Babeldaob

Babeldaob is one of the islands making up Palau.

Understand

Babeldaob is the biggest island of Palau, and has a population of about 6,000. The village of Melekeok on the island has served as Palau's capital city since 2006, despite its small population of about 250 people. It is the smallest national capital in the world by population.

Get in

• 🌍 Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR  ^IATA) (in the south of the island). The main gateway to Palau.  

From Koror you can cross over the Koror-Babeldaob bridge by car, bus or taxi.

Get around

Driving is the best option for getting around this sparsely populated area. The roads here tend to be in very good condition and the traffic very light.

See

Melekeok

Palau's capitol building

• 🌍 Palau's capitol complex. Melekeok is home to Palau's capitol complex, which is a 30- to 45-minute drive from downtown Koror. The picturesque capitol grounds include the judicial, legislative and executive buildings for the national government. The capitol complex remains controversial to many locals, given its expansive size and cost relative to the country's tiny population. (updated Jan 2020)

• Did el Bad er a Beriber. Ancient Dock's stone bridge. (updated Jan 2020)

• 🌍 Ngermecheluch Site. (updated Jan 2020)

• Lomech er Ngii el mora (Ngeremecheluch). Ancient stone path. (updated Jan 2020)

Elsewhere

• 🌍 Odalmelech. Ngermelech Gods carved from stone. (updated Jan 2020)

• Meteu el Klechem (Ngermelech Village). (updated Jan 2020);

• 🌍 Bai el Melekeong/Euang el Chades (Ngerang). Melekeok's Bai and its platform of four. (updated Jan 2020)

Do

Buy

As of March 2011 there is no place in the capital area to eat or buy food, drinks or anything else.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 Airai Water Paradise Hotel & Spa (southern end of Babeldaob), ☏ [phone]. The hotel has three of the largest things of Palau—the largest storyboard full of Palau history, the largest water park with two water slides, and the largest olympic-sized swimming pool. Standard rooms, honeymoon suites, and newly-renovated ocean view suites are available. 

Connect

Go next

• Koror