Sightseeing in Majuro: Top 10 Sights on Majuro

Tucked behind a purple house in Rita, the Japanese Air Raid Shelter is the only intact WW2 bunker on Majuro and one of the least-known historical sites in the Marshall Islands.

Built during the Pacific build-up to protect Japanese troops from pre-invasion bombardments, this heavily reinforced concrete personnel shelter was part of the defence network around the Djarrit Seaplane Base. It features a central corridor connecting two square observation holes at each end, blast barriers at the steel door entry and an alternate escape door at the back; similar shelters exist at Northfield Air Base in Tinian and Aslito Field in Saipan, but few survive as intact as this one.

The shelter sits on private land, so it's always polite to knock and ask permission before visiting. The owners typically keep it closed to discourage children from playing inside, but show genuine interest and they'll usually open it up for you.

Be aware that WW2-era live ammunition has been found at sites like this across the islands, so look, don't touch.

Stunning white sands rounding the western point of Majuro, Laura Beach is a destination in itself.

This white sand beach curves around a natural point, making it an ever-shifting landscape where the shoreline itself changes over time. Beyond the beach, there's a lot to explore: snorkel out beyond the point, walk across the reef to patchier sections and you'll find coral, surgeonfish, butterflyfish and more among the seagrass.

The site also holds cultural significance as the legendary Bōkjānwūt legend site, and an old domestic plane adds a quirky, photogenic element. Facilities include showers, toilets, picnic areas and shade, so you can make a proper day of it. With all this in mind, there is an entry fee to Laura Beach: US$2 per adult or $1 per child, paid in cash to the custodians at the gate entrance.

Worth noting: after heavy rain, fresh water flows out into the lagoon. It may look cloudy, but it's just freshwater runoff, not pollution. Litter can occasionally be an issue, though custodians generally do their best to keep things tidy.

When it comes to cultural sites, Bōkjānwūt is the most tangible and accessible, located within the Laura Beach compound.

The site centres on a shallow groundwater well said to be where the young Bōkjānwūt transformed his mother, Likijdrik (the she-rat), into a beautiful woman using a chant and coconut milk, after a chance encounter with the son of irooj (chief) Jemāluut led to an unforgettable canoe race.

The legend is as rich as it is memorable, weaving together themes of disobedience, identity and transformation in a way that feels distinctly Marshallese.

Although the rocks might not look like much from the ground, if you get a view from above, locals say you can see the outline of the rat lady. Though we also recommend climbing the coconut trees to the experts. Whether or not you spot her, the experience is genuinely otherworldly.

Another site that's well worth checking out, mainly because it's one of the rare few with an interpretation panel and the remains somewhat intact, is LiModrel's Well.

The land here, called Ņamwijel Wāto on what was once the Wōja Islet, was an important meeting place for Majuro Atoll and the home of LiModrel, a woman celebrated for her beauty and skill in weaving traditional clothing from pandanus leaves.

After a devastating 1905 typhoon wiped out most of Majuro's coconut trees and freshwater wells, the community came together to replant the island. When LiModrel's husband, Makpi, spotted two birds (kolej) drinking from a small hole, he discovered a freshwater source that never ran dry, estimated to hold over five million gallons.

An interpretation sign on the roadside tells the full story; it's well worth a few minutes of your time.

The small islands on the northern edge of Majuro Atoll are a world away from the bustling main island, where their natural beauty is reason enough to add them to this list of sights to see in Majuro. One of the prettiest and easiest islands to explore is Eneko Island.

Just a 20-minute boat ride from Majuro, this conservation island sits in a stunning lagoon of aqua blues and greens, ringed by soft white sand.

Day trippers pay a reasonable fee, which includes round-trip boat transfers and the island entry fee, and are free to swim, snorkel on the lagoon side, barbecue, beachcomb and rinse off with the freshwater facilities on shore.

Snorkel gear is available to borrow (though limited to five sets, so first in, best dressed), and the lagoon-facing side of the island is the recommended spot to get in the water.

