Tarawa: 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.
Tarawa is the capital of Kiribati (Gilbert Islands), 6 m (20 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Bonriki International Airport (TRW), 20 km (12 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Tarawa runs from about 12 h 5 min a day in late December to 12 h 14 min in late June (computed for 1.33° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Tarawa is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Bonriki International Airport (TRW), 20 km (12 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,598 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Tarawa: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Tarawa · Driving and car hire
Common questions
Which airport serves Tarawa?
Bonriki International Airport (TRW), 20 km (12 mi) from the centre.
How big is Tarawa?
About 40,311 people live in Tarawa (GeoNames).
What time zone is Tarawa in?
Pacific/Tarawa, currently UTC+12.
What currency is used in Tarawa?
The Dollar (AUD). Traffic drives on the left.
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.