It is the gateway to PNG, and almost all visitors to the country pass through the city. While it has a daunting reputation due to high crime rates and is considered one of the least livable cities anywhere, almost all of the locals are welcoming and there are some interesting sights. Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea.
The city is on the shores of the Gulf of Papua. Its population is around , and growing quickly. The indigenous people of the area are the Motu-Koitabu. Moresby, as it is commonly known, got its name from Captain John Moresby who arrived in as the first European visitor. The city is quite spread out. The original colonial settlement was by the sea and this is still the port area, as well as the main business and banking district. On the hills above are upmarket residences. Closer to the airport, separated from the original town by hills, is Waigani, a s development built to provide facilities for the PNG Government, which were needed for independence in Nearby are the housing areas of Boroko and Gordons, which also contain most of the large shops.
Port Moresby is the main point of entry into Papua New Guinea for air-traffic and most of the boat-traffic. Airfares from Australia can be quite cheap. From other countries fares are fairly expensive and it may be cheaper to fly to Brisbane or Cairns and fly to Port Moresby from there. The airport is modern, and immigration and customs are relatively smooth as long as you have the correct visa , especially as the staff are extremely friendly; however, delays are common when multiple flights arrive at once.
If you are transferring to a domestic flight you might have to rush as you have to exit the international terminal, turn right and walk m to the domestic terminal. If you are flying Air Niugini domestically, you can check in at their transfer desk next to the other check-in desks in the international terminal, then walk over to the domestic terminal.
All major hotels will provide airport transfers - make sure they know your arrival time and whether you will be at the international or domestic terminal. In addition, a bus connects the airport with downtown Port Moresby, taking 30 minutes.
