Nadi is Fiji's gateway town, sitting on the dry western coast of Viti Levu about fifteen minutes south of the international airport. Nearly every visitor to Fiji passes through here, and most treat it as a transit stop before heading to the islands. That is fair enough, but Nadi has its own rough charm and is worth a day if you are not in a rush.
The town itself is small and walkable — a single main street lined with Indian restaurants, handicraft shops, and a busy public market. Nadi's large Indo-Fijian population gives it a different feel from the resort coast. You will hear Hindi as often as Fijian, and the food leans toward curries and roti rather than resort buffets.
Most travelers use Nadi as a base for reaching Denarau Island, the resort and marina complex just north of town where boats depart for the Yasawa Islands and the Mamanuca chain. The Sri Siva Subramaniya temple at the south end of town is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere and worth a look even if you are just passing through. North of town, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant and the Sabeto Hot Springs make an easy half-day combo.