12 Best Things to Do in Palau

The state in the Pacific Ocean consists of more than two hundred coral and volcanic islands. Tourism in Palau is centered around fantastic beaches, diving and snorkeling. For lovers of architecture and antiquity, the archipelago has prepared cultural and historical sights.

Notable cities and islands

Peleliu Island

Peleliu Island is the southern border of the rocky islands. It was designated a US National Historic Landmark in 1985 for its role in World War II. Some of the most ferocious battles in the Pacific took place in these waters.

Submerged military debris, fighter jets, rusty machine guns and hidden bunkers rest at the bottom as a memory of the thousands of people who lost their lives here. Military artifacts are scattered around the island: tanks, helmets and shells of bombs.

Peleliu is surrounded by coral reefs, in which marine life lives: anemones, crabs, bright tropical fish. Here are the best diving spots.

Ngerulmud

The city of Ngerulmud, the capital of Palau, is located on the island of Babeldaobe. Travelers here visit Del el Bad er Beriber, a famous stone bridge in the vicinity of an ancient dock, and the Stone Faces of Odalmelech, sculptures of traditional gods skillfully carved from stone. In addition, there are many old buildings in the capital, for example, the local Capitol — an almost exact copy of Washington.

Koror

The largest city of Palau, a business center with many shops and boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Many cultural attractions, museums and galleries are concentrated in Koror, nightlife is also seething here — tourists are waiting for entertainment and parties.

There are many dolphins off the coast of the island, so there are research and observation centers for marine mammals.

Babeldob Island

The largest island of the archipelago is 43 km long and 24 km wide. It is a tropical gem with lush green vegetation, steep mountains, freshwater lakes and sand dunes. Hiking trails, 4×4 trails and mountain biking trails are located here.

Airai

Airai with a population of about 3,000 people is the second most populous state of the archipelago with the capital of the same name. The city is best known for its traditional Palauan meeting house for men, the so-called Bay. In the old days, each village in Palau had its own Bai.

At the beginning of the 20th century, more than a hundred of these buildings still existed in Palau. Each of them was used as a meeting hall for the ruling elders, served as a community and center, and was located in the village square.

Bai was built from fine wood and skillfully decorated with traditional patterns and colors. Today, the Airai Hall is open to the public as a museum.

natural attractions

jellyfish lake

A popular lake in Palau is located on the island of Eil Malk. Divers, scuba divers and swimmers come here. The lake got its name from the millions of golden jellyfish. It is safe as it is cut off from the big water and jellyfish have no natural enemies here. In such conditions, they evolved and now do not sting at all.

Ngardmau waterfall in Babeldobe

Ngardmau is the largest waterfall in Palau. Its height is 30 m, and its width is 37 m. If you go downstream, you can find beautiful small pools and miniature waterfalls. Climbing to the top of the waterfall, tourists come across the ruins of Japanese buildings from colonial times, as well as parts of the old railway system.

According to Palauan legend, Ngardmau Falls is a spirit, a huge eel with one eye, which was considered a god. One day he fell into a deep sleep and could not wake up again. Then his body turned into a river, and his head became a Ngardmau waterfall.

Milky Way in the Rocky Islands

A beautiful bay with milky white water is located within the rocky islands. The warm and silky water is very inviting, but the real attraction is the fine white sediment at the bottom of the lagoon.

For more than a thousand years, tides have brought water into the lagoon enriched with limestone and chalk particles, which sink to the bottom, creating a thick layer of white mud. Experts note that after mud baths in the bay, the skin becomes younger.

Kayangel Atoll

Kayangel is the only coral atoll in Palau. Despite the damage caused by a typhoon a few years ago, Kayangel still beckons with stunningly beautiful white sand beaches and large sea shells.

The water around the atoll has an azure color. This is the perfect place to sit in the shallow waters while contemplating the ocean. Sometimes wild dolphins come to the atoll.

Historical and cultural attractions

Belau National Museum

Learn about the origins and rich cultural heritage of Palau’s people at the Belau Museum, which houses more than a thousand relics from the past, including money and traditional weapons. Exhibitions include photography, art, sculpture and carvings.

Stones of Badrulhau

The 37 stone monoliths of Badrulhau are concrete examples of the early civilization of Babylon. Basalt stone pillars weighing up to 4500 kg each date back to around 100 AD. Archaeologists believe that they could have been a support for the building. The stones are located in a field in the north of Babeldob Island.

Etpison Museum in Koror

This small museum offers an eclectic collection of items on the history and culture of Palau and Micronesia.

Exhibitions are devoted to old money and other means of payment that were used before the invention of coins. There are also collections of canoes, photographs, sculptures and an extensive collection of old maps and engravings of Micronesia. The museum oversees many environmental and conservation programs in the region.