Figuring out how to get to Palau can be tricky and that is why we wrote this detailed article.
When you are making tentative plans to travel to Palau or you want to book your flights to Palau you will be pleased to hear that ‘Palau is open for travel”.
You can fly directly into Palau from:
- Guam
- Brisbane (Australia)
- Taipei
- Manilla
- Singapore
There are 6 airlines flying to Palau
- United Airlines from Guam and Manila
- China Airlines from Taipei
- Air Niugini from Brisbane
- Ali Palau Airlines from Singapore
Charter Flights
- Sky Angkor Airline from Macau
- Cambodia Airways from Macau
- Jeju Air from Seoul
Table of Contents
Where is Palau Located?
Before you can start planning your trip to Palau you need to know where Palau is located. Palau is an island state in the Western Pacific Ocean between Guam and the Philippines and is a part of a Micronesian region that contains over 250 islands.
Due to the remoteness of our pristine island, travelling to Palau was long known for the long haul, red-eye flights and long layovers.
Luckily this changed and travelling to and getting into Palau is much easier and more comfortable these days with more airlines offering flights into Palau from different countries in the world.
A Quicker Route Into Palau from the USA
United Airlines announced that from October 29, 2023, they will offer daily non-stop flights between Manila and San Francisco. This also means a quicker and more direct route to Palau.
Until then u will start your Palau vacation from the USA when boarding a United Airlines flight in LAX and you will fly to Palau via Honolulu, Guam, into Palau.
Flights to Palau from the US come in only twice a week on Monday and Friday.
How to get to Palau Infographic
Image credit: Pristine Paradise Palau
Travel to Palau
If you are planning to travel to Palau to experience the incredible diving that Palau is renowned for, you should fly to one of the 3 international airports that offer (direct) flights into Palau.
Keep in mind that Palau is a remote island and with that, not too many people plan a trip to Palau.
To give you an idea, in 2019 only 94000 tourists travelled to Palau which is not enough to create a large market in the airline industry. Therefore there are no daily flights coming into Palau.
Flights to Palau from the Philipines Manila
- (MNL) – Palau (ROR)
- Flight Time: 2.5 hours
- Distance: 1.600 KM
Direct flights to Palau from the Philippines depart from Manila. Flights are scheduled on Friday and Tuesday nights.
Manila is a bussy international airport with multiple nonstop daily flights to major destinations in Asia and Australia.
Many airlines offer daily direct flights to Manila from the United States and Europe.
It is, however, tough to schedule a same-day flight to Palau due to a conflict in the arrival and departure times and therefore it is best to make reservations for an overnight stay.
Also read: When is The Best Time to visit Palau?
Flights to Palau from Taiwan
- Taiwan (TPE) – Palau (ROR)
- Flight Time: 4 hours
- Distance 2.300 KM
Flights from Taiwan to Palau are scheduled every Wednesday and Saturday and take about four hours. Services are provided by China Airlines. China Airlines offers direct flights from Europe to Taipei with good connections to flights to Korror.
Flying from Guam to Palau
- Guam (GUM) – Palau (ROR)
- Flight Time: 1.5 hours
- Distance: 1.300 KM
The flight from Guam to Palau is only 2 hours or so.
You can fly from Guam to Palau and back every day except Saturday.
Guam has daily flights to Honolulu, Hawaii, providing an excellent connection hub to New York. Guam also offers connections from London flights if you are travelling from Europe.
Also, Guam provides connections to multiple destinations such as Japan, Korea, Manila, as well as Micronesian destinations such as Chuuk (Truk), Yap and Kosrae.
How to Get Palau from Australia
Brisbane to Palau
- Brisbane (BNE) – Port Moresby (POM)
- Flight Time: 3 hours
- Distance: 2080 KM
Flights from Brisbane, Australia to Palau are scheduled to depart and arrive on Tuesdays only.
Port Moresby to Palau
- Port Moresby (POM) – Palau (ROR)
- Flight Time: 3.5 hours
- Total distance: 2337KM
Flights from Port Moresby to Palau are scheduled to depart and arrive on Tuesdays only.
Flying to Palau from Singapore
- Changi (SIN) – Palau (ROR)
- Flight Time: 6.5 hours
- Distance: 4069 KM
You can fly from Singapore to Palau and back every Thursday and Sunday
Palau International Airport
Your Palau vacation will officially start when you arrive at Palau International Airport.
The official name of the airport is: The Roman Tmetuchl International and is Palau’s only (international) airport.
The airport code is: ROR. you can use the Palau airport code when searching for your flights to Palau online.
When planning your Palau vacation make sure to stay in the loop about the most recent updates from the Palau Airport by following follow them on:
Tips for planning your vacation Palau
-
Double-check departure times and dates of “connecting” flights.
Automatic booking systems often show the route you can take from your home airport to the Palau International Airport.However, they can also cause trouble, in that they might not consider flights that have layovers, which in many cases is unavoidable.
Flight plans change, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on how to get to Palau or need any help or advice when planning your Palau vacation. - Have a Positive Mindset
Having a positive mindset is key. You are travelling to paradise. Try not to let the little things bother you too much. Remember, “You are on a Palau vacation!” - Get to the airport early
We hear this over and over again, but who does do this? Three hours before flight departure is a perfect time to arrive at the airport.
When you get through check-in, customs, security and immigration quickly, you have enough time for a meal and to prepare yourself for the trip to Palau ahead. -
Wear comfortable clothes
It seems like each time you get on a flight it is either too hot or too cold. You used to be able to count on the airlines having blankets on each flight, but this is no longer the case.Wear long pants, dark clothes and bring a sweater along to make your trip much more comfortable.
-
Join Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Airline employees can make use of “crew” lines for immigration. But, even they have a better option, that is available to all U.S. citizens or permanent residents, “Global Entry.”
All you have to do is run your passport through the kiosk, and you are on your way to customs.
TSA Pre-Check is similar and can help you get through airport security quicker, and you can even leave your shoes on! When you are standing in line waiting there is nothing more frustrating than seeing those who have done some planning whiz through these lines. -
Buy Travel Insurance
It is always a good idea to buy travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. Travel insurance will vary from company to company.
We recommend coverage that includes:
- Health
- Evacuation
- Weather delays
- Missing baggage and missed flights due to weather
While a Palau vacation takes a little extra planning, it is not that difficult.
If you need any advice of help planning your Palau vacation, please do not hesitate to contact our US reservations team directly via e-mail