Koror

Koror is the largest city in Palau. Koror was also the capital until 2006, but the hamlet of Melekeok, some 20 km away, now has that honor.

Understand
Home to an estimated population of between 10,000 and 14,000 (or half of the country's inhabitants) it's no surprise that Koror has the largest concentration of different services; for visitors these include shops, diving operators, and places to eat and sleep. Like other capitals of small island nations in the Pacific, the city is rather utilitarian and doesn't have that many attractions.

Climate
The climate is tropical; warm or hot throughout the year with a lot of rain. The first couple of months of the year are a bit drier, whereas July to October is the rainiest part of the year.

History
Palau has been inhabited by people from maritime Southeast Asia for several millennia. The first Europeans to reach the islands were the Spanish, and the islands were subsequently part of the Spanish East Indies for centuries. Despite this, Koror remained a small fishing village until the islands were sold to the German Empire in 1899.

During the brief German rule, the harbor was expanded, a colonial administration was set up here and the population grew to around 500. After World War I, the islands came under Imperial Japanese rule. In the following decades the population of the town grew to 38000, though few of them were native Palauans. The Japanese made Koror the capital of the South Seas Mandate, and established a weather station, schools and military facilities. As such, the islands saw major fighting during the Pacific War, after which they were administered by the United States.

The U.S. made Guam their main base in the South Seas, which meant Koror lost some of its importace under the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In 1994 Palau became an independent country and Koror served as its capital until 2006, when the seat of government was moved to Melekeok/Ngerulmud, a planned city on the neighboring island of Babeldaob. Nevertheless, the latter is home to the seat of government and little else, with Koror remaining the economic capital and Palau's most populous city by far.

Get around
There are three primary methods of getting around Koror: rental car, taxi, and the BBI shuttle. Walking may be an option for some, but most of the large resorts are located well outside the main shopping/dining area of Koror.

By car
There are car rental companies at the airport, as well as rental desks at some of the large resorts. Palauans drive on the right side of the road, though many of the cars are imported from Japan and have steering wheels on the right. Traffic tends to move very slowly through Koror, as the speed limits are low and speed bumps are liberally sprinkled throughout the city. Although the traffic flow varies throughout the day, the volume is light enough that there are no traffic signals in Koror.

By taxi
Koror has a sufficient number of taxis, though they can be difficult to find if you are out walking around. It's usually easiest to ask the hotel concierge or even your waiter/waitress to call one for you. The taxis here are not metered, but rather have a fixed rate sheet based on your starting and ending points. A taxi ride from the far-flung Palau Pacific Resort into the heart of Koror costs $6-8, depending on exactly where you're getting dropped off.

By shuttle bus
In the evenings the BBI shuttle service is also an option. It operates roughly 5-10PM, with two shuttles plying the same route in opposite directions. The shuttles stop at the two major resorts, Palau Pacific and Palau Royal, and cover the entire stretch of the main street through downtown Koror. Shuttle tickets cost $7 per person and are good for a week. The shuttles follow a timeline and schedules are easily obtained when you purchase your ticket. The larger resorts sell tickets right at the hotel.

See








Do




Diving
Diving in the state of Koror is one of the most spectacular experiences you'll have. A popular place is near the Rock Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dive shops












Palauan Storyboards
There are a number of stores in Koror to purchase traditional Palauan storyboards, but by far the largest selection of story boards in Koror can be bought from the jail. Storyboards are made by the prisoners, and the proceeds go to their families to help support them while they are in jail. Helpfully, they put a color-coded sticker on each storyboard and give visitors laminated sheets describing the story associated with each color. The jail is in the center of Koror, set back off the main street on the east side. They only accept cash, and are the most expensive place to purchase storyboards. It is illegal to import anything made by prison labor into the USA.

Another non-traditional location that has a vast selection of storyboards is the Rock Island Cafe. They are displayed around the restaurant, simply ask at the counter for pricing and selection. Some of the larger resorts have a small selection of storyboards in their gift shops. Locals can also point you to some out-of-the-way storyboard shops that you'd never find on your own. These hidden shops tend to have the lowest prices, but also usually have a small selection.

A small storyboard at an inexpensive store will start around $100. The largest storyboards at the jail, which may be several feet across and elaborately carved into the shape of an animal, can run to several thousand dollars. Many of the places that sell storyboards can assist you with shipping them back home. Major shipping companies and even the USPS all serve Palau.

General shopping
There are small shops and markets on Main Street in downtown Koror. The two largest shopping centers are the WCTC Shopping Center and Surangel's Supercenter, which are right across the street from one another in the center of town. Surangel's has the best selection of sunblock in town.

Money
Credit cards are accepted at most shops and restaurants. The Bank of Guam and the Bank of Hawaii both have an ATM on Main Street in central Koror. In early 2012 there was no surcharge for using these ATMs, though they did limit you to a maximum withdrawal of $200 per day.

International














Also, the Taj, an excellent Indian restaurant, Fuji, a reasonably-priced pseudo-Japanese restaurant, or Dragon Tai on the way into Koror.

Drink




Splurge




Embassies

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Citizens of Canada can obtain assistance from the Australian Embassy. Citizens of other countries will have to contact a mission outside Palau. The responsible British embassy is in Manila (Philippines). The responsible New Zealand consulate is in Honolulu (Hawaii, U.S.). The responsible French embassy, which also provides assistance to other EU citizens, is in Manila.

Go next
Explore the rest of Palau. To the south there are the uninhabited Rock Islands, a popular place for diving. Across the bridge to the north is the largely undeveloped Babeldaob, with the village of Melekeok which is the world's least-populated national capital.