Red Beach & WWII Bunkers

Betio Islet, South Tarawa, Kiribati

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Red Beach & WWII Bunkers on Betio Islet in South Tarawa, Kiribati, is one of the Pacific’s most important World War II historic sites.

The beach was a major landing area during the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943, a fierce three-day battle between American and Japanese forces that became one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. Today, visitors can still see concrete bunkers, gun emplacements, rusting tanks, and other wartime relics scattered around the shoreline and nearby areas.

Many of these remains are preserved as powerful reminders of the conflict, allowing visitors to connect directly with the island’s wartime history. Despite its peaceful modern setting, Red Beach remains a place of remembrance and reflection. Its combination of tropical scenery and historic military sites makes it one of the most significant cultural and historical attractions in Kiribati.