Honolulu itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Honolulu, day by day: Diamond Head, Ala Moana and ʻIolani Palace first, then Pearl Harbor, the State Capitol and Punchbowl Cemetery, and Hanauma Bay, the Nuʻuanu Pali lookout and Waikīkī as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Honolulu in 1 day
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Honolulu in 2 days
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
Day 2
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Honolulu in 3 days
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Honolulu Zoo Must see
A 42-acre zoo in Kapiʻolani Park at the east end of Waikīkī, with an African savanna and tropical animals.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
Day 2
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Must see
Known as Punchbowl, a military cemetery inside an extinct crater, with memorial maps and views over Honolulu.
Day 3
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Mauna ʻAla, the burial place of the Kamehameha and Kalākaua royal families in Nuʻuanu Valley; open on weekdays.
Honolulu in 4 days
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Sand Island Must see
Island at Honolulu Harbor's entrance with a state recreation area of beach, lawns and views of the downtown skyline.
Day 2
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Must see
Known as Punchbowl, a military cemetery inside an extinct crater, with memorial maps and views over Honolulu.
Day 3
Hilton Hawaiian Village Must see
A large resort on Waikīkī's west end with shops, lagoon and Friday-night fireworks visible from the beach.
Ala Moana Beach Park
A calm, reef-protected beach park with lawns and shade trees, popular with local families for swimming and picnics.
Day 4
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
Aloha Tower Must see
A 1926 lighthouse tower on Honolulu Harbor, once the city's tallest building, with a free observation deck.
Honolulu in 5 days
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Day 2
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
Sand Island Must see
Island at Honolulu Harbor's entrance with a state recreation area of beach, lawns and views of the downtown skyline.
Day 3
Mission Houses Museum Must see
The oldest houses in Hawaii, built for 19th-century American missionaries, with guided tours and archives.
Hawaii State Library Must see
A 1913 neoclassical library downtown with a pleasant open-air courtyard; free to enter.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Must see
Known as Punchbowl, a military cemetery inside an extinct crater, with memorial maps and views over Honolulu.
Day 4
Hilton Hawaiian Village Must see
A large resort on Waikīkī's west end with shops, lagoon and Friday-night fireworks visible from the beach.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Ala Moana Beach Park
A calm, reef-protected beach park with lawns and shade trees, popular with local families for swimming and picnics.
Day 5
Aloha Tower Must see
A 1926 lighthouse tower on Honolulu Harbor, once the city's tallest building, with a free observation deck.
Honolulu in 6 days
Day 1
Hanauma Bay
A protected bay in a volcanic crater with coral reefs and fish, Oʻahu's best-known snorkelling spot; reservations required.
Honolulu Zoo Must see
A 42-acre zoo in Kapiʻolani Park at the east end of Waikīkī, with an African savanna and tropical animals.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Must see
A large resort on Waikīkī's west end with shops, lagoon and Friday-night fireworks visible from the beach.
Day 2
Mission Houses Museum Must see
The oldest houses in Hawaii, built for 19th-century American missionaries, with guided tours and archives.
Hawaii State Library Must see
A 1913 neoclassical library downtown with a pleasant open-air courtyard; free to enter.
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Must see
Known as Punchbowl, a military cemetery inside an extinct crater, with memorial maps and views over Honolulu.
Day 3
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
Day 4
Bishop Museum
Hawaiʻi's largest museum, founded in 1889, with a major collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artefacts and natural history.
Kakaʻako
A former warehouse district between Waikīkī and downtown, now known for large street-art murals, new shops, breweries and restaurants.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Day 5
Sand Island Must see
Island at Honolulu Harbor's entrance with a state recreation area of beach, lawns and views of the downtown skyline.
Aloha Tower Must see
A 1926 lighthouse tower on Honolulu Harbor, once the city's tallest building, with a free observation deck.
Day 6
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Hālona Blowhole
Roadside lookout on the southeast coast where waves force seawater up through a lava tube; whales visible in winter.
Sandy Beach Park
Wide beach known for powerful shore break and bodyboarding; dangerous for swimming, better for watching.
Honolulu in 7 days
Day 1
Diamond Head Must see
Volcanic crater above Waikīkī with a steep 1.3 km trail to the summit and views of the coast; reservations required.
Honolulu Zoo Must see
A 42-acre zoo in Kapiʻolani Park at the east end of Waikīkī, with an African savanna and tropical animals.
Waikīkī Beach
Honolulu's famous beach strip, lined with hotels and with gentle waves good for beginner surfing, swimming and views of Diamond Head.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Must see
A large resort on Waikīkī's west end with shops, lagoon and Friday-night fireworks visible from the beach.
Day 2
Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii
Mauna ʻAla, the burial place of the Kamehameha and Kalākaua royal families in Nuʻuanu Valley; open on weekdays.
Hawaii State Library Must see
A 1913 neoclassical library downtown with a pleasant open-air courtyard; free to enter.
