Going to Oahu is just a dream! It’s a paradise that you can explore all by yourself. We lived on Oahu for one year and fell in love with the island. Oahu is expensive, so your stay will most likely be short of duration. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have the full Oahu experience. This Oahu itinerary is our ‘do-it yourself’ guide, so that you can explore the island at its best. We think you will have the best experience when you venture out of the tourist areas and explore all of Oahu’s corners.

7 days in Oahu

• Day 1 – Waikiki
• Day 2 – Honolulu and Central Oahu
• Day 3 – South Oahu
• Day 4 – North Shore
• Day 5 – Kaneohe Sandbar
• Day 6 – East Oahu
• Day 7 – West Oahu
• Add-ons for your itinerary
• Where to stay on Oahu

A quick note about our itinerary

This itinerary works best for people who are in moderate to good physical shape. We have not included very difficult activities or hikes (check the add-ons for your Oahu itinerary trip to add difficult hikes).

The best advice we can give is to enjoy your holiday by focusing on a few things. Don’t try to do everything on the island, because that will only create stress and wear you down. Pick a few things to explore and enjoy your time in this amazing place. You can always come back to Oahu and explore more of the island.

Feel free to switch activities around to fit this itinerary to you and your family. While we have created this itinerary for you, we do recommend to plan ahead. We link to websites in our post, so that you can gather more information and reserve tickets ahead of time. This is the case for Hanauma Bay for example, or museums.

You will also need a rental car to fully enjoy our Oahu itinerary.

Oahu itinerary day 1

Main activities

• Explore the beaches of Waikiki
• Hike the iconic Diamond Head
• Dinner in Waikiki

Explore Waikiki on your first day

Of course you want to explore Waikiki on your first day on the island. The birthplace of surfing, beautiful tropical beaches and endless mai tai’s. Grab a pastry and coffee from a local shop. We like Kona Coffee Purveyors, but there are plenty of good options around Waikiki. Afterwards, head over to the famous Waikiki Beach for your first look at one of the most famous beaches in the world.

Here are some suggestions for your first day in Waikiki.

• Explore all the beaches with the Waikiki city walk

Start at the Duke Kahanamoku lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and follow the beach toward the center of Waikiki. You’ll find plenty of fun statues, beaches and people! Plus it’s a good workout. If you want to follow our stroll, check out our video of the walk.

• Relax and swim at Prince Kuhio Beach

This beach is so beautiful and serene! You really feel like you’re in Hawaii at this beach. There are palm trees, clear blue waters, surfing and an amazing statue of Duke Kahanamoku (famous Hawaiian surfer). You can claim a portion of the beach to relax the day away or float in the protected portion of the beach.

• Try out surfing

Surfing was born in Hawaii and an important part of the culture and history. Waikiki is the perfect place to learn the ancient Polynesian sport. You will see many companies along the beach offering group- and private lessons. If surfing is too much, then try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). You won’t regret getting on the water!

• Snorkel in Waikiki

The Hawaiian marine life is some of the most unique in the world! Hop in the water with some snorkeling gear to get a better view of honu (green sea turtles) and the many colorful fish. Some snorkeling spots are Queens and San Souci Beach, with the former being the most popular! Keep in mind that snorkeling is only average in Waikiki, so we’ll snorkel elsewhere later in the week.

Have lunch in Waikiki

Eat ramen!

Eating in Waikiki is extremely difficult, because of all the great options! You can go for poke, a $5 bento box or even a spam musubi from the 7/11! Did I mention you should definitely check out the unique 7/11 gas stations on Oahu? They are so different from the mainland and you won’t be disappointed!

Our go-to lunch whenever we’re in Waikiki is to grab some ramen! Hawaii has a major Japanese influence on the island, so Oahu is a great place to find some Japanese food. We like Momosan Waikiki on the bay for their delicious Momosan Tonkotsu while looking out at the ocean.

Hike the iconic Diamond Head

Make your way out to Diamond Head in the afternoon. This landmark is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hawaii!

It’s a volcanic crater that holds an enormous amount of geological, military and Hawaiian history. You will see sweeping views of Waikiki and the ocean at the top of Diamond Head.

