What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Levuka, Fiji.
Photo: Anton Leddin / Wikimedia Commons
Levuka is a quiet coastal town on the island of Ovalau in Fiji. Most sights sit on or near Beach Street, the road through the town centre, so you can reach them on foot. Expect old churches, a community museum, the Cession Site at Nasova and the Mission Hill steps behind town. It suits history fans and slow travellers. The best months to go are May, June, July and August.
Plan a full day to walk the town sights. Each takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. Add half a day for Lovoni village inland. Stay longer if you want the southern coast around Draiba for nature and snorkelling.
Levuka town centre
The waterfront main street is lined with timber shopfronts from the colonial trading era. Walking it is the easiest way to see why Levuka is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. There is little traffic, so it is easy to stop and look at the buildings.
Beach Street
A Catholic church on the waterfront, built by Marist missionaries. Its clock tower is a Levuka landmark, and locals will tell you the clock strikes the hour twice. Dress modestly if you go inside.
Beach Street
Housed in an old trading company building, the centre holds a small museum on Levuka's past as Fiji's first colonial capital. It is a good first stop to understand what you are looking at around town.
Nasova, south of the town centre
Memorial stones mark where Fiji was handed over to Britain, which made Levuka the colonial capital. There is not much to see beyond the stones and the setting. Go for the history, and combine it with a walk along the coast road.
Levuka town
One of the oldest Methodist churches in Fiji, set near the northern end of town. It is a simple building, but it shows how early the missionaries arrived here.
Behind the town centre
A long flight of steps, known locally as the 199 Steps, climbs the hill behind town. The climb is steep and hot in the middle of the day, so go early or late. From the top you get the best view over the rooftops and the harbour.
Levuka town
A timber hotel often described as the oldest still operating in Fiji. Even if you stay elsewhere, it is worth looking in to see the old rooms and billiard room. Check that it is open before you go, as small places here can close at short notice.
North of the town centre
A rock outcrop above the coast where a visiting warship once fired shells to impress local chiefs. You can walk up for views along the Ovalau coastline. The path is short but can be slippery after rain.
Inland Ovalau
A village set inside an old volcanic crater in the middle of Ovalau island. Most visitors go on a guided walk or by village transport, and you should arrange it through your guesthouse. Bring a sulu to cover your legs and be ready for a sevusevu (kava welcome) custom.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 25°C | 26 days (324 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| February | 29°C / 26°C | 25 days (284 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| March | 29°C / 25°C | 27 days (296 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| April | 28°C / 25°C | 23 days (251 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: May | 27°C / 24°C | 19 days (173 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: June | 26°C / 24°C | 16 days (96 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 27°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: July | 26°C / 23°C | 16 days (77 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 26°C / 23°C | 18 days (116 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| September | 26°C / 23°C | 19 days (93 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| October | 27°C / 24°C | 21 days (165 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| November | 28°C / 24°C | 22 days (158 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 27°C | 8.0/10 |
| December | 28°C / 25°C | 26 days (278 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 28°C | 7.0/10 |
Highs of 29°C, with rain on 26 days and 324 mm, the wettest month. Rated good at 7. Expect showers most days, but the sea is 29°C.
High 29°C, rain on 25 days and 284 mm. Rated good at 7. The sea is at its warmest, 29.8°C.
High 28.6°C and the most rain days of the year, 26.8, with 296 mm. Still rated good at 7, but plan for wet days.
High 28°C, rain on 23 days and 251 mm. Rated good at 7. Rain is starting to ease.
High 27°C, rain on 19 days and 173 mm. Scores 8, one of the best months. Drier and a little cooler.
High 26°C, rain on 16 days and just 96 mm. Rated best at 8. A good choice for drier weather.
The driest month, with 77 mm and rain on 16 days. High 26°C. Rated best at 8.
The coolest month, with a 25.6°C high and 22.8°C low. Rain on 18 days and 116 mm. Rated best at 8.
High 26°C, rain on 19 days, only 93 mm and 10.2 hours of sun. Rated best at 8.
High 27°C, rain on 21 days and 165 mm. Still rated best at 8, though showers come more often.
High 28°C, rain on 22 days and 158 mm. The sunniest month at 10.8 hours. Rated best at 8.
High 28°C, rain on 26 days and 278 mm. Rated good at 7. No month scores badly, but the wet season is back.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Fiji →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, walkers, short stays
This is the old waterfront street at the heart of the World Heritage town. It has wooden shopfronts, small cafés, the wharf area and most services within an easy walk. The drawback is that the fish cannery nearby can bring smells and early-morning noise on some days.
Good for history fans, quiet stays
This calm area south of the centre is where the Deed of Cession was signed. It is greener and less busy than town, with the sea close by. The drawback is fewer shops and places to eat, so you will walk into town for most things.
Good for slow travellers, local life
This residential area to the north feels like everyday Fijian island life, with homes, gardens and the coast road. It is quiet and gives you a less touristy base. The drawback is limited accommodation and dark roads at night, so bring a torch.
Good for longer stays, nature, snorkelling
Further south the town gives way to a more rural stretch of coast. It suits people who want space, sea access and very quiet evenings. The drawback is distance from the centre, so you may need a lift or a long walk for supplies.
Raw fish cured in lime or lemon juice, then mixed with coconut cream, onion and chilli. It is a common starter in coastal Fiji and is often served at family meals.
Meat, fish and root crops wrapped in leaves and cooked slowly over hot stones in an earth oven. Families usually prepare a lovo for Sundays, weddings and village celebrations.
Taro leaves wrapped around coconut cream and onion, sometimes with corned beef, then baked until soft. It is often cooked in a lovo and eaten with taro or cassava.
Taro leaves simmered in coconut milk until they turn thick and creamy. It is an everyday side dish in Fijian homes, served with fish, root crops or rice.
Curries of chicken, fish, lentils or vegetables, eaten with flat roti bread. This food comes from Fiji's Indo-Fijian community and is a cheap, filling lunch in small town cafés.
A drink made from the ground root of the kava plant and mixed with water. It is shared at ceremonies and evening gatherings, and visitors may be offered a bowl in villages.
The best time to visit Levuka is May to August. This is the drier part of the year. Rain falls to 96 mm in June and 77 mm in July, compared with 324 mm in January. Days are also a little cooler, with highs of 25.6–27°C. September is also fairly dry, with 93 mm of rain.
January is still rated good, but it is one of the wettest months. It gets 324 mm of rain on about 25.6 days, so expect rain on most days. On the plus side, the sea is warm at 29.3°C and there are about 10.3 hours of sunshine a day. If rain would spoil your trip, go between May and August instead.
Yes, August is one of the best months to visit Levuka. It is the coolest month, with highs of 25.6°C and lows of 22.8°C. Rainfall is lower at 116 mm, though it still rains on about 17.9 days. The sea is at its coolest, 25.7°C, but it is still warm enough for swimming.
Levuka is warm all year. Daytime highs range from 25.6°C in August to 29°C in February. Nights stay mild, with lows between 22.8°C and 25.7°C. Sea temperatures range from 25.7°C to 29.8°C. The main difference between seasons is rain, not heat.
Plan about 2 days in Levuka. The town sights fit into 1 full day. Beach Street takes 1–2 hours. The museum, the Mission Hill steps and Gun Rock take about 1 hour each. The churches and the Royal Hotel need about 30 minutes each. Add half a day for a trip inland to Lovoni village.
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