Guam
TerritoryAdministered by: United States
“Where America's day begins — Chamorro culture, wartime history and a Micronesian air hub.”
Guam is the largest island in Micronesia and an unincorporated US territory whose licence plates say "Where America's Day Begins" — it is west of the date line, so it sees the sun before the mainland. The indigenous Chamorro people have been here for around 4,000 years, and the latte stones — pillars with capstones that supported houses — are the visible remains of the pre-contact civilisation.
It changed hands from Spain to the US in 1898, was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1944, and the recapture left the island with a National Historical Park covering seven sites, plus wrecks in Apra Harbour where a German ship from the First World War lies touching a Japanese freighter from the Second. Today about a quarter of the island is US military land and the visitor economy is built on Japanese and Korean holidaymakers, with Tumon Bay's hotel strip as the centre of it.
Highlights
War in the Pacific National Historical Park
Seven separate sites covering the 1944 recapture — Asan and Agat beaches, gun emplacements, caves and memorials to both the fighting and the Chamorro civilians who endured the occupation.
Apra Harbour wrecks
The SMS Cormoran, scuttled in 1917, and the Tokai Maru, sunk in 1943, lie touching each other on the harbour floor — the only place in the world where you can put a hand on a ship from each world war at once.
Latte Stone Park and Chamorro sites
Pillars and capstones from the pre-contact era relocated to Hagåtña, plus the House of Taga tradition and the Chamorro Village night market on Wednesdays.
Two Lovers Point and the south
A 120-metre cliff above Tumon Bay with a Chamorro legend attached, and the far greener southern half of the island with Talofofo Falls, Inarajan's pools and Cetti Bay.
Entry requirements for Guam
Checking your passport…
We don't hold entry details for this passport group yet.
Before you fly
The detail
- Passport validity
- Most destinations want validity beyond your stay, and some want six months. Check yours against the return date.
- Onward travel
- Airlines may ask for a return or onward ticket at check-in.
- Health
- US-standard healthcare at Guam Memorial Hospital and Guam Regional Medical City. US insurance generally works; others need travel cover. Dengue outbreaks occur occasionally. No malaria.
- Money
- US dollar. Cards work everywhere. Guam has no sales tax on most goods, which is part of the duty-free shopping appeal for Asian visitors.
When to go
BestDec–May. AvoidJul–Oct.
Dry season; cooler with steady trades.
The band above each month is our editorial verdict - it weighs crowds, prices and access as well as weather. The line is average daily temperature, the bars are monthly rainfall. Select a month for the figures. Climate figures: ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2005–2024 normals.
What it costs
A day in Guam
Comfortable · sample day
≈ $173
Line items are real prices we track. The daily budget is an editorial estimate for this level, not their sum.
Where this sits among 244 countries we have costed
Rates track Japanese and Korean holiday periods — Golden Week, Obon, Chuseok and New Year — rather than the local weather. The wet season is cheapest.
Updated Aug 2026 · Editorial synthesis — Guam Visitors Bureau data and accommodation sampling (2025–2026) · confidence high
Excludes international flights - they depend on where you fly from.
Regions to know
5Tumon and Tamuning
The hotel and duty-free strip, the beach, Two Lovers Point above it and the aquarium.
Hagåtña
The small capital — Latte Stone Park, the Spanish-era plaza, the cathedral and the Chamorro Village market.
Apra Harbour and the west
The naval base, the Cormoran and Tokai Maru wrecks, Gab Gab beach and the Piti bomb holes.
The south
Umatac's Magellan monument, Inarajan pools, Talofofo Falls, Cetti Bay and the greener inland hills.
The north
Andersen Air Force Base, Ritidian Point's wildlife refuge and the limestone cliffs of the northern plateau.
Practical guide
Getting there
Antonio B. Won Pat International is a regional hub served by United, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Jeju Air, Philippine Airlines and others from Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Taipei and Honolulu. United's island-hopper runs east through Micronesia.
Getting around
A hire car is the practical option — the island is 50 kilometres long and public transport is limited. Tumon has a shuttle circuit for hotel guests. Taxis are expensive; ride-hailing is limited.
Money & costs
US dollar. Cards work everywhere. Guam has no sales tax on most goods, which is part of the duty-free shopping appeal for Asian visitors.
Safety
Generally safe with ordinary US-style urban precautions in Tumon at night. The hazards are marine — strong currents, sharp reef and box jellyfish occasionally — plus typhoons in season. Brown tree snakes have wiped out most native birds but are harmless to people.
Health
US-standard healthcare at Guam Memorial Hospital and Guam Regional Medical City. US insurance generally works; others need travel cover. Dengue outbreaks occur occasionally. No malaria.
SIM & internet
GTA, Docomo Pacific and IT&E. Most US mobile plans include Guam at domestic rates, which is worth checking. 4G and 5G across the island.
Driving
Right-hand traffic, US-style road signs and a 35 mph island maximum. Traffic around Tumon and Tamuning is heavy at rush hour. Military installations occupy a quarter of the island and are clearly signed as closed.
Rules change - verify with an official source before you rent.
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GuamFrequently asked questions
What are the entry rules?
Guam is US territory and US immigration law applies — visa-waiver nationals need ESTA and everyone else needs a US visa, exactly as for the mainland. There is one additional route: the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program admits some additional nationalities, including Korea and Taiwan, for 45 days for Guam and the Northern Marianas only.
Is it worth going beyond Tumon?
Very much. Tumon is a hotel and duty-free strip built for Japanese and Korean package tourism. The southern half of the island — Umatac, Inarajan, Merizo and the inland trails — is greener, quieter and where Chamorro village life is most visible. A hire car opens it up in a day.
What about typhoons?
Guam sits in one of the most typhoon-prone parts of the world, with the season running roughly June to December and peaking August to November. Typhoon Mawar in May 2023 caused major damage. Buildings are engineered for it, but a direct hit closes the airport and the island for days.