Dinner and sunset in Waikiki

There are lots of dinner options, but you can never go wrong with Hawaiian restaurants, ramen or fresh fish places. The Duke’s in Waikiki is pretty known, but we would encourage you to explore other options. Some other great places to try include Hoku’s and Roy’s Waikiki. Both come with high recommendations!

Sunsets in Waikiki

Watching the sunset is the perfect way to end your first day on the island! You could enjoy it while sitting on a towel on one of the many beaches of Waikiki or with your toes in the sand while sipping on your cocktail from a beach bar? Finally, you can take a sunset cruise out on a catamaran. Something for everyone, right?

Are you an evening person?

Catch a show at the Blue Note in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort! This is our go-to date night spot to enjoy performances from local artists! You can order food and cocktails and experience island music at its best.

Oahu itinerary day 2

Main activities

• Visit Pearl Harbor or the Bishop Museum
• Discover Honolulu’s best neighborhoods
• Eat authentic Hawaiian food
• Sunset at Tantalus point

Experience culture by visiting a museum

We like exploring museums to get a better understanding of the culture and history. Hawaii’s history is worth getting to know and it can enrich your experience on Oahu.

You could visit the Pearl Harbor memorial on Oahu. Getting there early will give you an opportunity to beat the crowds. While the memorial is the main attraction, there are also other exhibits and memorials to visit on your trip. We both enjoyed walking through the exhibits for a refresher on World War II history. The USS Missouri and USS Bowfin are also worthy adventures if you are into military history.

For Polynesian and Hawaiian history, you should visit the Bishop Museum. There are some interesting and cool exhibits to see at this museum. You will better understand the voyaging and surfing history of Hawaii, how the people used to live and what their beliefs were.

Explore trendy neighborhoods in Honolulu

After visiting a museum, drive back to Honolulu to explore culture in the different neighborhoods.

• Kaka’ako

Our favorite neighborhood in Honolulu is Kaka’ako! You will find lots of new restaurants, bars and boutiques. But the main thing to explore in Kaka’ako, are definitely the murals. You can get a feel of the social issues in Hawaii by admiring the street art! Our favorite place to try local beers is Honolulu Beerworks! It’s a cozy spot that you won’t regret visiting to cool down in the hot afternoons.

If you need some beach time, then Ala Moana beach park is only 0.5 mi / 0.8 km from Kaka’ako! This is one of our favorite beaches on Oahu!

• Chinatown

Another neighborhood that is extremely fun to visit is Chinatown! Many Chinese plantation workers stayed after their contracts to make a life for themselves in Honolulu. It’s a wonderful place to eat some dim sum or browse local speciality spots! We had a bit of a culture shock after visiting the neighborhood, but that’s what’s so fun about it.

You will find many lei shops in Chinatown. The lei is the Hawaiian flower garland.

• Eat local snacks at Liliha Bakery

You are on vacation, so you can eat lots of sweets! The bakery has puffs, danishes, malasadas, donuts and much more! What do you choose? Don’t worry, we got you covered!

You have to try the coco puffs, since that’s what they are known for! Next, try out some haupia pie! If you still have a sweet tooth, go ahead and dig in to some malasadas! Don’t overdo it though because we have an amazing dinner tonight!

Eat authentic Hawaiian food for dinner

It’s time to eat at Helena’s Hawaiian food. Helena’s has been around since 1946 and is one of the best restaurants on the island. The best part about Helena’s Hawaiian Food is it’s quaint, family charm. It’s not a large restaurant, rather it’s small and cozy with delicious food.

We recommend ordering numerous plates, but the laulau, short ribs and kalua cabbage are a must! You’ll find that our 7 day itinerary on Oahu has lots of local food spots! Think twice if you thought you would be eating fast foods…

End the day with sunset views at Tantalus Point

You’ve explored Waikiki and Honolulu during your first two days on Oahu. Now we recommend making the drive up to Tantalus Point to enjoy the sunrise and look out over the area you’ve called home for these past two days! It’s a gorgeous sight that you won’t forget! On clear days, the sun paints the entire city orange as it sets across the horizon.

