Arrival brief · Port Moresby POM
POM Arrival Guide: Port Moresby Airport to the City, Safely
Port Moresby is a genuinely high-crime city, so the arrival is a security matter: have your hotel or operator send a known vehicle to meet you, never take a street taxi or walk, and keep a low profile. Arrange it before you fly.
2026-08-26
What to expect after landing
Jacksons International (POM) is orderly inside, but Port Moresby has genuinely high crime, so the arrival is a security matter: have your hotel or operator send a known, secure vehicle to meet you, never take a street taxi or PMV bus or walk, and keep an extremely low profile. Arrange it before you fly, and follow current travel advice and your operator’s security briefing.
PNG uses the kina; use bank/hotel ATMs by day only, keep valuables hidden.
Option 1 — Pre-arranged secure transfer (the only safe plan)
Have your hotel or tour/business operator send a known driver and vehicle to meet you (confirm the name/vehicle in advance). Go straight to them, don’t accept ‘help’ or rides from anyone else, keep valuables out of sight, and go directly to a secure hotel. This is the standard, essential plan for POM.
What to avoid
Do not take street taxis, PMV buses, walk, or accept an unsolicited ‘taxi’ — all carry real robbery risk. Transport in Port Moresby is a security decision; book every movement through your hotel or a trusted company, door to door.
What it looks like
At POM the terminal is fine — the risk begins the moment you leave it. Port Moresby is a genuinely high-crime city, so a pre-arranged known vehicle meeting you (never a street taxi, PMV, or walking), a very low profile, and going straight to a secure hotel are essential, not optional. Confirm your pickup before you fly, follow your operator’s/employer’s security guidance, and check current government travel advice.
Do this instead
Pre-arrange a secure hotel/operator vehicle to meet you by name and take you straight to a secure hotel — never take a street taxi, PMV bus, walk, or accept an unsolicited ride; keep an extremely low profile with valuables hidden; and book every later movement through your hotel/a trusted company. Follow current PNG travel advice and operator security. That’s the whole POM arrival — treat it seriously.
Late-night arrivals
A pre-arranged secure pickup is even more essential late — arrange it before you fly so a known driver meets you and takes you straight to a secure hotel. Do not take a street taxi, walk, or wait around outside. Confirm the driver’s details, keep a low profile with valuables hidden, and go directly to your accommodation. After-dark movement here is high-risk; a known vehicle door-to-door is the only appropriate option.
Quick answers
What's the safest way from Port Moresby airport to the city?
Have your hotel or tour/business operator send a known, secure vehicle to meet you at Jacksons International (POM) — this is the only safe plan, and you should arrange it before you fly. Do not take a street taxi, a PMV (public minibus), or walk anywhere. Confirm the driver's name and vehicle in advance, keep a low profile with no visible valuables on arrival, and go directly to your secure hotel. Port Moresby has genuinely high crime (robbery, carjacking), so the airport transfer is a security matter, not a convenience choice — most reputable hotels and operators provide airport pickup as standard, and you should use it and nothing else.
Is Port Moresby airport safe, and what should I expect?
The airport itself is orderly and the immediate concern is what happens once you leave it — which is why a pre-arranged secure pickup is essential. Expect to be met (if you've arranged it) by your hotel/operator driver holding your name; go straight to them, don't accept offers of 'help' or rides from anyone else, and don't linger. Keep your phone, cash, and valuables out of sight, have your documents ready, and don't discuss your plans openly. Port Moresby is a genuinely high-risk city, so treat arrival with the seriousness of a high-security posting: known vehicle, low profile, straight to a secure hotel, and follow your employer's or operator's security briefing.
Can I take a taxi in Port Moresby?
No — you should not take street taxis or PMV buses in Port Moresby; they carry real robbery and safety risk, and this is standard security advice for the city. Use only a known, pre-arranged vehicle: your hotel's transport, a vetted driver, or a reputable security/transport company arranged through your employer or operator. Never hail a ride, never walk, and never accept a lift from a stranger or an unsolicited 'taxi' at the airport. If you need to move around the city during your stay, book each movement through your hotel or a trusted company, door to door. It's a city where transport is a security decision, so don't improvise.
What if I land at Port Moresby airport late at night?
A pre-arranged secure pickup is even more essential for a late arrival — arrange it before you fly so a known driver meets you and takes you straight to a secure hotel; do not, under any circumstances, take a street taxi, walk, or wait around outside. Confirm your pickup and the driver's details in advance, keep a low profile with valuables hidden, and go directly to your accommodation. Movement after dark in Port Moresby is high-risk, so a secure, known vehicle door-to-door is the only appropriate option. Follow current government travel advice and your operator's security guidance for late arrivals.