City guide

Saipan

Saipan is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 estimates by the United States Census Bureau, the population of Saipan was 43,385.

Type Island

Why go

  • Largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Served by Saipan International Airport (SPN).

History

Saipan is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 estimates by the United States Census Bureau, the population of Saipan was 43,385. Its people have been United States citizens since the 1980s. Saipan is one of the main homes of the Chamorro and the Carolinian, the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands.

Airports

Saipan International Airport (SPN) 8.2 km to the centre
I Fadang, Saipan, U, MP — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 5 airlines (Asiana Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Sichuan Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 10 destinations incl. Agana, Beijing, Busan, Guangzhou, Nagoya… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 10 direct destinations
  • Asiana Airlines OZ (767-300, A320, A330-300) · 3 routes: Busan, Osaka, Seoul
  • Delta Air Lines DL (757-200) · 2 routes: Nagoya, Tokyo
  • Sichuan Airlines 3U (330) · 2 routes: Guangzhou, Shanghai
  • United Airlines UA (ATR) · 2 routes: Agana*, Rota*
  • China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-300) · 1 route: Beijing

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Francisco Manglona Borja / Tinian International Airport (TIQ) 25 km to the centre
Tinian Island, U, MP — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor

Where things are

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Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Saipan International Airport (SPN). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: SPN has direct flights to 10 destinations on 5 airlines (incl. Agana, Beijing, Busan, Guangzhou, Nagoya…).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Saipan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.