Oahu itinerary day 3

Main activities

• Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
• Lunch in Hawaii Kai
• Explore the gems ‘china walls’ and ‘spitting cave’
• A hike and beach on South-Oahu

Snorkel at Hanauma Bay

About 40 minutes away from Waikiki is Hanauma Bay! Formed in a volcanic cone, the reef at Hanauma Bay protects the bay from rough waves. The waters are calm and there are so many fish, eels, honu and even monks seals.

This is one of the places where you will get a good look at the state fish, called humuhumunukunukuapua’a! Can you say that?

The snorkeling here isn’t the only thing that is amazing. The beach here is dotted with palm trees and full facilities. It’s a great place to spend the morning.

Hanauma Bay can be difficult to visit. Make sure to plan your visit 30 days out by booking tickets online! The lines may be long and it could feel like a hassle. Remember though, the state government is doing everything they can to protect the fragile reef system. This popular place has been overused in the past, which caused a lot of damage to the bay.

Lunch in Hawaii Kai

Eat lunch at Island Brew Coffeehouse

Island Brew Coffeehouse is a great place to grab some coffee and relax after snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. You can get breakfast, lunch or even smoothies! What’s fun about this place is the location, you can have your food while looking out over the calm the water with views of Hanauma Bay and Koko Head. Of course, the coffee is delicious here, but don’t miss out on the chocolate waffles and macadamia nut pancakes!

Malasadas at Leonard’s Food Truck

Located in the Koko Marina Center, Leonard’s mobile malasadas are just a few minutes away from Island Brew Coffeehouse! These deep fried Portuguese donuts just might be the highlight of your trip. Try out the the original malasada and a malasada with filling. I really like the chocolate (Dobash), while Nikki is more into the Haupia (Coconut).

Go see china walls and spitting cave (our favorite part on the island)

China walls

In a local neighborhood in Hawaii Kai is the lovely china walls! It’s cliff walls and deep ocean waters make for a picturesque scene.

The seas at china walls can be rough or calm depending on the direction of the swells. On rough days, you’ll see surfers riding large waves close to the walls. On calm days you can almost see to the bottom of the ocean, that’s how still the waters are!

We usually see scuba divers go in the water from china walls. Bring your snorkeling gear just in case you feel comfortable going in the water. It is recommended to be a good swimmer when going in the water from china walls.

Spitting cave

The spitting cave is located in the same neighborhood of china walls and offers another amazing viewpoint! The large cave sucks up the surf and “spits” it back into the sea. Listen to the sound of the cave while spitting the water out.

Every time we go here, we’re delighted to see the marine wildlife of Oahu! We’ve seen monk seals , turtles and even a mother whale and baby calf who were playing in the water! You will see whales in Hawaii during the winter months.

Finish the day with a hike or beach (pick your treat)

After seeing the beautiful china walls and spitting cave, you can finish the day with one of these short hikes or beautiful beaches that are all close in the area.

• The Makapuu Lighthouse trail

The Makapu’u Lighthouse trail is an easy hike located on the South side of Oahu. If you want endless views of the pacific, tide pools and see a red lighthouse? Then this is your hike.

• Koko Crater Hike

Koko Crater is a difficult, but fun hike! With over 1,000 steps, you hike up to the top of a volcanic crater. There is little to no shade on this hike. The steps aren’t in good condition either, which can make it a little difficult. The views are amazing though!

• Beaches on the South Shore

The beaches on the Southshore are known for some epic bodyboarding! The two best beaches to get on your board is Baby Makapu’u and Sandy Beach! Our favorite beach is a little further on the Windward coast, but it’s called Ka’iona Beach! It’s a local beach that you won’t regret visiting!

• Restaurants in Hawaii Kai

Hawaii Kai is near some great upscale restaurants! The original Roy’s is located in the area and a local favorite! If you want to save some money, enjoy some food at Kona Brewing Company! You can enjoy a burger and some beers, while overlooking the marina. When in doubt, pick up an açaí bowl from Lanikai Juice or some poke to cool down from a day in the sun!

