Honolulu, United States
Top places to visit in Honolulu
6 places worth your time in Honolulu, with what each is actually like and when to go.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Pearl Harbor
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The USS Arizona Memorial over the sunken battleship, with free timed tickets.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Cost: Free, USD 1 booking fee
- Tip: Tickets release eight weeks and 24 hours ahead, and go within minutes.
2. Diamond Head
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
A tuff cone crater with a steep trail to a view over Waikiki.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Cost: USD 5 plus parking
- Tip: Reservations now required for non-residents.
3. Waikiki Beach
Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The famous stretch below the hotels, with gentle surf and beginner lessons.
4. Hanauma Bay
Photo: Free Photos by Studio Elepaio · CC BY 2.0 · source
A protected reef in a volcanic crater, with a compulsory conservation briefing.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Cost: USD 25
5. North Shore
Photo: Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view · CC BY 2.0 · source
Big-wave beaches in winter, shrimp trucks and a much slower pace.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: November to February for the surf
6. Iolani Palace
Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The only royal palace on American soil, and the site of the 1893 overthrow.
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