Solomon Islands

Fenualoa, Solomon Islands, with the active volcano Tinakula in the background
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fenualoa_lagoon_2.jpg
Author: Pohopetch


Solomon Islands is a group of islands to the east of Papua New Guinea. A former British colony, it is today a constitutional monarch with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The country covers 28,400 sq km (10,965 sq mi) and has a population of 525,000 (2011 estimate). Its capital and largest city is Honiara.

Solomon Islands comprise almost a thousand islands of varying sizes. They have been inhabited by Papuan-speaking people for thousands of years. Other waves of people arriving there included the Austronesians, who introduced outrigger canoes around 4,000 BC. Later on, Polynesians also arrived, settling in the Bismarck Archipelago.

Guadalcanal American Memorial, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guadalcanal_American_Memorial.jpg
Author: W.wolny


The first European to arrive at the Solomon Islands was Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira. He came upon the islands on his journey from Peru in 1568, and found that the islanders were engaged in headhunting and cannibalism.

The Soilomon Islands became a British protectorate in 1893. During that time, missionary activities converted most of the islanders to Christianity. The Solomon Islands gained self-government in 1976 followed by full independence in 1978. However the post-independence period was marred by ethnic tension and civil unrest, leading to a civil war between rival groups.

Gizo waterfront market place, Solomon Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gizo_Water_front_3.jpg
Author: Durry42

Planning your visit to Solomon Islands

Visa on arrival is available for citizens of American Samoa, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Cook Islands, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montserrat, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn Islands, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The only international airport in the Solomon Islands is Honiara International Airport (HIR), located about 7 miles to the east of the capital. You can fly there on from Brisbane on Our Airline, Strategic Airlines and Virgin Blue (operated by Pacific Blue).

Major Cities in Solomon Islands

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.