Oahu itinerary day 4

Main activities

• Coffee at Green World Coffee Farm
• Waimea Valley botanical garden
• Lunch at the food trucks in North Shore
• Beaches of North Shore
• Haleiwa

Coffee at Green World Coffee Farm

Half way through your trip, you probably need some caffeine. Head to this farm to try locally grown coffee. This place has a great vibe and they even take you on a short tour of the farm. Who knew growing coffee could be so interesting! It’s not only coffee though, as you can also order some of the best lilikoi pastries we’ve had on the island! This is quick 30 minute stop in Central Oahu that fits perfectly in your North Shore day.

Visit the Waimea Valley botanical garden

Waimea Valley is a botanical garden with a paved path to a magical waterfall. The garden is filled with plants and flowers from around the world. There is a Hawaiian history section, where you can learn about how ancient Hawaiians used to live on a daily basis. Finally, you will find the waterfall at the end. It’s worth the short walk and if you need to cool off, then you can jump in!

Grab lunch at a food truck in North Shore

Food trucks are known in North Shore and the place to get your lunch. The most famous food truck is the Giovanni’s Shrimp truck, which features a plate of garlic shrimp! It’s tasty, but we don’t think it’s worth standing in the long lines for. Other trucks have açaí bowls, poke and much more! There is something for everyone.

Explore the beaches of North Shore

In the winter, the North Shore is for big wave surfers. You can watch them tackle some of the largest waves on Earth, anywhere on the seven mile miracle. This stretch of beaches on North Shore is the holy grail for surfers!

Some famous beaches include Sunset beach, ‘Ehukai (Pipeline break) and Waimea Bay. It’s fun to watch surfers do their thing during the winter, but we recommend not getting in the water yourself. Unless you’re an experienced surfer of course…

The North Shore beaches are completely different in the summer months, as you can enjoy a day of lounging and swimming along many of the beaches. We really like Waimea Bay for it’s full facilities and relaxing vibe.

Go to Laniakea beach to view sea turtles on the beach. This beach is also called, turtle beach, because you’re almost guaranteed seeing these beautiful creatures on this beach.

Have dinner in the town of Haleiwa

Haleiwa is a quaint beach town in North Shore. Lots of wooden buildings with bright beach colors. A perfect way to end your day, as you can find plenty of restaurants here to have dinner. From food trucks and poké to tasty Mexican restaurants.

Oahu itinerary day 5

Main activities

• Kaneohe Sandbar
• Kailua Town
• Manoa Chocolate Factory
• Dinner at Haleiwa Joe’s

The Kaneohe Sandbar

The Kaneohe Sandbar is a beach in the middle of Kaneohe bay, surrounded by small islands such as Chinaman’s Hat and Coconut Island. The sandbar is also home to stingrays, hammerhead sharks and lots of honu! We prefer kayaking to sandbar instead of boating, just because of.. well adventure!

Cross the beautiful Ko’olau mountain range, pick up a kayak and head to He’eia State Park. That is where you will launch your kayak to go on your half day adventure to the most amazing spot on Oahu!

It’s amazing to get up early and kayak with all of the fishermen in the morning! For more information on the sandbar, make sure to read our detailed guide on the Kaneohe Sandbar.

Eat Shave Ice in Kailua

The half-day at the sandbar can be hot!! Relax and cool off by trying out some shave ice at Kailua’s Island Snow! It’s a place frequented by President Obama! If it’s good enough for the president, then it’s good enough for us! They have a ton of choices that include sugar free, natural and every other flavor imaginable!

Explore Kailua Town (farmers market)

We would say that Kailua is the most fun town on the island of Oahu! It has a boutique feel with specialty shops, ice cream parlors and some great farmers markets! The farmers market is on Saturdays. If you can, it would be nice to stroll around the small farmers market in Kailua.

You can spend an entire day in Kailua. If you need some great food, try out the Kalua Pork at Kono’s in Kailua! We always order the bomber (a big pork burrito) and the Hawaiian bowl (pulled pork and rice bowl with guava).

We also like to get smoothies or açaí bowls at Lanikai Juice or get fresh poké at the Foodland grocery store (which is in our opinion, the best poké on the island).

Manoa Chocolate Factory

Do you want to try some authentic Hawaiian Chocolate? The Manoa Chocolate Factory is the place to go! The chocolate products are top quality, but we go here for the guided tastings.

