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.

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Category

Historic monuments 251 Museums 19 Places of worship 138 Nature sites 273 Viewpoints 59 Food and drink 1 Markets and shopping 62 Entertainment 12 Nightlife 86 Family attractions 2 Art and culture 43 Activities 7

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 273

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 258 Sea and beach 258 Viewpoints 0
  1. Waikīkī Beach
    01 1 hour

    Waikīkī Beach

    Waikīkī Beach is Honolulu’s best-known urban beach and the seafront focus of Waikīkī.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  2. Diamond Head State Monument
    02 1 hour

    Diamond Head State Monument

    Diamond Head State Monument is the protected volcanic crater known in Hawaiian as Lēʻahi and Honolulu’s defining summit walk.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  3. Lanikai Beach
    03 1 hour

    Lanikai Beach

    Lanikai Beach is a residential Windward Oʻahu beach known for pale sand and views toward the Mokulua islets.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  4. Kailua Beach Park
    04 1 hour

    Kailua Beach Park

    Kailua Beach Park is a major public beach park on the Windward coast of Oahu, operated by the City and County of Honolulu.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  5. Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
    05 1 hour

    Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

    Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is a large botanical garden on the windward side of O'ahu, Hawaii. Established in 1982, the garden spans approximately 400 acres in the Kane'ohe area.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  6. Waimanalo Beach
    06 1 hour

    Waimanalo Beach

    Waimānalo Beach is a long stretch of sand on Oahu's Windward Coast, situated beneath the Koʻolau mountain range. The beach remains less developed than many other Oahu coastal destinations, offering a comparatively natural shoreline experience.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  7. Sandy Beach
    07 1 hour

    Sandy Beach

    Sandy Beach Park is a public beach park on the south-east shore of Oahu, Hawaii, within the city and county of Honolulu. It is known for its powerful shorebreak and is a notable destination for body-surfing.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  8. Makapuu Beach Park
    08 1 hour

    Makapuu Beach Park

    Makapuu Beach Park is a coastal beach park located on the southeastern shore of Oahu, Hawaii, below Makapuʻu Point and the trail leading to the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  9. Foster Botanical Garden
    09 1 hour

    Foster Botanical Garden

    Foster Botanical Garden is a historic botanical garden located in central Honolulu. It is one of the five sites comprising the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system, which is managed by the City and County of Honolulu.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  10. Lyon Arboretum
    10 1 hour

    Lyon Arboretum

    The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum is a university botanical garden located in Mānoa Valley on the island of Oʻahu.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  11. Ala Moana Beach Park
    11 1 hour

    Ala Moana Beach Park

    Ala Moana Beach Park is a large sheltered urban beach park located opposite the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  12. Kakaako Waterfront Park
    12 1 hour

    Kakaako Waterfront Park

    Kakaʻako Waterfront Park is an urban waterfront park located in the Kakaʻako district of Honolulu, Oʻahu. The park occupies reclaimed industrial land along the southern coast of the island, offering open space with views of the Pacific Ocean.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  13. Fort DeRussy Beach Park
    13 1 hour

    Fort DeRussy Beach Park

    Fort DeRussy Beach Park is a broad sandy beach located on the western edge of Waikīkī in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  14. Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
    14 1 hour

    Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

    The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center serves as the National Park Service gateway to Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  15. Koko Crater Botanical Garden
    15 1 hour

    Koko Crater Botanical Garden

    Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a dryland botanical garden situated within the interior of Koko Crater on Oahu, Hawaii. It is one of five gardens comprising the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  16. Liliuokalani Botanical Garden
    16 1 hour

    Liliuokalani Botanical Garden

    Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden is a native-plant botanical garden in Honolulu, Hawaii. It occupies a site along Nuʻuanu Stream below the Nuʻuanu Pali. The garden is named for Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

    • Must see
    • Nature site

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

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

Nearby districts and related places

Nearby places

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