Things to Do in Suva, Fiji: Walking Guide

Suva is Fiji’s capital and most populous city, as well as the country’s political, economic and cultural heart. Set on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, it combines a major port, lush tropical surroundings, historic religious buildings and institutions connected to the wider Pacific. Neywo has a free audio guide for Suva with 5 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Suva

The best things to do in Suva include exploring its museums, religious landmarks and university campus. These places reveal the city’s history while showing how closely Suva is connected to Fiji and the wider Pacific.

Fiji Museum and Thurston Gardens

The Fiji Museum stands in the heart of Thurston Gardens, Suva’s botanical gardens. Opened in 1955, it preserves and presents the history and culture of Fiji.

Its archaeological collection reaches back 3,700 years and includes relics connected with Fiji’s native culture. One particularly notable object is the rudder from HMS Bounty, linking the museum to the famous mutiny associated with the ship.

The museum’s setting in Thurston Gardens also gives visitors a chance to experience one of Suva’s green spaces while exploring the country’s heritage.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Sacred Heart Cathedral is the main church of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji. Located on Pratt Street, the cathedral was completed in 1902 and takes architectural inspiration from the churches of Rome.

Its materials reflect connections beyond Fiji: the sandstone used for the façade came from quarries near Sydney, Australia, while the wood inside was imported from Quebec, Canada. Ornaments and stained-glass windows add detail to the interior, and a crypt lies in the basement.

The cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Suva, established in 1966 by Pope Paul VI. The archdiocese covers the entire nation.

Suva and Its Tropical Setting

Suva occupies a varied landscape on Viti Levu. The terrain southeast of the city is flat, while mountains rise towards the northwest. The sea lies to the south, and Korobaba is the highest nearby point, rising 431 metres above sea level about 9.4 kilometres north of the city.

This combination of coast, mountains, warmth and rainfall gives Suva its lush tropical character. The city is also the capital of Rewa Province and of Fiji’s Central Division, making it an important administrative centre as well as an urban one.

Suva became Fiji’s capital in 1877, when the role moved from Levuka. Levuka’s restricted geography could not accommodate a growing capital, and the colonial administration officially transferred to Suva in 1882.

Suva Fiji Temple

The Suva Fiji Temple is the first temple built in Fiji for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was also the church’s 91st operating temple worldwide.

The intention to build it was announced on 5 April 1998 by church president Gordon B. Hinckley. A groundbreaking ceremony followed on 8 May 1999, presided over by Earl M. Monson, a church general authority. The building was designed by Conway Beg of Architects Pacific in a traditional temple style.

University of the South Pacific

The University of the South Pacific, known as USP, is a public research university with an unusual regional structure. It is owned by twelve Pacific countries: the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Established in 1968, USP is organised as an intergovernmental organisation. Its main campus and headquarters are in Suva, while subsidiary campuses are located across the member states.

The university focuses on teaching and research related to Pacific culture and the environment. It had almost 30,000 students in 2017, with students from the Pacific and increasingly from other parts of the world. Visiting the campus offers a glimpse of an institution that connects communities across a vast area of Oceania.

Suva’s Place in Fiji

Suva is more than an administrative capital. Its port, cultural institutions, religious buildings and international university all contribute to its role as a meeting point for Fiji and the Pacific. For travellers interested in the country’s history and contemporary life, the city offers a different experience from Fiji’s resort destinations.

It is also a useful place to understand the country in a wider context. From archaeological objects at the Fiji Museum to the regional mission of the University of the South Pacific, Suva brings together local heritage and Pacific-wide connections.

For more background before your trip, explore the wider Fiji destination guide.

Explore Suva with Neywo

Download Neywo and explore Suva with a free audio guide covering 5 narrated places. Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can walk through the city while the app explains the landmarks around you.