Honolulu is one of the most surprising cities in America. It has a royal palace and a Chinatown older than many mainland cities, a museum of Pacific treasures, a crater on its skyline and a rainforest valley ten minutes from downtown. Waikīkī is only one neighbourhood of it. Here is what to see beyond the beach.
The best things to do in Honolulu
1. ʻIolani Palace
Completed in 1882 for King Kalākaua, the palace had electric light and telephones before the White House. Queen Liliʻuokalani was later imprisoned here after the overthrow of the monarchy. Tours run Tuesday to Saturday.
2. Pearl Harbor
About 30 minutes from downtown: the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, the Bowfin submarine and the Aviation Museum.
3. Bishop Museum
Founded in 1889 to house the treasures of the Kamehameha family, it holds the finest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artefacts in the world.
4. Chinatown
One of the oldest Chinatowns in the US, with lei stands, herbal shops, markets and an excellent food and bar scene.
5. The Honolulu Museum of Art
Asian, Pacific and European art in a building of shaded courtyards; it also manages Shangri La, Doris Duke's house of Islamic art, which can be visited by tour.
6. The Capitol District
Walk past the Kamehameha statue, Aliʻiōlani Hale, Kawaiahaʻo Church and the State Capitol, with its volcano-shaped chambers.
7. Diamond Head
Hike to the crater rim for the view over the city; reservation required for non-residents.
8. Ala Moana Beach Park
A long, calm beach used by locals for swimming, paddling and sunset picnics, beside the largest shopping centre in Hawaii.
9. Kakaʻako
A neighbourhood of warehouses turned murals, breweries, galleries and cafés.
10. Mānoa Valley
A misty rainforest valley above the University of Hawaiʻi, with the Lyon Arboretum and the trail to Mānoa Falls; check trail status.
11. Foster Botanical Garden
Giant tropical trees and orchids on the edge of Chinatown.
12. Aloha Tower
The 1926 harbour clock tower that once welcomed steamship passengers to Hawaii.
13. Tantalus Lookout
A winding drive up to Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa park for panoramic views of the city and Diamond Head.
Getting around Honolulu
Honolulu is easy without a car. TheBus costs $3 a ride with a HOLO card, rideshare is plentiful and the Biki bike share has stations across town. The Skyline rail line runs from west Oʻahu to Kalihi via the airport, but does not yet reach downtown or Waikīkī. Parking is expensive and limited, especially downtown. See do you need a car in Hawaii.
A short history of Honolulu
Honolulu, "sheltered bay" in Hawaiian, grew around its harbour, one of the few deep natural ports in the islands. Whaling ships and traders made it the kingdom's main town, and in 1845 King Kamehameha III moved his capital here from Lahaina. In 1893 a group of American businessmen overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani at ʻIolani Palace; Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898 and became a state in 1959. Walking the Capitol District, you can see that history in a few blocks.
Where to eat
Honolulu is the food capital of the islands. Try poke at a fish market, a plate lunch in Kalihi, dim sum and noodle bars in Chinatown, malasadas from a Portuguese bakery and some of Hawaii's best restaurants in Kaimukī and Kakaʻako. Plate lunches still cost about $15–25 in 2026.
A day in Honolulu
Start early at Pearl Harbor, when the morning light is soft and the memorial is quiet. Head downtown for an afternoon tour of ʻIolani Palace, then walk past the Kamehameha statue and Kawaiahaʻo Church to Chinatown, where the lei sellers string flowers on the pavement and the markets sell lychees and dried fish. As evening falls, have a drink in a restored Chinatown bar or watch the sunset from Ala Moana Beach Park, then end with dinner in Kakaʻako. It is a day that explains why Honolulu is the heart of Hawaii.
Quick answers
What is there to do in Honolulu?
Pearl Harbor, ʻIolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, Chinatown, the Honolulu Museum of Art, Diamond Head, Ala Moana Beach Park, Kakaʻako's murals and Mānoa Valley.
Is Honolulu the same as Waikīkī?
Waikīkī is a neighbourhood of Honolulu. The city also includes downtown, Chinatown, Kakaʻako, Ala Moana, Mānoa and Kāhala.
How many days do you need in Honolulu?
Two or three days for the city's history, museums and food, plus beach time in Waikīkī.
Can you get around Honolulu without a car?
Yes. TheBus, rideshare, bike share and walking cover the city; parking is expensive.
Keep exploring: Waikīkī, Oʻahu, Oʻahu at night.
Facts checked October 2026. Opening days, prices and closures change, so check with each attraction before you go.
