplemented by fish on the coasts and pork on festive occasions. For special festivals, a traditional earth oven, the "mumu", is prepared, in which food is cooked together with hot stones wrapped in banana leaves.
In the highlands around Goroka, Arabica coffee is grown on steep slopes and is considered one of the country's best-known export products; chewing betel nut is common in everyday life and characteristically stains roadsides and teeth red.
Restaurants outside the larger cities are rare; on organized tours, the operator usually handles meals, often with locally prepared dishes served directly in host villages.
What festivals and traditions shape Papua New Guinea?
The biggest cultural events are the highlands' sing-sing festivals, above all the Goroka Show and the Hagen Show, where dozens of tribes come together in traditional face paint, headdresses of bird-of-paradise feathers, and rhythmic dance. On New Britain, the Baining fire dances are also well known, nighttime ceremonies with elaborate bark-cloth masks.
Handicrafts are part of everyday life, not made only for tourists: on the Sepik, carved masks and ancestor figures are produced, and in the highlands, woven bilum bags, made by women from plant fibers and worn in daily life.
On the Trobriand Islands, the Kula Ring still regulates the ceremonial exchange of shell ornaments between neighboring island communities today – a centuries-old exchange system that goes far beyond the material value of the objects and cements social bonds between the islands.
Sources: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
What can you experience in Papua New Guinea?
Among the most memorable experiences are the multi-day hike on the Kokoda Track, a boat journey on the Sepik to Iatmul art villages, and diving in species-rich Milne Bay or around Kimbe Bay. Add to that sing-sing festivals in the highlands and observing birds of paradise in the rainforests.
The Kokoda Track runs 96 km, over Mount Bellamy at up to 2,490 m, through the Owen Stanley Range, following the path of the fighting between Australian and Japanese troops in 1942. Depending on fitness, the guided hike takes four to twelve days; a local guide and an official trekking license are mandatory.
Papua New Guinea has over 400 bird species, including many of the roughly 40 bird-of-paradise species worldwide, observable mainly in the highlands and on the Trobriand Islands.
In Milne Bay and around Kimbe Bay on New Britain, the diving area is considered part of the most species-rich marine region in the world, the so-called Coral Triangle, with hundreds of mapped dive sites from steep walls to wreck dives.
Sources: Wikipedia · PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
How do you travel responsibly in Papua New Guinea?
Because many villages along the Sepik or the Kokoda Track live directly off visitor fees and guide work, booked, community-based tourism directly benefits the local population. Protection of the birds of paradise, whose feathers are traditionally used for sing-sing adornment, increasingly depends on preserving their habitat.
Reputable Kokoda operators are licensed and employ local porters and guides from villages along the route; part of the trekking fees flow directly into local infrastructure and education.
In diving areas such as Milne Bay and Kimbe Bay, resorts are increasingly engaged in reef protection programs; asking about certifications and local partnerships specifically supports operators with a more sustainable approach.
Sources: PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
What can Papua New Guinea be combined with?
Papua New Guinea combines well with an Australia trip via Brisbane or Cairns, since both cities are the main hubs for connecting flights. Travelers wanting to continue through the South Pacific combine the country via Honiara with the Solomon Islands, which offer similar WWII history and diving grounds.
Within the country, it's worth combining a culturally focused leg in the highlands with a diving or beach leg in Milne Bay or on New Britain, since both regions differ greatly in tourism character and climate.
Who is Papua New Guinea suited for, and who should think twice?
Papua New Guinea suits experienced, culturally curious travelers who accept an organized tour with a clear program and are prepared for basic infrastructure. It is less suited to first-time travelers without international experience, spontaneous independent travelers, and anyone reliant on reliable, continuous road infrastructure.
- Well suited: culturally curious and experienced travelers; divers seeking remote reefs; trekkers with good fitness for the Kokoda Track.
- Less suited: first-time travelers without experience of demanding destinations; women traveling alone outside organized groups; anyone who prefers spontaneous independent travel over booked tours.