Honolulu Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Honolulu tours and things to do on the island of Oahu: pay your respects at the Pearl Harbor memorials, hike Diamond Head for sweeping Waikiki views, circle the island past the legendary North Shore, snorkel with turtles at Hanauma Bay, sail a sunset catamaran, and celebrate at a traditional luau. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect Hawaii trip.
rating
Explore Honolulu by interest
Whatever brings you to Honolulu — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Honolulu
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Pearl Harbor
USS Arizona.
Diamond Head
Crater hike.
North Shore
Surf coast.
Hanauma Bay
Snorkel reef.
Luau
Hula & feast.
Waikiki Catamaran
Sunset sail.
Dole Plantation
Pineapple isle.
Sea Turtles
Snorkel swim.
Honolulu in 1 day
- 1Diamond Head hike
- 2Waikiki Beach
- 3Turtle snorkel
- 4Sunset catamaran
Honolulu in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Pearl Harbor
- 2Day 2: circle island
- 3Day 3: snorkel & luau
- 4Diamond Head
Honolulu & Pearl Harbor
- 1USS Arizona
- 2Battleship Missouri
- 3Aviation Museum
- 4City highlights
Honolulu with kids
- 1Turtle snorkel
- 2Waikiki Beach
- 3Polynesian luau
- 4Dole Plantation
West Oahu awayPearl Harbor
USS Arizona.
Circle island awayNorth Shore
Surf coast.
Waikiki awayDiamond Head
Crater hike.
Southeast awayHanauma Bay
Snorkel reef.
Central awayDole Plantation
Pineapple isle.
North Shore awayPolynesian Center
Island culture.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Honolulu visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
A great time, with warm, drier weather, fewer crowds and good prices before the summer rush.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm, sunny and busy, ideal for beaches and snorkeling, with peak crowds and prices.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm and quieter after summer, with great conditions and lower prices, a sweet spot to visit.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Warm but wetter, with big North Shore surf and humpback whales offshore; busy over the holidays.
North Shore surf
Giant waves draw surfers to the North Shore in winter; summer brings calmer seas for swimming.
Whale season
Humpback whales visit Oahu’s waters roughly December to April, great for boat tours.
One day
Diamond Head, snorkel and a sunset sail.
Three days
Add Pearl Harbor and a circle island tour.
A week
Explore all of Oahu at a relaxed pace.
History buffs
A deeper Pearl Harbor and city visit.
Adventurers
Surf, snorkel and North Shore ziplines.
With kids
Turtles, luaus and the Dole Plantation.
Tours & transfers
Tours with Waikiki pickup are the easiest way to reach Pearl Harbor and circle the island.
Rental car
A car gives freedom to explore Oahu’s beaches and North Shore at your own pace.
TheBus
Oahu’s public bus, TheBus, is cheap and reaches many sights across the island.
Walk Waikiki
Waikiki itself is compact and walkable, with beaches, dining and shops close together.
Where to stay
Waikiki is the main base, with beaches, hotels and easy access to tours.
Getting there
Honolulu’s airport is close to Waikiki, with shuttles, taxis and ride apps.
US dollars
Hawaii uses the US dollar; cards are accepted everywhere and tipping (15–20%) is customary.
Book Pearl Harbor ahead
The USS Arizona Memorial has limited daily places — book a tour in advance.
Reef-safe sunscreen
Use reef-safe sunscreen to protect Hawaii’s coral when snorkeling.
Pearl Harbor security
No bags are allowed at the memorial; travel light or use the storage facilities.
Sun and water
The sun is strong — bring a hat, water and sun protection for active days.
Respect the ocean
Heed lifeguard flags and warnings, as surf and currents can be strong, especially in winter.
Pearl Harbor tours
Limited daily memorial places sell out — book ahead.
Circle island tours
Popular full-day tours fill up — reserve early.
Snorkel & catamaran
Turtle snorkel and sunset sails are popular — book ahead.
Luaus
The best luaus sell out, especially in peak season — reserve early.
Helicopter tours
Limited flight slots fill quickly — book ahead.
Surf lessons
Small-group lessons have limited spots — reserve early.
Pearl Harbor tour
Around $50–120 depending on sites included.
Circle island tour
About $80–150 for a full-day Oahu tour.
Snorkel cruise
Roughly $40–110 for a Waikiki snorkel or catamaran sail.
Luau
Around $100–180 for a luau with dinner and show.
Helicopter tour
About $250–450 for an Oahu helicopter flight.
How to save
Book combo tours, use TheBus and travel midweek.
Honolulu through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm, drier.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great value.
- Best for
- Beaches, calm sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak & busy.
- Best for
- Quiet, warm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Sweet spot.
- Best for
- Surf, whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wetter, big surf.