Not to be confused with Kotor in Montenegro. Koror is the largest city in Palau. Koror was also the capital until 2006, but the hamlet of Melekeok, some 20 km away, now has that honor.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Home to an estimated population of between 10,000 and 14,000 (or half of the country's inhabitants) it's no surprise that Koror has the largest concentration of different services; for visitors these include shops, diving operators, and places to eat and sleep. Like other capitals of small island nations in the Pacific, the city is rather utilitarian and doesn't have that many attractions. The climate is tropical; warm or hot throughout the year with a lot of rain. The first couple of months of the year are a bit drier, whereas July to October is the rainiest part of the year. Palau has been inhabited by people from maritime Southeast Asia for several millennia.
There are three primary methods of getting around Koror: rental car, taxi, and the BBI shuttle. Walking may be an option for some, but most of the large resorts are located well outside the main shopping/dining area of Koror. There are car rental companies at the airport, as well as rental desks at some of the large resorts. Palauans drive on the right side of the road, though many of the cars are imported from Japan and have steering wheels on the right. Traffic tends to move very slowly through Koror, as the speed limits are low and speed bumps are liberally sprinkled throughout the city.
1 Palau International Coral Reef Center, M-Dock (Walk from downtown Koror in the direction of Malakal. Aquarium is signposted off Main Street by the high school.), ☏ +680-488-6950, picrc@picrc.org. Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM, Sat Sun 9AM-5PM; fish feeding 3:30PM daily. Very educational aquarium with a handful of open-air habitat exhibits and a single room of aquaria with various local aquatic life. The emphasis is on education, though the entire place is easily seen in 30-60 minutes.
1 Palau National Stadium (PCC Track & Field Stadium). Hosts track and field competitions and the national soccer team's home games. Seating capacity of 4000. (updated Feb 2021) Diving in the state of Koror is one of the most spectacular experiences you'll have. A popular place is near the Rock Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 2 NECO Marine Palau (at the NECO Malakal Marina), ☏ +680 488-2009, +680 488-1755. 7:30AM–5:30PM. A locally-owned tour operator that was also PADI's first dive center on Palau. NECO Marine Palau provides custom tours and boat charters, specializing in scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing.
1 Yano's Market (Yano & Sons). Try the beef steamed in titiml leaves (a local plant that is often confused with basil), clams cooked in coconut, or local kangkun vegetables stir-fried with onions and garlic. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Penthouse. Try the fruit bat cooked in coconut if you are adventurous. Otherwise, the creamy taro leaf soup with coconut, local fish soup (which you can also have for breakfast with fried garlic rice), mangrove crabs in spicy sauce, grilled prawns and baked lobster with garlic butter are all must tries. This restaurant also has an excellent in-house bakery. (updated Jan 2020) 3 Taj (right across from the jail). A popular Indian eatery.
1 SLC. A locals bar where foreigners are warmly welcomed. With a patio perched on the edge of one of the rock islands and live bands most weekends, it's a good place to spend a Friday or Saturday evening. Located on the outskirts of Koror, you'll need a cab, which shouldn't set you back more than $10 to get to and from central Koror or PPR. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Palm Bay Bistro, Malakal (right behind West Plaza Malakal, south Koror, right before the Ice Box Plant), ☏ +680 488-3476. 7AM-9PM. Great steaks and pastas, and it has the best bartender in Koror with a jewel of a collection of signature drinks and coffees.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Sep, Koror typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 28 rainy days.
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