This is your perfect 7-day Waikiki itinerary.
Waikiki Beach on the beautiful island of Oahu in Hawaii is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world.
For good reasons, Waikiki’s crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, stunning sunsets, and balanced mix of city meets beach ambiance create the perfect tropical getaway.
If you’re coming to Hawaii, here is the best 7-day Waikiki itinerary for exploring the ocean, city, and other corners of Oahu.
As a former Waikiki resident, I hosted dozens of travelers who came to visit and perfected the best places to go.
I’m happy to share those experiences with you in this piece. I’ll also give you excursion options based on your preferred activity level.
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Where to Stay in Waikiki
Before discussing the best 7-day itinerary for Waikiki, let’s talk about where to stay.
Waikiki has many hotel options, each with its unique personality and draw.
The excellent news about hotel stays in Waikiki is that you do not need to stay in a beachfront hotel to have beach access.
All beaches on Oahu allow public access. So, if you don’t get accommodations on an oceanfront property, you can still go to the beach and rent chairs or take your towels to enjoy the beach.
Family Friendly Hotels in Waikiki:
My top pick for a friendly hotel in Waikiki is The Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV). The HHV has numerous kid-friendly pools with slides and is an oceanfront property with its own lagoon and easy beach access. They also have their own kids club: Camp Penguin.
Camp Penguin Kids Club is a daily program for children at an extra daily fee that provides camp-style adventures on the HHV property and options for excursions. Excursion options include trips to the Aquarium and Zoo.
If you are a current or retired military or government employee, I highly recommend the Hale Koa. This hotel is exclusive to military and government employees, has an incredible kids’ pool and play area that is perfect for the family, and is also oceanfront.
Luxury Stay:
The Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider are your iconic choices for a classic, ocean-front luxury Waikiki stay. These hotels have stood the test of time in delivering spectacular guest experiences.
The Halekulani is a modern luxury hotel popular among international visitors that delivers a modern, elevated Hawaiian stay.
The Halekulani is also home to two of my favorite dining experiences in Waikiki: La Mer and Sunday brunch at Orchids. Their bar, House Without a Key, has the best Mai Tai in Waikiki.
Trendy Chic:
The trendy Waikiki stays tend to be in boutique style hotels off the beach but close and easy enough to walk to the water in a few minutes.
Alohilani is a chic hotel popular amongst visitors and locals for its pool DJ parties and happy hours. Read my review here.
Queen Kapiolani Hotel received a major revamp a few years ago, giving it a clean, modern Hawaiian aesthetic. With unparalleled views of Diamond Head and easy access to the beach and Kapiolani Park, this is a fun place to stay.
Budget:
The Aqua Palms Waikiki and Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach are two properties in Waikiki that offer central locations and lower room rates.
Waikiki is home to several hostels that offer close access to the beach for relatively low prices:
- The Beach Waikiki Hostel
- Polynesian Hostel Beach Club
- Waikiki Beachside Hostel
Weekly Special Events in Waikiki
This itinerary is not based on any specific day of the week. However, certain special events happen weekly in Waikiki, which you should consider adding to the itinerary.
- Friday night fireworks: A fireworks display takes off every Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The best spots to watch the fireworks are on a boat, beach, or at the top of a building with an unobstructed beach view.
- Duke’s on Sunday: Every Sunday, from 4 to 6 pm, the outdoor patio at Duke’s Waikiki becomes a musical stage for Hawaiian music legends. Most Sundays, the legendary Henry Kapono and his band jam out to your favorite tunes while the crowd dances.
- Hyatt Farmers Market: On Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 to 8 pm, there’s a farmers market inside the lobby of the Hyatt Waikiki.
Your 7-Day Waikiki Itinerary
Now that you know the basics of Waikiki and Oahu, here is your perfect 7-day Waikiki itinerary. The itinerary includes spending time in Waikiki and outside around Oahu.
I highly recommend booking your tours, car rentals, and dinner reservations before your trip. However, if you do not, many tour operators and concierges can help you book accommodations once you arrive in Waikiki.
Day 1 Arrive
No matter where you come from, Hawaii is far from home and jumps a few time zones.
When you arrive at the airport, you can take the Waikiki Hotel Speedi Shuttle, a cab/Uber, or a rental car to get to your hotel.
*Note: You don’t need a rental car for your entire stay in Waikiki. In the itinerary, I give you options to rent cars on certain days, take public transportation, or pay tour operators for transit. However, if you want a car rental with you all the time, you can get one at the airport.
