The Vanuatu Cultural Centre (Vanuatu Kaljoral Senta) houses the national museum, library and archives in a traditional-style building opposite Parliament. The collection is modest in size and outstanding in content.
You will see tall slit gongs carved from tree trunks, masks and headdresses from Malekula and Ambrym, outrigger canoes, shell money and pottery from the Lapita people who first settled these islands about 3,000 years ago. Exhibits also cover the Anglo-French Condominium and independence in 1980.
Top things to do: Vanuatu Cultural Centre & National Museum
Watch a sand-drawing demonstration
A museum guide traces intricate, unbroken patterns in sand with one finger while telling the story each one records. Sand drawing was a way of passing messages between the many language groups of central Vanuatu and is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Hear the instruments
Guides often play bamboo flutes and the slit gongs and explain how rank and ceremony work in different islands.
Ask about Chief Roi Mata
The museum is the best place to understand Chief Roi Mata’s Domain, Vanuatu’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, before you see its landscapes around Havannah Harbour.
How to get to Vanuatu Cultural Centre & National Museum
- On foot or by bus: the centre is on the hill above the town centre, opposite the Parliament building — 15–20 minutes’ walk uphill from the seafront, or a few minutes by bus.
Insider tips
- There is a modest entry fee, with a small extra charge for the guided tour and sand drawing — worth it.
- It is usually open on weekdays and Saturday mornings, and closed on Sundays and public holidays. Hours have varied since the 2024 earthquake; check the current status before you go.
- Allow an hour. Photography rules vary by exhibit — ask first.
Tours that include Vanuatu Cultural Centre & National Museum
These bookable experiences are the easiest way to see Vanuatu Cultural Centre & National Museum:
Private tour from €248 per group Port Vila: Private Customisable Tour with Driver
A private vehicle and local driver for five hours, with the route built around what you want to see. Priced per group, so it works out well for families and friends sharing.
- Your own vehicle and driver
- Choose your own stops and pace
- Priced per vehicle, for up to 14 people
