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- WWII bunkers and pillboxes (north and ocean-facing shores) — Concrete Japanese defensive positions still dot the beaches; they’re eerie, totally tangible relics of the Battle of Tarawa and easy to walk up to for photos and a sense of scale you won’t get from books.
- Beach shipwrecks and landing-craft remains — Rusting hulks and landing craft lie half-buried along the ocean-side beaches. They’re dramatic to see at low tide and great for snorkelers who want history and coral in the same swim.
- Betio Wharf and port area — The working wharf is where supplies and people still arrive; watching offloads, fishermen hauling catches and the small-boat traffic gives a sharp, authentic snapshot of daily life on Tarawa.
- Pontoon causeway and breakwater — The WWII-era and later causeway linking Betio
- WWII bunkers and pillboxes (north and ocean-facing shores) — Concrete Japanese defensive positions still dot the beaches; they’re eerie, totally tangible relics of the Battle of Tarawa and easy to walk up to for photos and a sense of scale you won’t get from books.
- Beach shipwrecks and landing-craft remains — Rusting hulks and landing craft lie half-buried along the ocean-side beaches. They’re dramatic to see at low tide and great for snorkelers who want history and coral in the same swim.
- Betio Wharf and port area — The working wharf is where supplies and people still arrive; watching offloads, fishermen hauling catches and the small-boat traffic gives a sharp, authentic snapshot of daily life on Tarawa.
- Pontoon causeway and breakwater — The WWII-era and later causeway linking Betio into South Tarawa is walkable and photogenic; it’s also a practical way to understand how the island connects to the rest of the atoll and to watch local fishermen at work.
- Battle of Tarawa memorials and commemorative plaques — Scattered memorials, plaques and small monuments on Betio honour U.S., Japanese and local lives lost. They’re modest, solemn places that reward anyone wanting context after walking the battlefield sites.
- Betio fish market and street stalls — A frontline taste of island life: fresh fish, small food stalls and vendors. It’s loud, busy and the best place to see (and buy) the day’s catch and chat with locals about food and fishing.
- Local maneaba (village meeting house) — Betio’s maneabas are still social centers; if you’re respectful and lucky you can hear community meetings, music or dances, and see how traditional governance and social life function today.
- Coastal gun emplacements and concrete fortifications — Beyond the bunkers there are larger gun platforms and reinforced walls that show the scale of Japanese fortification. Walk these for panoramic ocean views and a real feel for the island’s wartime perimeter.
- Ocean-side beaches and tide pools — Not postcard-perfect white-sand resorts, but alive: reef pools, shore life, and dramatic ocean surf where you can snorkel, explore tide pools and watch sunsets that feel private and rugged.
- Boatbuilding yards and fishing community workshops — Small local yards where traditional boats are still made and repaired; good for watching craftsmen, learning about local methods and often great spots to arrange short fishing or island trips with local skippers.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.