Waikiki Beach is a famous two-mile strip of shore located on the south shore of Oahu. It is filled with hotels, stores, nightlife, and world-class restaurants all within walking distance to, or on, the beach.
Waikiki is a popular vacation destination in Hawaii and many vacationers may not even leave Waikiki during their Oahu stay.
Waikiki is a close 25-45 min drive to the airport with many shuttle and bus options available to transport you from the airport to your lodging.
It is also a jumping-off point for many excursions on the island. From Waikiki, you can hop on tours and busses to all sides of Oahu or rent a car and drive the island yourself.
As a traveling professional living in Oahu, I lived on the outskirts of Waikiki and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, mixed with the relaxed beach vibes. There is always something to do in Waikiki, and everything is easily accessible by walking or taking a short cab ride.
Whether you are like me and working temporary contracts in Oahu, or visiting for a few days, I highly recommend spending some time in Waikiki.
Want More Hawaii Travel Info?
Learn More About Hawaii Travel Here: The Ultimate Hawaii Travel Guide
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- What Is The Best Island To Visit For The First Time
- Hawaii Packing Guide
- 7-Day Waikiki Itinerary
Top 10 Things to Do In Waikiki Beach
1. Be a Beach Bum
Waikiki Beach is known for its beautiful strip of sand and water.
All of the beaches in Waikiki are open to the public, so walk on down and enjoy some sun and sand.
Dive Oahu has multiple beach shacks that rent chairs, umbrellas, paddleboards, and other water equipment right on the sand.
Whether you are staying at a beachfront hotel or walking to the beach, you can find a spot to relax.
2. Take a Surf Lesson
Hawaii is the modern home for surfing, and there is no better place to learn to surf or experience surfing than on Waikiki Beach.
Legendary surfer and Olympic gold medal swimmer, Duke Kahanamoku, famously surfed in Waikiki and taught others how to do so.
If you’ve never surfed before, this is the place to try.
Book: 2-Hour Beginner Group Surf Lesson
3. Shopping on Kalakaua
Waikiki is home to some of the premier labels and shops in the world.
Kalakaua Ave is often referred to as the Rodeo Drive of the Pacific.
If you are looking for high-end sales, you can buy a Rolex, Cartier diamonds, or even a Tesla all in Waikiki.
Don’t worry, there are also affordable stores like Target and Ross.
The main shopping street in Waikiki is Kalakaua Avenue, a shopper’s delight.
The Royal Hawaiian Center and the International Market Place are two malls located right on Kalakaua and are worth a stop to check out the stores.
Definitely stop by the Honolulu Cookie Company. They make unique shortbread cookies shaped like pineapples, available in many flavors. You can sample the cookies in the store. Honolulu Cookies make a great gift to take home for friends and family.
Lululemon is another popular store in Waikiki. They open at 10am daily with exclusive Hawaii merchandise. People tend to form a line at least 30 minutes before the store opens to secure their spot to enter the store first.
4. Drink a Mai Tai on the Beach
The Mai Tai has become a popular drink of choice in Hawaii. Whether or not you want to indulge in an alcoholic beverage, I highly recommend going to a beach bar at sunset for the views.
Beach bars have beautiful views and live music around sunset.
There are many great spots to get a Mai Tai and some music, or a sunset view, in Waikiki.
- House Without a Key at the Halekulani, 2190 Kalia Rd. House Without a Key also has nightly Hula and/or Hawaiian music shows on their beautiful lanai.
- For a casual beach bar, try The Barefoot Bar at Hale Koa 2055 Kalia Rd.
- Mai Tais at The Royal Hawaiian is another great choice with a beach walk-up bar. 2259 Kalakaua Ave.
5. Enjoy Some Delicious Food
The culinary scene in Waikiki and the surrounding areas combines flavors from around the world.
There is something for everybody to enjoy.
Local Cuisine & Seafood
- Spam musubi from a 7-11
- Maguro Spot for a poke bowl
- Roys
- Side Street Inn for local family-style favorites
- L &L for a plate lunch
- Rainbow Drive-In
- Earl’s
- House Without a Key
- Liliha Bakery
- Leonards Malasadas
- Chiba-ken Sushi
- Sunny’s for Breakfast
- Waikiki Brewery
Elevated Dinner Recommendations
For higher end dinner experiences, here are some of my favorites.
- Hy’s Steakhouse
- La Mer (French)
- Stripsteak
- Empire Steakhouse
- Signature Prime Steakhouse
- Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
6. Friday Fireworks
At 7:45 on Fridays, and sometimes a bit later in the summertime, you will hear the crackle of fireworks over Waikiki. They are coming from the weekly display at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Grab a seat on the beach, a high lanai, or a sunset sail to catch the show.
Book: Friday Fireworks Sail (Sells out, book early)
7. Go Sailing
Walking down the beach of Waikiki, you will pass many boats anchored ashore and see these same boats sailing around the waters.
There are a ton of opportunities to go out on a sail in Waikiki, which is a lot of fun.
From sunset sails to snorkels to booze cruises, there’s a boat for everything.
Sail Recommendations:
8. Check Out the Zoo or Aquarium
The Honolulu Zoo 151 Kapahulu and Aquarium 2777 Kalakaua are on the far Diamond Head side of Waikiki and are great places to take the kids or leave the beach strip for a day.
9. Enjoy the Nightlife
Unlike a lot of sleepy beach towns that go to bed early, Waikiki has a nightlife.
Bars regularly stay open until 2 am, with some closing as late as 4am.
You can definitely follow the music and noise and find spots open late night.
If you want to enjoy the nightlife, here are some suggestions:
- Sky Nightclub is a rooftop bar with beautiful views of the city and beach.
- Kelley O’Neil’s, an Irish bar famous for live music and long nights are centrally located in Waikiki on Lewers.
- Earl’s is a newer bar/nightlife spot right on Kalakaua.
- Wang Chung’s, a gay karaoke bar
10. Watch the Sunset
The sunsets in Waikiki are magical. For the best views, walk to the beach and look west or get on board a sunset cruise.
Recap: Top 10 Things to Do In Waikiki Beach
Waikiki is a special place filled with vibrancy from cultures both local and around the world.
Hope you enjoyed the top 10 things to do in Waikiki Beach. Have a wonderful time in Oahu!