Battle of Tarawa sites — In November 1943, US Marines fought one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War to take Betio, a tiny islet on Tarawa Atoll. The remnants are still there: Japanese bunkers, gun emplacements, rusting tank carcasses half-buried in the sand. It is a quiet, affecting place to walk around. The national museum in Bairiki has artefacts and background.
Bonefish on Kiritimati — Christmas Island is one of the world's premier fly-fishing destinations. Its vast flats hold enormous numbers of bonefish, and the fishing lodges here cater to serious anglers. Even non-fishers will be struck by the scale of the island — the lagoon is extraordinary — and the bird colonies that crowd the interior lakes and ponds.
Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) — The world's largest marine protected area encompasses the Phoenix Islands and the surrounding ocean. Access is heavily restricted and very expensive, but the reefs here are among the most pristine on Earth, rarely visited and largely unaffected by human activity.
Maneaba culture — Every village has a maneaba, the traditional open-sided community hall built from coconut wood and pandanus thatch. Gatherings here involve dance, storytelling, and the kind of communal life that has largely disappeared elsewhere in the Pacific. Visitors are sometimes invited; be respectful, follow your host's lead.
Outer island life — Taking a domestic flight or a slow boat to one of the outer Gilberts — Abemama, Abaiang, Nonouti — is the real experience. The pace drops entirely, coconut palms lean over white beaches, and the I-Kiribati hospitality is genuine. Come with time, flexibility, and the right expectations.