Suva

In a country where superlatives aren’t that hard to come by, Suva does well to muster an impressive collection. Not only is it the largest city of Fiji, but also home to the island nation’s largest universities, it’s tallest building and undoubtedly most of its cosmopolitan populations. Granted it’s just a stone’s throw from the paradisiacal beaches of Denarau and Natadola, but it’s a far cry from both, with its bubbling nightlife scene, palm-shaded shanty towns and the lively seaside strip of Victoria Parade. Suva is also a great place to immerse oneself in the South Pacific vibe, and those looking to do so can take off for a trek to the Colo-I-Suva forest park or don a garland of hibiscus flowers and ask their Suva tourist guide for places to grab tickets to a city rugby game, where teams of stout islanders face off against each other like the tribal warriors that once inhabited the volcanic hills all around. Indian influences also abound with Bollywood movies and curry houses aplenty rubbing shoulders with Fijian cookhouses downtown, where steamy Fijian curry and its ubiquitous mango sides are washed down with generous servings of kava.