Palau hotels where to stay.

Hotels in Palau are concentrated around the country’s main visitor bases: Koror, the transport and tour hub, and Melekeok (Ngerubesang) on Babeldaob, where you’ll find more spacious, resort-led stays. Palau is a small Pacific island nation best known for crystalline lagoon waters and limestone seascapes, most famously the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon UNESCO World Heritage Site in Koror State. For travellers, this means choosing accommodation close to departure points for day trips—especially if you’re planning diving, snorkelling, and boat excursions.

Best regions to base yourself

Koror is the clear top pick for first-timers: it’s where most flights connect onward, most tours are booked, and the majority of hotels sit within easy reach of restaurants and services. For a more elevated, island-style stay, base around Melekeok (Ngerubesang) on Babeldaob, ideal if you want a quieter pace between excursions (and easy access to inland viewpoints) while still enjoying the same lagoon highlights.

When to go

Palau is warm year-round, but conditions change noticeably. The dry season typically runs from November to April, bringing lower humidity and generally more reliable visibility for water activities. The wet season (roughly May to October) is lusher but sees heavier rainfall and occasional storm impacts, so outdoor plans may be more weather-dependent.

Getting around

There are no trains, and services are focused on road travel and boats. In practice, visitors rely on taxis, rental cars, and hotel/tour transport, with Koror acting as the main hub for land access. For the Rock Islands, most experiences are delivered via guided boat trips, so staying in Koror usually saves time and hassle.