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Vanuatu · Shefa

Port-Vila: how to get there and around

Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.

Port-Vila is the capital of Vanuatu (Shefa), 10 m (33 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre.

Key facts

Population35,901
Elevation10 m (33 ft)
Area24 km²
Time zonePacific/Efate (UTC+11 now)
CurrencyVatu (VUV)
Dialling code+678
Driving sideRight
Plug typesAS/NZS 3112, BS 1363, Euro
UN/LOCODEVUVLI
Coordinates-17.736, 168.314
Port-Vila

Open Port-Vila in Google Maps

Daylight in Port-Vila runs from about 11 h 6 min a day in late June to 13 h 14 min in late December (computed for -17.74° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.

Getting there

Port-Vila is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,530 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.

Flights to Port-Vila: every airport, routes and times

Buses to Port-Vila · Driving and car hire

Twin towns and sister cities: Shanghai, Dumbéa, Lifou.

Common questions

Which airport serves Port-Vila?

Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre.

How big is Port-Vila?

About 35,901 people live in Port-Vila, across 24 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).

What time zone is Port-Vila in?

Pacific/Efate, currently UTC+11.

What currency is used in Port-Vila?

The Vatu (VUV). Traffic drives on the right.

Where these facts come from

  • GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
  • Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
  • OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
  • Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines

Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.