Things to do in Palau

25 things to do in Palau

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Swim with millions of golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake

  Float among countless harmless jellyfish in this secluded marine lake on Eil Malk Island, a surreal snorkeling experience unique to Palau.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Kayak through the emerald islets of the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

  Paddle a kayak through a maze of mushroom-shaped limestone islands rising from turquoise water, a UNESCO World Heritage site of breathtaking beauty.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Dive the legendary Blue Corner drop-off with sharks and pelagics

  Descend to a steep wall where grey reef sharks, barracudas and eagle rays patrol amid powerful currents, one of the world's most thrilling drift dives.

  Ngemelis Island, Koror

• Snorkel the German Channel to spot manta rays and sea turtles

  Glide through the shallow, clear channel cut by German miners and witness graceful manta rays and green turtles feeding in the nutrient-rich currents.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Coat yourself in mineral-rich white mud at the Milky Way lagoon

  Scoop up the famously silky limestone mud from the lagoon bottom and slather it on your skin for a natural spa treatment in a hidden cove.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Watch spinner dolphins leap at sunrise off Ulong Island

  Cruise out at dawn to see acrobatic spinner dolphins play in the boat's wake near this uninhabited island, an unforgettable marine spectacle.

  Ulong Island, Koror

• Explore the WWII shipwreck of the Iro Maru underwater

  Dive through the coral-encrusted wreck of a sunken Japanese transport ship, now home to schools of fish, in a haunting reminder of Pacific war.

  Koror

• Walk among the ancient Badrulchau stone monoliths

  Wander through a field of mysterious basalt pillars on Babeldaob, believed to be the foundation of an ancient meeting house dating back over 1,000 years.

  Ngarchelong, Babeldaob

• Hike to the serene shores of Lake Ngardok, Palau’s largest natural freshwater lake

  Trek through the Ngardok Nature Reserve to reach this placid lake, home to endemic birds and a lush jungle backdrop, perfect for a peaceful swim.

  Melekeok, Babeldaob

• Stand atop Bloody Nose Ridge on Peleliu Island

  Visit the windswept hill where U.S. and Japanese forces fought one of WWII’s fiercest battles, now dotted with rusting artillery and memorials.

  Peleliu Island

• Admire Palauan storyboards and shell money at Etpison Museum

  See intricately carved wooden storyboards and rare traditional shell currency that reveal Palau's matrilineal society and rich oral traditions.

  Koror

• Taste fruit bat soup at Kramer's Bar & Restaurant

  Spoon into a bowl of the iconic Palauan delicacy – a whole fruit bat simmered in coconut broth – at this long-standing local eatery in the heart of Koror.

  Koror

• Learn traditional weaving inside the ancient Airai Bai

  Step into one of the oldest surviving men’s meeting houses, raised on stone platforms, to watch artisans practice coconut-leaf weaving passed down for generations.

  Airai, Babeldaob

• Eat just-caught tuna sashimi at The Drop Off Bar & Grill

  Sit over the water and savour sashimi sliced from yellowfin tuna landed that morning, paired with a view of yachts bobbing in the marina.

  Koror

• Paddle a kayak to the untouched Kayangel Atoll lagoon

  Travel beyond the main archipelago to this remote coral atoll, where you can drift over crystal-clear water, colourful coral gardens and giant clams.

  Kayangel Atoll

• Descend into the eerie Blue Holes near Ngeruktabel Island

  Drop into a giant underwater cavern whose ceiling has collapsed, creating shafts of sunlight that illuminate the deep blue chamber and curious trevally.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Ride the current through Ulong Channel’s coral canyon

  Drift dive along a wall covered in huge gorgonian fans and giant clams as the tidal flow pulls you through one of Palau’s most exhilarating passages.

  Ulong Island, Koror

• Face harmless blacktip sharks at Shark City dive site

  Kneel on the sandy bottom at 15 metres while dozens of blacktip reef sharks circle curiously, offering a safe, adrenaline-charged encounter.

  Koror

• Browse tropical fruit and local crafts at Koror Public Market

  Mingle with vendors selling sweet mangoes, handwoven baskets and storyboards at this bustling daily market, the island’s true swap–shopping heart.

  Koror

• Sip a Palau Red Rooster beer at Sam’s Dive Bar on Malakal Island

  Pull up a stool at the open-air bar popular with divers, clink bottles as the sun slips into the sea, and watch the evening transfer into night.

  Malakal Island, Koror

• Cool off in the plunge pool of Ngardmau Waterfall

  Follow a jungle path alongside ancient volcanic rock to Palau’s tallest waterfall, where you can swim in the cool, fern-fringed basin beneath the cascade.

  Ngardmau, Babeldaob

• Photograph the iconic Chelbacheb Arch from a boat

  Cruise to the natural limestone arch that frames the sunset, a famous image of the Rock Islands and one of the archipelago’s most photogenic spots.

  Rock Islands, Koror

• Birdwatch for endemic Micronesian kingfishers at Ngeremeduu Bay

  Paddle a kayak into this Ramsar-listed wetland to spot the rare rusty-capped kingfisher and other birds amid mangroves and lily-covered channels.

  Ngeremeduu Bay, Babeldaob

• Enter the dark chambers of Chandelier Cave for a unique dive

  Swim into an air-filled cavern with stalactites hanging like chandeliers, where you can surface inside and breathe the humid, ancient atmosphere.

  Koror

• Snorkel with green turtles at Turtle Cove in Nikko Bay

  Float in warm, shallow water over a sheltered seagrass meadow where hawksbill and green turtles regularly feed, unbothered by human visitors.

  Koror