Oahu Cemetery
Historic 1844 cemetery in Nuʻuanu with graves of missionaries, merchants and notable figures of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Hawaii State Capitol Must see
Modernist 1969 capitol whose design evokes volcanoes and the ocean; the open-air rotunda and grounds are free to visit.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Must see
Known as Punchbowl, a military cemetery inside an extinct crater, with memorial maps and views over Honolulu.
Day 3
USS Arizona Memorial Must see
Memorial over the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor where 1,177 crew died on 7 December 1941; reached by Navy boat.
USS Bowfin (SS-287) Must see
Second World War submarine open for self-guided tours next to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre, with a submarine museum.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Must see
Two World War II hangars on Ford Island, one still scarred by the 1941 attack, filled with restored military aircraft.
Kakaʻako
A former warehouse district between Waikīkī and downtown, now known for large street-art murals, new shops, breweries and restaurants.
Day 4
Bishop Museum
Hawaiʻi's largest museum, founded in 1889, with a major collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artefacts and natural history.
Honolulu Museum of Art
Hawaii's largest art museum, with Asian, European and Pacific collections arranged around quiet courtyards near downtown.
Ala Moana Center Must see
The largest open-air shopping centre in the US, with hundreds of shops and a big food court between Waikīkī and downtown.
Day 5
Sand Island Must see
Island at Honolulu Harbor's entrance with a state recreation area of beach, lawns and views of the downtown skyline.
Aloha Tower Must see
A 1926 lighthouse tower on Honolulu Harbor, once the city's tallest building, with a free observation deck.
Day 6
Hanauma Bay
A protected bay in a volcanic crater with coral reefs and fish, Oʻahu's best-known snorkelling spot; reservations required.
Hālona Blowhole
Roadside lookout on the southeast coast where waves force seawater up through a lava tube; whales visible in winter.
Sandy Beach Park
Wide beach known for powerful shore break and bodyboarding; dangerous for swimming, better for watching.
Day 7
Mānoa Falls
A 150-foot waterfall at the end of a short, often muddy rainforest trail in the Mānoa Valley; swimming in the pool is discouraged.
Mission Houses Museum Must see
The oldest houses in Hawaii, built for 19th-century American missionaries, with guided tours and archives.
ʻIolani Palace Must see
The only royal palace in the United States, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, restored with original furnishings.
Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park
Japanese-style gardens in a Nuʻuanu cemetery, with a three-storey pagoda and a replica of Kyoto's Golden Pavilion.
Nu‘uanu Pali
Cliff lookout on the Koʻolau range with sweeping windward views, site of the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu.
Watch: Honolulu in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Honolulu
April to June and September to November are good months, with warm weather, fewer visitors and lower prices. Honolulu is warm all year; the winter months are slightly wetter, and big surf hits the North Shore from about November to March. December to March and June to August are the busiest and most expensive periods.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Honolulu on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Honolulu on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Honolulu on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Honolulu with Kiwitaxi
- Sightseeing pass: save on Honolulu's top attractions with Go City
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Honolulu with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Honolulu
- Diamond Head requires advance online reservations for out-of-state visitors (entry and parking time slots); start early before the heat.
- Hanauma Bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and needs an online reservation, released two days ahead at 7am Hawaii time.
- USS Arizona Memorial programmes are free but reserve timed tickets on recreation.gov; bags are not allowed at Pearl Harbor, so use the paid bag storage.
- ʻIolani Palace is closed on Sundays and Mondays; book guided or self-guided tour tickets in advance.
- TheBus covers most of Oʻahu cheaply with a HOLO card; a car helps for the southeast coast and the Pali Lookout.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Ala Moana Beach Park: Public domain Public domain false false This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Gerald Farinas , at the English Wikipedia project . Th, Public domain
- Ala Moana Center: Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aloha Tower: Father of JGKlein, Public domain
- Bishop Museum: Mark Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Diamond Head: mar1865, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hanauma Bay: ErgoSum88, Public domain
- Hawaii State Capitol: Xpixupload Camera location 21° 18′ 24.34″ N, 157° 51′ 26.53″ W View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap 21.306760; -157.857370, Public domain
- Hawaii State Library: Joel Bradshaw, Public domain
- Hilton Hawaiian Village: Travis.Thurston, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Honolulu Museum of Art: LFL16, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Honolulu Zoo: ErgoSum88, Public domain
- Hālona Blowhole: This file was created by Thomas Tunsch . It is not in the public domain and use of this file outside of the licensing terms is a copyright violation. Please cre, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kakaʻako: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mission Houses Museum: Travis.Thurston, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mānoa Falls: Danieljaycho, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific: Cleared as filed at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nu‘uanu Pali: Lukas from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0
- Oahu Cemetery: Joel Bradshaw, Public domain
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum: Pacific Aviation Museum, CC BY 2.0
- Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sand Island: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sandy Beach Park: Glenn Cando, CC BY-SA 3.0
- USS Arizona Memorial: DoD photo by: PH3(AW/SW) JAYME PASTORIC, USN, Public domain
- USS Bowfin (SS-287): Max Smith, Public domain
- Waikīkī Beach: Pickle the cool, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ʻIolani Palace: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
