Honolulu is the capital and largest city of Hawaii, on the south shore of Oahu, known for Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, Hanauma Bay and a food scene built on Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino and Chinese influences.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Honolulu.
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1
USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor National Memorial)
Tip: Reserve the program on Recreation.gov; the $1 fee is the only cost, and slots release 8 weeks and 24 hours ahead at 3:00 PM Hawaii time · Choose an early slot between 8:00 and 9:30 AM for lighter crowds and cooler weather · Leave bags at the hotel; the facility bans purses and backpacks and nearby storage costs extra · Dress respectfully and keep voices low; the memorial is a war grave · Allow a full half day to include the visitor center museums and the film
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2
Battleship Missouri Memorial
Tip: Arrive by about 9:00 AM to beat tour-group buses and midday heat on the steel deck. · Board the shuttle at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center; the ship is not reachable on foot or by car. · Wear closed-toe shoes with grip, since ladders and stairs are steep. · The Captain's or Chief Engineer's Tour upgrade costs about $32 and reaches areas closed to regular visitors. · Confirm seasonal hours at 808-455-1600 or pearlharborhistoricsites.org before visiting.
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3
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning, before tour buses arrive from the Arizona Memorial · Wear closed shoes; ladders and hatches are steep and slippery · Consider the Passport to Pearl Harbor for the Missouri, Bowfin and Aviation Museum · Bring no large bags, since storage is limited and security applies · Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the boat and museum
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4
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Tip: Arrive in the morning and pair the visit with the Battleship Missouri on the same Ford Island shuttle · Carry photo identification; Ford Island access is controlled · Add the Tower View Experience ($10) for the best panorama · Consider the Guided Hangar Tour ($10.99) for added context · Allow 2 to 3 hours
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5
Iolani Palace
Tip: Book docent-led tickets online in advance; they sell out and are not sold in person on busy days. · Tours run Tuesday-Saturday only; the palace is closed to tours on Sunday and Monday. · Shoe coverings are required inside, so wear comfortable socks. · The grounds are free to walk and photograph even without a ticket. · Phone 808-522-0832 to confirm audio-tour pricing.
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6
King Kamehameha I Statue
Tip: Photograph in morning light, when the gold surface faces the sun · Visit June 11 for the lei-draping ceremony, and expect crowds · Combine with Iolani Palace, a two-minute walk away · No admission or ticket is required · Allow 15 to 30 minutes
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7
Diamond Head (Le'ahi) State Monument
Tip: Reserve entry at gostateparks.hawaii.gov before arriving; walk-ups are not guaranteed entry. · Book a 6:00-8:00 AM slot for cooler temperatures and softer light. · Bring at least a liter of water; the trail has little shade. · Pay by credit card only; cash is not accepted at the gate. · Drivers need a parking reservation; TheBus Route 23 and rideshare are alternatives.
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8
Bishop Museum
Tip: Check the planetarium and lava-presentation schedule on arrival and plan around the times. · Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups. · Pay by card; the museum does not accept cash for admission. · Allow at least three hours; last check-in is 4:00 PM. · Ask about kamaaina and senior rates, since pricing is dynamic.
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9
Honolulu Museum of Art
Tip: Visit on a weekday afternoon for the quietest galleries. · Friday evening late hours run until 9:00 PM. · Parking behind the HoMA School at 1111 Victoria St costs $3 per hour or $8 per day. · Visitors 18 and under enter free. · The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.
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10
Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design
Tip: Buy tickets on release day, the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 AM HST · Check in at the Honolulu Museum of Art about ten minutes before the tour · Remember that the museum is closed all of September · Wear comfortable shoes for stairs and garden paths · Follow the guide's rules on photography in interior rooms
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Historic
USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor National Memorial)
Free NPS memorial over the sunken battleship, reached by a Navy boat after a short film; 1,177 crew members remain aboard.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
The ship where Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, now moored off Ford Island.
Iolani Palace
The only official royal residence in the United States; guided and audio tours.
King Kamehameha I Statue
Gilded statue across from Iolani Palace, draped in leis on June 11.
Queen Emma Summer Palace
Cool mountain retreat of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, now a museum.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)
Military cemetery in Puowaina crater with crater-rim views of the city.
Museum
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
WWII submarine open for walk-through plus a museum of submarine history.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Aircraft and exhibits in restored hangars on Ford Island.
