You’ve got one day in Port Vila and you don’t want to waste it. Here’s how to plan it, from a local family that meets cruise passengers at the Seafront every ship day.
Coming ashore at the Seafront
Cruise passengers come ashore at the Seafront cruise terminal, right in the middle of Port Vila town. The waterfront, cafés, the market, handicraft stalls and the duty-free shops are all within a short walk, so you don’t need transport to explore town.
If you have 3–4 hours
- Walk the waterfront and, on weekdays, the Port Vila Market for fruit, flowers and a local lunch.
- Buy Vanuatu-made baskets, carvings and sarongs at Haos Blong Handikraft on the Seafront.
- Shop duty free at Fung Kuei, Paris Shopping, Prouds or Downtown Duty Free.
- Try a reef trip from the Seafront: kayaking, snorkelling or the semi-submersible (see adventure).
- Lunch with a harbour view: see where to eat.
If you have a full day
This is when Efate really shines. The best-known places are outside town, so a local driver saves a lot of time:
- Blue Lagoon: the famous swimming hole, about 30 minutes from town on a sealed road.
- Mele Cascades: terraced waterfalls just west of town, often paired with Tanna Coffee and Mele Beach.
- Vanuatu Jungle Zipline: six ziplines and a 120 m Skybridge, about 20–25 minutes from town.
- The Efate Ring Road: the whole island in one day, for longer port calls.
Our Day Tours #1–#4 and cruise-day tours combine these stops, with entry fees and lunch included on the Day Tours.
Money & shopping tips
- The local currency is the vatu (VT). Cards are accepted at many businesses, but markets and some attractions only take cash, so bring some vatu.
- Shops usually close early on Saturday and many are closed on Sunday, so check if your ship is in at the weekend.
- At markets, prices are usually fixed, and haggling isn’t part of local custom.
- Check your home country’s rules before buying wood, seeds, shells or alcohol to take back.
Getting back on time
The ship won’t wait. Know your all-aboard time, keep your ship card with you, and plan to be back at the Seafront with time to spare. When you tour with Blue Express, tell us your all-aboard time and we plan the whole day around it.