Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · United States

Honolulu

A photograph of Honolulu
Photograph · Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0

Honolulu is the urban centre of Oʻahu, with Waikīkī, Downtown and the south shore forming the principal visitor base. Pearl Harbor lies west, while the Windward Coast, Central Oʻahu, the Leeward Coast and the North Shore are separate island regions rather than city neighbourhoods. Keep city days focused on Honolulu and treat farther Oʻahu sites as planned excursions with their own transport time.

Practical information

Language spoken
English is the principal language; no federal official language
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+1
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 120 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Water quality is regulated locally; check the current notice for the destination

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, TheBus, Biki, shuttle or car
  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. USS Arizona Memorial USS Arizona Memorial
    02 45 min

    USS Arizona Memorial

    USS Arizona Memorial is the white memorial structure spanning the wreck of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  2. Battleship Missouri Memorial
    03 45 min

    Battleship Missouri Memorial

    The Battleship Missouri Memorial is a museum ship and war memorial located at Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship that served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  3. USS Bowfin
    04 45 min

    USS Bowfin

    The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is a World War II submarine museum located adjacent to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre on Oahu, Hawaii.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  4. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
    05 45 min

    National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

    The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, locally called Punchbowl Cemetery, is a United States national cemetery located inside Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcanic tuff cone above central Honolulu.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  5. Halona Beach Cove Halona Beach Cove
    06 45 min

    Halona Beach Cove

    Halona Beach Cove is a small, scenic coastal inlet located beneath the Halona Blowhole Lookout on the southeastern shore of Oahu, near Honolulu.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  6. Aloha Tower Aloha Tower
    07 45 min

    Aloha Tower

    Aloha Tower is a historic lighthouse and landmark located at Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The tower was completed in 1926 and served as a welcoming beacon for arriving ships.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  7. Duke Kahanamoku Statue Duke Kahanamoku Statue
    08 45 min

    Duke Kahanamoku Statue

    The Duke Kahanamoku Statue stands on Waikīkī Beach as a bronze monument honoring Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer who popularized surfing globally.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  8. 1192
    23 45 min

    1192

    • High
    • Historic monument
  9. 1193
    24 45 min

    1193

    • High
    • Historic monument
  10. 1194
    25 45 min

    1194

    • High
    • Historic monument
  11. 1195
    26 45 min

    1195

    • High
    • Historic monument
  12. 1196
    27 45 min

    1196

    • High
    • Historic monument
  13. Aviary
    39 45 min

    Aviary

    • High
    • Historic monument
  14. B22
    40 45 min

    B22

    • High
    • Historic monument
  15. B23
    41 45 min

    B23

    • High
    • Historic monument
  16. B24
    42 45 min

    B24

    • High
    • Historic monument
  17. B25
    43 45 min

    B25

    • High
    • Historic monument
  18. B26
    44 45 min

    B26

    • High
    • Historic monument
  19. B26
    45 45 min

    B26

    • High
    • Historic monument
  20. Buddah
    50 45 min

    Buddah

    • High
    • Historic monument

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

All places in this city

How the city is laid out

Waikīkī occupies the south shore east of Downtown Honolulu. Downtown contains the civic and historic core, while Ala Moana sits between them and Diamond Head marks the eastern end of the main urban visitor strip. Pearl Harbor is west of the centre. Beyond Honolulu, the island divides into Windward, Central, Leeward and North Shore regions, each requiring deliberate travel rather than an extension of a city walk.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk within Waikīkī and compact parts of Downtown, then use TheBus, shuttles, taxis, rideshares or a rental vehicle for longer trips. Biki bike share serves Honolulu and Waikīkī, while island attractions outside the urban core can require substantially more travel time. Public transport reaches many cultural and scenic sites, but check current routes and the return schedule before committing to a distant Oʻahu excursion.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Honolulu?

A fixed stay length is not recorded. Separate Honolulu and Waikīkī sightseeing from excursions to Pearl Harbor, the Windward Coast or the North Shore.

Is Waikīkī the same as Downtown Honolulu?

No. Waikīkī is the main resort district on the south shore, while Downtown contains the civic and historic core farther west.

Can I get around Honolulu without a car?

Yes. Walking, TheBus, Biki, shuttles, taxis and rideshares cover the main urban areas. A car can be useful for dispersed island destinations outside Honolulu.

Is the North Shore part of Honolulu?

No. It is a separate Oʻahu region and requires a planned island journey. Do not treat it as a quick extension of a Waikīkī walking day.

Where does Biki operate?

Biki is Honolulu's bike-share system and serves Honolulu and Waikīkī. Check the current station map before relying on it for a specific route.

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Honolulu