Northern Mariana Islands: Getting there & around

Travellers from Asia have the best air access to the Northern Marianas. There are direct flights between Saipan and Tokyo, Osaka, Korea and the Philippines. Travellers from North America will have to connect in Guam. Travellers from Europe will likely connect at one of the Asian gateways.

Although there are occasional inter-island boats within the Marianas, it's rare to find any sort of passenger vessel going to the islands from other countries, save for the occasional private yacht.

A car is the best way to get around Saipan, which has a good road system and light traffic, though you can expect to see bumper-to-bumper traffic on busy Beach Rd. There are rental agencies at the airport and in a few of the larger hotels. A car is also the best way to get around Tinian or Rota, though roads are far less extensive on the smaller islands than on Saipan. Still, you can get to the main sights without too much trouble, though you'll want a high-clearance truck or 4WD for the more out-of-the-way spots. There are agencies at the airport and in San Jose on Tinian and at the airport and Songsong Village on Rota. Your home driving license is good for up to 30 days, but it's a good idea to bring an International Driver's Licence if your regular one isn't in English. Driving is on the right-hand side.

There's no public bus system on Saipan, though there are shuttle buses running between the major towns. Taxis are metered and privately owned, but hideously expensive. They're clearly marked and easy to find at the airport and the larger hotels.

Travelling between islands means flying, and Saipan is the hub. There are several daily flights between Saipan and Tinian and between Rota and Saipan or Guam. Saipan airport is at the southern end of the island, just north of San Jose on Tinian; Rota's airport is in the north-eastern half of the island. A ferry sails from Saipan's Charlie Dock to Tinian, and back.