The quickest way from Nadi to Suva is a 30-minute Fiji Link flight to Nausori Airport. The cheapest is the express bus along the Queens Road, which takes about four hours. Driving yourself takes a little over three hours on the Queens Road, and private transfers sit in between on comfort and cost.
Most international flights land at Nadi, on the other side of Viti Levu from Suva. This guide compares your options, with tips for families, late arrivals and anyone heading to Nausori or Nakasi rather than central Suva.
Nadi to Suva at a glance
Fly (Fiji Link): about 30 minutes in the air. Best if you're short on time or heading to Nausori.
Drive (Queens Road): 186 km, about 3 hours 10 minutes. Best for families with lots of luggage or anyone who wants stops along the way.
Express bus: about 4 hours. The cheapest option, best for light travellers.
Private transfer: about 3 to 4 hours, door to door. Best for groups and late arrivals.
Times are from Fiji Pocket Guide and the Pacific Transport timetable. Check current schedules before you travel.
Flying from Nadi to Suva (Nausori)
Fiji Link, the domestic arm of Fiji Airways, flies between Nadi and Nausori several times a day, with a flight time of about 30 minutes (Fiji Pocket Guide). The flights land at Nausori Airport, about 10 km from Nakasi.
Baggage: 7 kg carry-on and 15 kg checked on a domestic-only ticket. If your domestic flight is on the same ticket as your Fiji Airways international flight, you usually keep your international allowance.
Connecting at Nadi: the domestic terminal is a short walk from international arrivals. Allow extra time for the domestic security check, and carry photo ID.
Weather: small planes can be delayed or cancelled in bad weather, so leave some slack in your plans.
For what to expect when you land, see our Nausori Airport arrivals guide.
The Queens Road, Viti Levu. Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Driving from Nadi to Suva
The Queens Road along the south coast is the usual route. Fiji Pocket Guide puts it at 186 km and about 3 hours 10 minutes, passing Sigatoka and Pacific Harbour. The northern Kings Road is longer and slower.
Hiring a car at Nadi Airport
Licence: a licence in English from your home country is accepted. If yours isn't in English, you'll also need an International Driving Permit (Fiji Pocket Guide).
Age: rental companies set minimum ages, often 21 or 25.
Rules: Fiji drives on the left.
Road safety tips
Fiji Guide advises against driving at night, especially at weekends. Watch out for:
Animals and people walking on the road
Potholes and speed bumps through villages
Long gaps between fuel stations outside the towns
Taking the express bus
Express buses run along the Queens Road between Nadi and Suva every day. Pacific Transport's timetable lists several daily express departures from Nadi Airport, taking about 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours (Airports Fiji). Sunbeam Transport also runs Queens Road services that stop at Nadi Airport (Fiji Guide).
Fares are paid with a cashless e-ticket card, sold at bus stations, Vodafone outlets and on board.
Check the latest timetable before you travel, and allow extra time to get from Suva to Nausori or Nakasi.
Private transfers and taxis
A private transfer takes you door to door in about 3 to 4 hours. Fiji Pocket Guide lists prices of about FJD 200 to 600 one way, depending on the vehicle. Taxi meters don't apply outside city limits, so agree the fare before you set off.
A transfer makes the most sense for a group of four to six, for families with car seats and lots of bags, or if you land late in the evening.
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park. Photo: Radosław Botev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 PL.
Stops along the Queens Road
If you're driving, break up the trip with a stop or two (Rough Guides):
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park: just east of Sigatoka town, with dunes up to about 80 metres high and marked walks of one to three hours.
Pacific Harbour: known for river trips and shark dives, about 40 minutes before Suva.
Landing late at Nadi?
If your flight lands in the evening, you have two choices. You can stay a night near Nadi and travel to Suva the next morning, or take a late Fiji Link flight or a pre-booked transfer. Avoid driving the Queens Road at night if you can.
Heading to Nausori or Nakasi?
If you're staying in Nausori or Nakasi rather than central Suva, flying to Nausori saves the drive through Suva traffic. Nausori Airport is about 10 km from Nakasi, while driving from Nadi means crossing Suva and then heading up Kings Road.
For more on where to base yourself, see where to stay in Suva: CBD vs Nasinu vs Nausori.
Rest up at the Garden Flat in Nakasi
After a long flight and a cross-island trip, the Garden Flat at SPACES Fiji is a quiet place to land. It's a self-contained 3-bedroom apartment in Nakasi, Nausori, about 10 km from Nausori Airport.
Self check-in from 3:00 pm, so late arrivals are easy
Three air-conditioned bedrooms and two bathrooms
Sleeps 6 at our listed rate, or up to 10 with an extra charge per person per night
Full kitchen, washing machine and dryer
Off-street parking for up to 5 vehicles, if you've hired a car
Book direct for our best rate, or book the Garden Flat on Airbnb. Coming home with family? See coming home to Fiji.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nadi to Suva?
About 3 hours 10 minutes for the 186 km on the Queens Road, longer with stops or traffic.
Is it better to fly or drive from Nadi to Suva?
Fly if you're short on time or staying near Nausori. Drive or take the bus if you have lots of luggage, want to see the Coral Coast, or are on a budget.
Is there a bus from Nadi Airport to Suva?
Yes. Express buses run along the Queens Road every day and take about four hours. Check the current timetable before you travel.
Photo credits
Queens Road, Viti Levu: Maksym Kozlenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sigatoka Sand Dunes: Radosław Botev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 PL.
Garden Flat photos: SPACES Fiji.
Information checked November 2026.