Do bring your own food and drinks, as there are no shops or cafés on the island, but there are bathrooms. Tickets and boat transfers are arranged through Hotel Robert Reimers. If you'd rather not leave, basic overnight accommodation is also available.

Yes, there are even sights underwater in Majuro. The Sea Star Pacific DC-3 plane off the coast of Enemanit Island is one that you can either scuba dive or snorkel to.

This sunken Sea Star Pacific DC-3 plane wreck sits at just 10–13 ft (3–4 m) depth, making it one of the most accessible snorkel sites in Majuro.

Only 100 ft (30 m) from the beach, the wreck requires minimal effort to reach, and the surrounding waters offer coral gardens and the occasional spotted eagle ray for those who want to linger a little longer.

Enemanit Island itself is well set up for a full day out, with a large undercover marquee, shady tree areas, a beach, and a rest area with toilets in a rather curious dome building. There's also a concrete pool that comes into its own at high tide, and a jetty that's proved irresistible to jumpers.

The island sits on the northern string of islets and is reachable via various local boat operators LINK#T023. Just note there is a private house on the island, so be respectful of that.

What's travelling without seeing a grand religious structure? The Cathedral of the Assumption is Majuro's most striking church, both inside and out.

Built in 1898, it serves as the seat of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands and features striking geometric inlaid tile floors and a genuinely warm local parish. The Saturday evening English Mass runs at 6:30 pm, while the Marshallese-language service takes place Sunday morning at 9:30 am; both run for around one hour.

Expect communal singing and the lovely tradition of shaking hands and making peace at the close of the service.

Dress respectfully (skirts below the knee for women, long pants for men) and don't leave without checking out the street art at the adjacent Assumption School. Afterwards, grab a hot dog from the nearby supermarket for a true local post-church experience.

A bit of wartime and colonial history sits in the aptly-named Japanese Peace Park, where a memorial and concrete seating areas await under the shade of elaborate trees.

The memorial was constructed by the Japanese government in 1984 to honour all those who lost their lives in the islands and seas of the East Pacific during World War Two.

Located just past the airport on the road towards Laura, the park features some of the last large preserved trees on Majuro, concrete seating and a solemn memorial inscription dedicated to world peace.

Beyond its role as a commemorative site, the park has served as a ceremonial site for the cremated remains of fallen Japanese Imperial Soldiers before their repatriation home, a process the Japanese government continues to undertake in cooperation with Marshallese authorities.

It's a reflective, shaded spot with genuine historical weight, though it's worth noting that litter can be an issue.

Ejit Island offers one of the shortest and most affordable boat rides from Majuro, making it the easiest introduction to island hopping in the Majuro Atoll. But come for the culture, not the beach.

This small island on the northeastern edge of the atoll is home to a deeply resilient community: the displaced people of Bikini Atoll, relocated here following U.S. nuclear testing in the 1940s and 1950s.

A visit here is as authentic as it gets. The community has a church and a school (donations are genuinely welcomed), and locals are known for their extraordinary generosity, even running boats through the night to transport neighbours to the hospital on the main island.

It's a raw, real and quietly moving slice of Marshallese life that few visitors take the time to experience.

Yes, the locals really do call it Mt Trashmore, and yes, it is the landfill in Majuro, and yes, it is absolutely worth a look as you cruise along the main Lagoon Road.

On an atoll as narrow as Majuro, space is almost impossibly scarce, which means infrastructure (the kind we all quietly rely on back home) has nowhere to hide. The landfill sits in plain sight, which is what gives it that strange, morbidly fascinating quality that's hard to look away from. But roll up your windows as you drive past...

Locals will also cheerfully point out that Mt Trashmore is the highest point of elevation on the entire atoll, which says everything you need to know about the geography here.

Managed by the Majuro Atoll Waste Company, the site is set to be rehabilitated and relocated in the coming years, so this may be a limited-time attraction. See it while you still can.