Nadi: Temples, Markets and Landscapes

Nadi as a Destination

Nadi is Fiji’s international gateway. Nadi International Airport (NAN) lies north of Nadi Town on the west coast of Viti Levu; it has been redeveloped and modernized to welcome visitors. Nadi Town is well suited to a relaxed day of food, culture and shopping. The business district has numerous affordable eateries and local shops.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Nadi, you can start by considering which aspects of the destination you want to shape your stay: city life with markets and shops, temples and culture, or activities in the surrounding landscape. This overview can help you choose what to explore based on your travel interests.

Markets and City Life

The Nadi Handicraft Market offers masi cloth, woven mats, baskets, fans and carved wooden items. Downtown Nadi is especially suitable for buying local handicrafts and souvenirs. The food market in Downtown Nadi has fresh fruit at affordable prices; prices and availability may change. The markets have different focuses: one highlights handicrafts and souvenirs, while the other offers fresh food.

Away from the markets, Nadi Town also brings food, culture and shopping together for a relaxed day out. The business district has numerous affordable eateries and local shops. When planning, you can choose between visiting a market, having a meal and browsing the shops, without relying on any particular hotel offer.

Temples, Culture and Culinary Experiences

Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple stands in the heart of Nadi and is dedicated to Lord Murugan (Subramaniya Swami). Its distinctive features include Dravidian-style architecture, vibrant colors and detailed carvings. The temple’s architecture and religious dedication give it a special cultural significance within the destination.

The Nadi Town Walking Tour visits the temple and offers an introduction to Hinduism and Indo-Fijian culture. It also visits the Nadi Handicraft Centre, where the guide shares stories about traditional Fijian carvings, masi and woven handicrafts. The tour combines a temple visit with insights into culture and crafts.

At the Vavavi Cooking & Cultural Experience, participants learn to prepare traditional Fijian dishes, including lovo dishes. In contrast to the walking tour, the focus here is on hands-on cooking. Both experiences offer different insights into culture: the tour through places and stories, and the cooking experience through preparing food.

Landscape and Activities

The Bulaccino farm covers 30 acres and is located in a valley in Nadi below the Sleeping Giant Mountain Range. South Sea Orchids, a flower and orchid farm with guided garden tours, is also located near Nadi. If you’re planning to take a tour, check its current availability in advance.

Go Dirty Tours’ quad bike tours also take you through the landscape, along winding trails that lead back to the main road through Nadi Town. Further afield in the region lie the Nausori Highlands. They include the peak of Koromba south of Nadi and the peak of Koronayitu north of Nadi; the range offers opportunities for hiking, trekking and off-road excursions. The range of activities extends from tours through Nadi Town to exploring the wider landscape.

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