Waikiki Travel Guide

Honolulu

Waikiki
Waikiki
Honolulu which includes swimming, landscape views and island views
Waikiki
Honolulu featuring cbd, a city and a coastal town

Located on the south shore of Honolulu, this neighbourhood is known internationally for its great surfing and beautiful beaches.

A magnet for surfers since well before the Beach Boys sang about it in the 1960s, Waikiki also offers many activities for families, a vibrant nightlife and local culture.
Waikiki Beach is a great place to start your adventures in Waikiki. It is usually crowded, especially in winter when the surf swells, but it is the one beach that comes to mind for most people when they think of Hawaii. 

Rent a board and paddle out to the waves, where you’ll very likely find yourself surrounded by surfing pros. There are many excellent surf schools catering for all experience levels, so book in for a few lessons. For an alternative to surfing, try out any of the other water sports on offer, such as snorkeling, parasailing or scuba diving. 

Take a short stroll south to Kuhio Beach. This is a golden stretch of sand sheltered by a coastal wall, and home to Kapahulu Pier. The pier is a great place to visit at sunset.

Queens Surf Beach is at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki and provides a less frantic, grassier area, perfect for picnicking and gazing out to sea. While in the area, visit the Diamond Head State Monument, a calcite crystal crater that’s a Hawaiian landmark. A trail here takes you through a lit 225-foot (69-metre) tunnel to old military bunkers and a huge navigational lighthouse.

Head up Kalakaua Avenue, which runs behind Waikiki Beach, and into the heart of town. Along here, luxury-brand stores mingle with Waikiki’s high-end hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider hotel. Street performers bring the strip to life, and cocktail bars stay open until the early hours of the morning.

Families should take a trip Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, which is home to more than 500 species of aquatic animals and plants. To get even closer to the aquatic environment, book onto a submarine tour, which will take you down to the Pacific bed to see wrecked ships and exotic sea creatures. 


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Waikiki

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort

4.5 out of 5
2255 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI
The price is Rp7.456.914 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
Rp7.456.914
Rp9.792.926 total
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Honolulu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,355 reviews)
"The pool is separate from the adults' pool so that kids can have fun, and it even has a slide, which is great. There's also a Honolulu Coffee and cookie shop so you can take a quick break. I'd love to stay here again."

Reviewed on 20 Aug 2025

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

4.5 out of 5
2005 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI
The price is Rp3.947.778 per night from 3 Sept to 4 Sept
Rp3.947.778
Rp5.550.408 total
3 Sept - 4 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury resort in Honolulu. Enjoy 5 outdoor pools, a full-service spa and 9 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (8,369 reviews)
"Near the beach with so much amenities but too crowded for my personal liking. Staff were ok but you can tell theyre fed up with tourist."

Reviewed on 20 Aug 2025

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa

4 out of 5
2424 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI
The price is Rp3.238.128 per night from 23 Aug to 24 Aug
Rp3.238.128
Rp4.817.886 total
23 Aug - 24 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach resort in Honolulu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,393 reviews)
"All the staff were very nice and the room was nice too."

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2025

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach

'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach

5 out of 5
2490 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is Rp3.809.112 per night from 15 Sept to 16 Sept
Rp3.809.112
Rp5.562.375 total
15 Sept - 16 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury resort in Honolulu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 5 restaurants and a beach locale. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,156 reviews)
"Bed comfort was great"

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2025

'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Resort Hotel

Waikiki Resort Hotel

3.5 out of 5
2460 Koa Avenue, Honolulu, HI
The price is Rp2.260.631 per night from 2 Sept to 3 Sept
Rp2.260.631
Rp3.528.956 total
2 Sept - 3 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Honolulu. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,206 reviews)
"Loved it!"

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2025

Waikiki Resort Hotel
Prince Waikiki

Prince Waikiki

4.5 out of 5
100 Holomoana St, Honolulu, HI
The price is Rp4.386.420 per night from 28 Aug to 29 Aug
Rp4.386.420
Rp6.052.894 total
28 Aug - 29 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury resort in Honolulu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in their ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3,219 reviews)
"The location, the view, the great the staff! We will be back."

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

Prince Waikiki
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Waikiki

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McCully - Moiliili

Though McCully - Moiliili may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk.

McCully - Moiliili
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Ala Moana

If you're spending some time in Ala Moana, Ala Moana Center and Magic Island are top sights worth seeing.

Ala Moana
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Makiki

While visiting Makiki, you might make a stop by sights like Honolulu Museum of Art and Doris Duke Theatre.

Makiki
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Kaka'ako

While visiting Kaka'ako, you might make a stop by sights like Neal S. Blaisdell Center and Ala Moana Beach Park.

Kaka'ako
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Downtown Honolulu

Unique features of Downtown Honolulu include the shopping and beaches. Make a stop by Honolulu Harbor or King Kamehameha Statue while you're exploring the area.

Downtown Honolulu
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Diamond Head - Kapahulu - St. Louis

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Diamond Head - Kapahulu - St. Louis, Waikiki Beach and Honolulu Zoo are top sights worth seeing.

Diamond Head - Kapahulu - St. Louis

Waikiki Travel Guide