Majuro Atoll is the seat of government of the Marshall Islands, and the capital is also called Majuro. The atoll consists of 64 small islands.

The lagoon is roughly 41 kilometers long and about 11 kilometers wide. The land area, however, is only a very narrow strip and in many places only a few meters wide. That is why Majuro has only around 9.7 km² of land in total.

Map of Highlights

Where are the Marshall Islands located?

The Marshall Islands are an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, located roughly between 4° and 15° north latitude and 160° to 173° east longitude. The country includes 29 atolls and 5 single islands with about 181 km² of land area. The population is around 42,400.

More than half of the population, about 23,000 people, lives on the main atoll of Majuro.

How to get to Majuro

Majuro has an international airport with the code MAJ. However, there are only three international direct routes:

1. Honolulu (USA)
2. Pohnpei (Micronesia)
3. Tarawa (Kiribati)

These routes are served by only two airlines: United and Nauru Airlines.

You can find more information about United’s Island Hopper here. 7 Islands in one Flight: United Island Hopper

Do you need a visa?

Citizens of Micronesia, Palau, the USA, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the EU do not need a visa for the Marshall Islands.

Citizens of another 77 countries can apply for a visa on arrival. You can find the list with the current visa requirements here.

Climate in the Marshall Islands

The climate in the Marshall Islands is very consistent all year round. On average, temperatures are around 28°C every day with humidity just under 80%. The most rain falls from September to December.

That means the Marshall Islands can be visited all year round.

Hotels in the Marshall Islands

The Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism, or OCIT, lists hotels in Majuro on its own website. You can get to the website here.

The hotel selection is very limited. In short, there are only three official hotels in Majuro:

1. Marshall Islands Resort
2. Hotel Robert Reimers
3. Lojkar Hotel & Apartments

How to get from A to B?

Majuro is long and narrow, but the population is heavily concentrated in the DUD area (Delap, Uliga, Djarrit) in the east.

Airport transfer

Marshall Islands Resort and Hotel Robert Reimers offer an airport transfer.

Bus

There is a bus service that runs from DUD to Laura in the far west. The bus starts at Hotel Robert Reimers and runs more or less every two hours. The ride costs 2.5 USD.

Taxi

There are taxis in Majuro, but there are no standard prices, so you should negotiate the fare before getting in.

Majuro also uses a ride sharing system, which means you can get into taxis that are already carrying passengers.

Car Rental

The easiest way to explore Majuro is by rental car. However, there is no classic car rental service at the airport. If you want to learn more about renting a car and driving in the Marshall Islands, take a look here: Driving in Majuro

Things to see

Arno Atoll

The main attraction in Majuro is actually the neighboring Arno Atoll, a paradise for diving and snorkeling. The atoll is less than 20 kilometers from Majuro, and day trips are offered, for example by Hotel Robert Reimers.

Alele Museum

Another highlight in Majuro is the Alele Museum and the National Library. The museum consists of two rooms where you can learn quite a bit about the history of the Marshall Islands. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.

The USA carried out a total of 67 nuclear tests on the Bikini and Enewetak atolls between 1946 and 1958.

Uliga United Church

Right next to the museum is the Uliga United Church. It is one of the best photo spots in Majuro.

Majuro Peace Park

About 4 kilometers west of the airport is Majuro Peace Park. The park was built by Japan and commemorates the soldiers who died in Majuro during World War II.

Typhoon Monument

The Typhoon Monument is located in Laura, in the far west of Majuro. It commemorates the severe typhoon of November 8, 1918. What makes it special is the Japanese inscription, because in 1918 Majuro was under Japanese control.

Car wrecks

Just like on many islands in the Pacific, you will find car wrecks scattered everywhere. It is simply too expensive to dispose of broken cars. But they can make for some really great photo motifs.

Airport Beach Park

Swimming in the Marshall Islands is very difficult because especially on the ocean side there is heavy surf with strong currents. Directly west of the runway is the Airport Beach Park. There is a small pool here that gets filled with seawater at high tide. Next to the pool there is a small diving board. You can swim here without worry, and from time to time a plane even passes just a few meters above you.

National Capitol

The former capitol of Majuro is, at around 15 meters tall, actually the tallest building in the Marshall Islands. It was built in 1993, but has been empty since 2011.

Places you do not have to visit

Laura Beach

Laura Beach is often described in the few Marshall Islands guides as the top attraction.

In reality, it is just a small beach at the end of Laura, and therefore also at the end of Majuro. An entrance fee of 2 USD per person is charged.

Are the Marshall Islands expensive?

The Marshall Islands have an average GDP per capita of 7,309 USD and rank number 100 worldwide, right behind Thailand.

But while Thailand is known as a very cheap travel destination, you cannot say the same about the Marshall Islands. With about 18,000 tourists per year, the Marshall Islands rank number 201 among the most visited countries, or number 7 among the least visited countries. That also means there is literraly no tourism infrastructure.

On the one hand, this makes the few hotels very expensive. On top of that, almost all products have to be imported, which is costly. Add to that an expensive and long journey to get there.

Are the Marshall Islands clean?

The Marshall Islands share the same fate as Kiribati. The highest point on Majuro is only about 3 meters above sea level. Because of rising sea levels, the Marshall Islands are expected to sink into the ocean by the end of the century. But unlike South Tarawa, Majuro is very clean. Trash does wash up on the beach from time to time, but it gets collected, and the local population makes an effort to keep their islands clean. The complete opposite of South Tarawa. If you want to learn more about Tarawa and what there is to see, take a look here: <link>

Are drones allowed?

Yes, drones are allowed in the Marshall Islands. The use of drones is not regulated there. The normal rules of common sense apply, of course:

1. Do not fly near the airport
2. Do not film police and emergency services
3. Respect everyone’s privacy
4. and so on

How much time should you plan?

As little as possible. Out of all the countries and places we have traveled to so far, the Marshall Islands offer the least. We landed in Majuro in the morning at around 09:00, took the airport transfer to the hotel, and rented a car there. We drove once to Laura and back, visited the museum, and at 14:00 we sat down at Toeak Bar and Grill, drank a few beers, and ended the day, because there was nothing else we could have done. The next morning we continued on the Island Hopper, and that was more than enough time in Majuro.

Are the Marshall Islands worth visiting?

Normally we believe that every country, every island, every place is worth seeing. But with Majuro and the Marshall Islands, we actually feel differently. It is absolutely surreal to look at the map and see where you are, and it is cool to drive along Lagoon Road. But there is nothing you can really go and see on the islands. There is little atmosphere and it is very expensive. So our honest opinion is that the only reason to visit Majuro is to tick off the Marshall Islands.