Bishop Museum
Hawaii's largest museum of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural history, with a planetarium.
Honolulu Museum of Art
Asian, Hawaiian and Western art in a 1927 courtyard building.
Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design
Doris Duke's Islamic-art-filled estate, toured by timed shuttle only.
Hiking
Diamond Head (Le'ahi) State Monument
0.8-mile trail to the crater rim with Waikiki and coastline views; reservation required for non-residents.
Manoa Falls Trail
Muddy rainforest trail to a waterfall of about 150 feet.
Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
Paved 2-mile round trip to a cliff lookout above Makapuu Lighthouse.
Nature
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Marine-life preserve in a volcanic crater with reservations and a mandatory education film.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Windswept cliff lookout over Windward Oahu at the site of the 1795 Battle of Nuuanu.
Halona Blowhole Lookout
Sea-cliff lookout where waves force spray through a lava tube.
Garden
Foster Botanical Garden
Historic 1850s garden with rare trees near Chinatown.
Lyon Arboretum
Rainforest botanical garden at the head of Manoa Valley.
Wildlife
Honolulu Zoo
Zoo beside Kapiolani Park with a savanna, tropical forest and reptile exhibits.
Waikiki Aquarium
Small aquarium on a coral reef with monk seals and Hawaiian reef species.
Neighborhood
Chinatown Historic District
Markets, lei shops, murals and noodle houses in one of the oldest Chinatowns in the US.
Art
Kakaako Street Art Murals
Large outdoor murals painted for the Pow! Wow! Hawaii festival.
Beach
Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island
Local beach park with calm lagoon waters and a grassy peninsula at Magic Island.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Pearl Harbor visitor center opens 7:00 AM; Honolulu Museum of Art is closed Monday-Tuesday; Iolani Palace tours run Tuesday-Saturday; Hanauma Bay is closed Monday-Tuesday; Queen Emma Summer Palace is open Wednesday-Saturday only; Lyon Arboretum is weekdays only.
- Fees
- Free: Punchbowl cemetery, Chinatown, Kakaako murals, King Kamehameha statue, Ala Moana Beach Park, Halona Blowhole, Makapuu trail and the USS Arizona Memorial program (US$1 reservation fee). Paid: Diamond Head $5 plus $10 per vehicle, Hanauma Bay $25, Iolani Palace docent tour $32.95, Bishop Museum about $34-39, Honolulu Museum of Art $25.
- Best Times
- April-May and September-October are the least crowded; December-April brings humpback whales; June-August and holiday weeks are busiest at Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay.
- Booking
- Reserve in advance: USS Arizona Memorial (Recreation.gov, 8 weeks and 24 hours ahead), Diamond Head (gostateparks.hawaii.gov, non-residents), Hanauma Bay (up to 2 days ahead), Shangri La (first Thursday monthly, 10:00 AM HST) and Iolani Palace docent tours (online only).
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Bags are not allowed at the USS Arizona Memorial or its visitor center; a bag storage facility near the entrance charges a small fee.
The Passport to Pearl Harbor ($99.99 adults, $49.99 children) covers Missouri, Bowfin and the Aviation Museum but not the Arizona Memorial reservation.
The DaBus2 app shows live TheBus arrivals; check it before relying on a bus to Pearl Harbor or Manoa.
Hanauma Bay is closed Monday and Tuesday; Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay both need advance reservations for non-residents on most days.
Hawaii law bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate; use mineral sunscreen.
Keep valuables out of parked rental cars at trailheads and lookouts; break-ins are common.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free attractions in Honolulu?
The Punchbowl cemetery, Chinatown, Kakaako murals, King Kamehameha statue and Iolani Palace grounds, Ala Moana Beach Park, Halona Blowhole and the Makapuu Lighthouse trail cost nothing; the USS Arizona Memorial program is free apart from a $1 reservation fee.
Do I need reservations for Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay?
Yes for non-residents. Diamond Head requires an entry and parking reservation at gostateparks.hawaii.gov; Hanauma Bay admission can be reserved up to 2 days ahead, and limited walk-in tickets go on sale at 6:45 AM.
How many days does Honolulu need?
Three days covers Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace and Chinatown, Diamond Head and a museum; five days adds Hanauma Bay, Manoa Falls and Shangri La.