You searched “Love Island Fiji”… and suddenly you’re booking a flight to Suva?
You’re not alone. While the show was filmed on a private villa in the Mamanuca Islands, thousands of curious viewers and future travellers have been mistakenly typing “Suva” into flight searches – and guess what? That little detour might just be the best happy mix-up ever.
Suva isn’t a castaway fantasy with infinity pools and cocktail decks. But what it is, is the cultural soul of Fiji – gritty, vibrant, layered with history and flavour. If you came for Love Island and clicked on Suva, here’s why you might want to follow through and explore it for real.
The Love Island Effect: What Sparked the Suva Search Surge?
In 2024, travel platforms reported a surge in searches for Suva after Love Island USA aired its ‘Fiji’ season. What most people didn’t realise? The show was shot in the Mamanuca Islands, hours away from the capital.
But digital maps and flight sites like Google Flights, Expedia, and Skyscanner defaulted to “Suva (SUV)”, Fiji’s political capital. Result? A surge of confused but curious clicks – with people suddenly exploring Suva, even if they didn’t mean to.
Suva, quietly, became Fiji’s most Googled city that wasn’t a resort.
And that unexpected interest? It’s now Suva’s opportunity.
So, What Is Suva?
Suva is the pulse of Fiji – not the postcard, but the poem.
Perched on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, Suva is one of the South Pacific’s most cosmopolitan cities. It’s a medley of cultures: Indigenous iTaukei heritage, Indo-Fijian spice, colonial architecture, Chinese bakeries, modern markets, reggae beats, gospel choirs, and rugby chants.
Here, you’re not tucked away in a tourist-only bubble. Suva is for locals first – which makes it real, a little chaotic, and totally full of character.
It’s where Parliament sits, where art galleries host open-mic nights and food vendors shout over the bus stand’s brass band. It’s where past, present, and future Fiji meet on bustling Victoria Parade.
What to Do in Suva: A Curious Traveller’s Checklist
Fiji Museum & Thurston Gardens
Set in Suva’s lush botanical gardens, the Fiji Museum houses over 10,000 artifacts from ancient double-hulled canoes to British colonial tea sets. A great first stop to understand Fiji’s deep cultural roots, and yes, several displays feature real whale’s teeth (tabua).
Suva Municipal Market
Get ready to be dazzled by colour and fragrance. This huge central market is packed with tropical fruit, taro, chillies, fish, spices and handmade coconut oil. Grab some rourou (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) or a bag of ripe mangoes and chat with the aunties – they always have stories.
Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
Just 20 minutes from downtown, this rainforest escape features freshwater pools, birdlife, and hiking trails. It’s a cooling, green contrast to the city heat and a favourite local weekend spot.
Eat Your Way Through the City
From curry shops run by Indo-Fijian families to Chinese eateries serving up stir-fries, noodles, and comfort dishes, and even a floating restaurant, Suva’s food scene is quietly delicious. Try a masala chai with cassava cake, or head to Victoria Parade for sushi, sizzlers, meat pies, or affordable and cheerful roti parcels.
Street Art, Culture, and Creative Buzz
Check out the hidden murals around Toorak and downtown. On Friday nights, you might stumble on live acoustic sessions or poetry at Alliance Française de Suva or the Oceania Centre.
Vibrant mural by local artist Jack Eastgate inside the Mana Coffee building – now home to Chef Philippe Café-Restaurant on Suva’s Selbourne Street where art, culture, and cuisine quietly collide. Wai Roka Studios photo.
Suva or Mamanuca? Truth is, you don’t have to choose. Start in Suva, hop to the Mamanucas. Make your Fiji trip a layered experience, not just a filtered one.
So You Clicked on Suva. Why Not Come See It?
That “Suva” search may have been a happy glitch in the algorithm. Fiji is more than beaches and blue lagoons, it’s also stories, people, and cities like Suva that don’t fit neatly into a brochure.
So the next time your screen shows “Suva (SUV)” on a booking site, don’t rush to click away. Take it as an invitation. Pack your curiosity and a big appetite – Suva is ready to surprise you.
🔗 Explore more in Suva: https://explorefijionline.com/place-city/suva
📍 Featuring local stays, markets, events & MSME gems.
This story was compiled and edited by EXPLORE Fiji. Images courtesy of our editorial team and local contributors. Lead photo sourced from Tropica Island Resort Fiji.
👣 Coming Up on EXPLORE Fiji
Suva wasn’t where Love Island was filmed – but there’s more to this story.
In part two of our Suva series, we step off the map and into real life: memories, markets, food, and the heartbeat of Fiji’s capital. Stay tuned.
#SeeSuva #ExploreFijiLocal #NotLoveIslandButBetter
