Wallis & Futuna

Travel tips for Wallis & Futuna: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cash is essential. Cash is king in this remote territory, which has only two ATMs (one on Wallis, one on Futuna). Visitors must withdraw enough XPF francs upon arrival, as card acceptance is extremely limited and non-existent on smaller islands.

Try the food

  • Umu cooked meats and root vegetables (Umu): A traditional feast of pork, fish, taro, and yams slow-cooked in an underground earth oven.
  • Poisson cru: Fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juice and rich coconut milk.
  • Taro leaves in coconut milk (Lū): Tender taro leaves baked with thick coconut cream until soft and savory.

Say it in French

  • Hello: Bonjour
  • Thank you: Merci
  • Please: S'il vous plaît
  • Excuse me: Excusez-moi
  • How much is this?: C'est combien ?
  • The bill please: L'addition s'il vous plaît
  • Yes/No: Oui/Non
  • Goodbye: Au revoir

Essentials

Plugs
Type C / Type E
Voltage
220V, 50Hz
Driving
Right side
Tap water
Usually safe
Emergency
112 (all services), 15 (ambulance), 17 (police), 18 (fire)
SIM tip
Purchase a local SIM card from the SPT (Service des Postes et Télécommunications) office in Mata-Utu, as international roaming and eSIM options are extremely limited.

Etiquette

Tipping is not customary or expected, and visitors should dress modestly, especially when visiting villages or attending church.

Airports in Wallis & Futuna