Once you arrive at your hotel, check-in and walk around Waikiki Beach and Kalakaua Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Kalakaua has a plethora of stores from high-end designers like Hermes to local boutiques.
Take some time to relax. Go in the pool, the ocean, or the hot tub.
For dinner, walk around Waikiki and find a spot you enjoy.
Kalakaua Avenue has dozens of restaurants, including great places in the International Marketplace.
Day 2: Beach Day
For my adventure seekers, you should get up early and hike to start your Waikiki adventure. It’s best to hike in the morning close to sunset to avoid the sun’s intense heat.
Diamond Head is a paved 2-mile round trip hike accessible to Waikiki by public transportation or Uber/Lyft. You need to book a reservation to hike Diamond Head here.
For adventure seekers, you can drive (if you have a rental car) or Uber out to Koko Head Crater, where you can climb 1,000 railroad tie stairs to the top of the mountain and enjoy the most beautiful views of Oahu. This is a workout!
After your morning adventure, spend your first day in Waikiki relaxing on its beautiful shores.
You can rent a lounge chair from the many huts along the beach with rentals and have a day at rest on the beach.
Today, you can also book a surf lesson if you want to learn to surf on the Waikiki waves.
Take a sunset sail at night to appreciate the beautiful Waikiki sunset. The Manu Kai or Na Huku II both leave from the beach right behind the Outrigger and Moana Surfrider Hotel.
After the sail, enjoy a beachfront dinner at Duke’s or Hula Grill, which are in the Outrigger Hotel right next to where the boats leave.
Day 3: Island Exploration
You can visit Waikiki and never leave the beach. However, I recommend you get out and explore more of the island for the perfect itinerary.
If you rent a car this day or during your stay, here are some places I recommend stopping at on your island exploration day:
- Makapuu Lighthouse: A paved hike
- Halona Blowhole & Cockroach Cave
- Haunauma Bay
- Lanikai Beach to swim or rent a kayak or paddleboard. You can also hike the famous Lanikai Pillbox hike here.
- North Shore to walk around Haleiwa town, see Turtle Beach, and the epic waves if it’s wintertime.
- Kualoa Ranch
If you aren’t renting a car, check out one of these fantastic pre-planned guided tours:
Whatever you don’t do on Day 3, you can do on Day 6, another day to explore the island.
Day 4: Snorkel, Honolulu, and Luau
Today, enjoy the sealife in Oahu by going on a snorkeling tour. Turtle Canyon is Waikiki’s “turtle car wash,” where turtles wash themselves and cycle through the underwater canyon all day. I recommend Pink Sails for a Turtle Canyon tour.
After your snorkeling tour, you can take the bus or an Uber into Honolulu to explore more of the city life, Honolulu culture, and history. Some places I recommend are:
- The Bishop Museum
- Honolulu Museum of Art
- Hononulu Zoo
- Chinatown market
- Ala Moana Mall
- SALT at Our Kakaako for craft brewery and food experiences
At night, enjoy a traditional Hawaiian Luau at Paradise Cove. Don’t worry about getting there; they will pick you up at your hotel.
Day 5: Pearl Harbor Day Tour
Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor to pay homage to the people who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack is a moving experience. This is something that I recommend everybody do at least once when coming to Hawaii.
There are many ways to tour Pearl Harbor. I recommend taking the whole day to learn more about Hawaii’s history. You can do this by going on a group tour that also takes you to other historical sites in the city, such as the Iolani Palace and Punchbowl Cemetery.
After a big day of exploration, have a nice dinner. May I suggest Roy’s or Uncle Bo’s?
Day 6: Island Exploration
Take your last full day on Oahu to explore more of the island outside Waikiki. You can book a guided tour or do your own adventure.
If you visited the island’s east side on day 3, you may visit the North Shore today.
Enjoy a delicious dinner at a fine dining restaurant on your last night in Waikiki. Make sure you book a reservation well in advance, as these places are popular.
- Hy’s Steak House: A traditional, elegant steakhouse
- La Mer: A premier French restaurant
- StripSteak: A modern, chic steakhouse
Day 7: Aloha!
Your time in Waikiki has come to an end. Hopefully your flight doesn’t leave too early in the morning, and you have time to relax on the beach.
7-Day Waikiki Itinerary Final Thoughts
Waikiki is a world-renowned, stunning beach and popular vacation spot for obvious reasons. There is much to do and see, from the mountains to the city to the oceans. I hope this 7-day Waikiki itinerary helps you to focus your time on enjoying some of the best that Waikiki and Oahu has to offer.
Aloha!
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