The Ultimate Oahu, Hawaii Travel Guide

If you are traveling to Oahu, there is so much to see and plan for your trip! This is my guide to the best things to do including which parts of the island to see, some of the best beaches, snorkeling hot spots, and must-do hikes and restaurants.

If you are going to be island hopping, be sure to checkout my other Hawaii Articles:

Do You Need a Rental Car in Oahu?

Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Oahu is a lot more accessible by public transportation and ride share apps especially if you are staying in Waikiki. If you are planning to stay in the Honolulu, Waikiki area you should be totally fine to get around via uber, walking, or taking the local bus lines. However, if you are planning to travel around the rest of the island (which I highly recommend), it is best to get a rental car. Parking at a lot of the hotels are very expensive ($50-$75/night) in Waikiki though so we ended up renting a car for just a few days of our trip as a cost saving measure.

There are car rentals right in the heart of Waikiki, which make it really easy to rent a vehicle in the middle of your trip. You can also use Turo which lets you rent cars from locals for typically affordable pricing.

Where Should You Stay in Oahu?

There are various options as to where on the island you can stay when visiting Oahu. If you are looking for more remote options, Air BnBs, or more of a local feel, I highly recommend opting to stay on the North Shore or in Kailua. Both have lots to do but are much less touristy than Waikiki. If you are looking for more liveliness, accessible restaurants, resort vibes, and shopping, Waikiki will be much better suited for what you are looking for.

We opted to stay in Waikiki during the duration of our trip at the ‘Alohilani Resort, taking day trips around the rest of the island to explore but ultimately coming back to a more lively area for dinner and the bar scene. Another great spot is The Westin Moana Surfrider, the white building pictured above.

How Many Days Should You Stay?

The duration of your trip to Oahu will largely depend on what kind of vacation you are looking to have. If you would like abundant time to relax on the beach or at the pool, then I recommend coming for 5 full days. This gives you a good balance between relaxing and exploring. If you are looking for more adventure, I would recommend doing 3-4 days in Oahu and then planning to spend some time island hopping. My personal favorite island is Maui so I would recommend traveling here for an additional few days.

The 10 Must Do Things in Oahu
1. Waikiki Downtown and Beach

Waikiki is the main beach and city in Oahu, with a very lively shopping, food, and beach scene. You’ll find an array of designer shops, fun restaurants on the beach like Duke’s and Monkeypod, and the famous Waikiki Beach.

The beach right in front of the Westin Surfrider hotel has some of the best water – it’s so shallow here that there is a sand bar that goes pretty far out into the water. The water here is unbelievably clear, the water here is sandy instead of rocky, and the water remains around 2-4 feet for a long stretch into the water.

Be sure to check if there are any events happening in Waikiki while you are here! We were here during the Spam Jam Festival which was filled with live music, performers, and dozens of food stands and local art.

2. Visit the North Shore

The North Shore is my personal favorite part of Oahu which has so much to offer. The drive here is beautiful, full of greenery and ocean views if you are driving up from Oahu. There are so many incredible snorkel spots here, surf beaches, and some of the island’s most famous food stops. Plan to spend a full day or more here! If I went back, I would look to stay in the North Shore for a few days as it has a more local feel and is considered the most beautiful part of the island by many.

Key Stops in the North Shore:

  • Turtle Bay
  • Shark’s Cove
  • Pipeline Beach
  • Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
  • Waimea Falls
  • Dole Pineapple Farm
  • Kahuku Farms
3. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is a protected bay on Oahu, which was first created from a volanco eruption back in XXXX and formed a cove of vibrant marine life. The snorkeling here is incredible with some of Hawaii’s most endangered fish finding habitat here and abundant Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. In 2016, this was named the #1 best beach in the world so it’s absolutely a must see!

Be sure to make a reservation on their official website if you are planning to visit Hanauma Bay, which cost $25 per person for non-Hawaiian residents. They are also closed on Monday and Tuesday to further protect the reefs and marine life here from the abundant tourism this area has brought over the past decade. Additionally, note that parking is $3 per vehicle and is Cash Only.

When you arrive, you will have to go through a quick 10-minute orientation to learn about proper protocol when snorkeling to protect the marine life and then a tram can take you down to the beach (or you can walk which is only a 6 minute walk)! They have snorkel gear available here to rent but I highly recommend renting gear before coming to be more cost effective.

4. visit Dole Plantation

Visiting the Dole Plantation is a famous stop which gives insight into Hawaii’s pineapple history and agriculture. You can explore the plantation garden, take a short train ride around the plantation, and get the famous Dole Whip soft serve. If you are traveling with kids, this is a really fun stop!

5. Hike Diamond Head

Diamond Head is the most famous hike in Oahu, which is a 1 mile out-and-back trail that takes you around Diamond Head and has amazing coastal views. The hike itself is short but moderate in difficulty due to there being ~100 stairs you will have to climb. This is the seaside cliff visible from Waikiki beach and is an iconic landmark in Hawaii.

As with many popular spots in Oahu, you will also need to make a reservation to enter which is just $5 per person and can be done on the official government website.

6. spend a day at kailua beach

Kailua Beach is one of the most highly rated beaches in Oahu which is known for it’s white sand, clear blue water, and really calm ocean conditions. It’s located on the windward, or East side, of the island so it’s much quieter than Waikiki Beach. The town of Kailua also offers lots of great local shops, casual dining options, and breweries.

7. eat local hawaiian food – loco moco, poke, shaved ice, etc.

Hawaii is known for its authentic local food, specifically its poke, loco moco, shaved ice, acai bowls, fresh pineapple and mango, kalua pork, and macademia nuts.

Some Key Spots:

  • Foodland (Poke)
  • Ono Seafood (Poke)
  • Island Vintage Shaved Ice
  • Duke’s Beach House
  • Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
  • Kona Coffee Purveyors
  • Leonard’s (Hawaiian Donuts)
8. KCC Farmers market (saturday)

The KCC Farmers Market is a 10 minute drive from Waikiki which is a must-do if you will be in Oahu over a Saturday! The market runs from only 7:30-11:30am on Saturdays, but it brings so many amazing local vendors serving fresh fruit, acai, vegetables, various boba and coffee stands, etc. This was actually one of my favorite things to do while here that only takes an hour!

9. Pearl Harbor Museum

I personally didn’t have time to go to the Pearl Harbor Museum while on Oahu, but there is so much rich history here that shares more of Hawaii’s deep history. If you are more of a history buff or you have a tropical rainy day you want an indoor activity for, this would be a great addition to your itinerary.

10. Book Key Activities

There are so many fun activities you can do while in Oahu – surf lessons, a sunset cruise, parasailing, ziplining, etc. I recommend taking a look at sites like Viator and GetYourGuide to get a feel for which activities you may want to do to book in advance of your trip. I recommend trying to have 1-3 things booked to really embrace all that Hawaii has to offer!

  • GetYourGuide for Oahu
  • Viator for Oahu

Events Tip: Be sure to check the calendar for the frequent events and festivals happening in Waikiki

While we were in Oahu, the SPAM Jam Festival was happening which apparently is rather frequent. There were so many food trucks, vendors, local art stands, live dancing and music, and more.

Shopping Tip: Sales Tax is Only 4% in Hawaii!

If you are visiting from the States, note that sales tax in Hawaii is only 4% which is much lower than most states. If you are planning to make a larger purchase I recommend getting it in Hawaii.

I was able to make a larger purchase I have spend years waiting to get while in Hawaii!

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