They will walk you through the different chocolate bars, the taste and the production. You get a full education on chocolate. You probably won’t eat Hershey’s anymore after this visit!

Dinner at Haleiwa Joe’s in Kaneohe

This restaurant has the million dollar view and one of the largest prime ribs I’ve ever seen! Get here before they open to get your seat on the balcony. Otherwise, ask for a balcony seat and wait in the gardens behind the restaurant for your table! Both are great options.

The setting sun over the Ko’olau mountain range is a perfect setting for the dinner. I had to try out the prime rib, but Nikki had a delicious dish of grilled fish with macadamia nut pesto and lobster cream sauce!

Oahu itinerary day 6

Main activities

• Sunrise in Lanikai (pillbox hike)
• Kailua beach
• Authentic Hawaiian lunch
• Kawela Bay

Sunrise in Lanikai

You will be getting up early on this day. The windward coast deserves more than one day, so we’ll be starting the morning off in Lanikai. Research on google when the sun comes up, and be in Lanikai 30 minutes beforehand.

The sun rises behind the two Mokulua Islands, which makes this the most beautiful sunrise spot on the island. You can enjoy the sunrise from the beach itself or hike to the Lanikai Pillbox from within the neighborhood. We’d recommend the hike for a short adventure! The hike takes about 30 minutes. You can easily find the trailhead of the Lanikai Pillbox hike on google maps. Bring a flashlight!

Parking is notoriously difficult in Lanikai. If you can’t find parking in the neighborhood, it’s best to park at Kailua Beach and walk to Lanikai (add an extra 30 minutes)

Breakfast at Cinnamons

Cinnamon’s in Kailua is a great spot to have your breakfast. They’re a family owned restaurant, where you can eat omelets in any style you want. Of course, the best dessert to try here is the cinnamon roll with a big glass of coffee!

Kailua beach

Kailua beach was the first beach we visited outside of Waikiki! It blew us away with the calm waters and turquoise colors. You could spend a lot of time here. The beach has full facilities, such as showers, bathrooms and lifeguards, and there are many activities to do. Think of paddle boarding to flat island, swimming along the coast, kayaking or baking away under the sun!

In the winter months, you may experience a shift in the trade winds that will cause the beach to be extra windy! On these days, you can watch windsurfers take on the elements of the ocean.

Alternative to Kailua beach: Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens

This is our favorite botanical garden on Oahu. Like Waimea Valley, it has numerous species of plants from around the world, but it has some extras. There are numerous hiking trails that range from quick strolls to long waterfall treks! Oh, did I mention that it’s free?

Get your lunch at the Waiahole Poi Factory

Get ready for some more amazing Hawaiian food! The Waiahole Poi Factory is a shack located along Kamemeha Highway, just before the Kualoa Ranch. We recommend that you make this your lunch spot for today!

Try out the lau lau with kalua pork and finish that off with their famous Sweet Lady desert. It’s a haupia ice cream with warm kulolo. Our mouths are watering just thinking of this place!

We usually get our lunch here and then make the short drive to the Kualoa Beach Park. There are many picnic tables in this beach park, and you will have a full view of Chinaman’s hat.

Exploring the windward coast

Continue on up the windward coast. This the Oahu countryside and you’ll see signs reminding you to “keep the country country” along the way! We made this drive a few times and love stopping along the way to admire the ocean and the Ko’olau Mountains! Can you tell we love this mountain range?

Some possible activities along the way is stopping at the Macadamia Nut Farm or checking out Goat Island in Malaekahana State Park. Enjoy this scenic drive to your next stop.

The beautiful Kawela Bay

Complete your day with yet, another beautiful beach. Kawela Bay is our favorite beach on the North Shore of Oahu. There are nearly not as many people in Kawela Bay as you will find on Kailua Beach. You can find your own secluded spot underneath the palm trees (watch out for coconuts) and relax the evening away!

Oahu itinerary day 7

Main activities

• Pink pillbox hike
• Mermaid caves
• Beach on the Westside
• Kaena Point hike

Hike the pink pillbox hike

The westside of Oahu has a completely different landscape. The Waianae Mountain Range stands as the centerpiece on this side of the island, and that’s where this day starts. The pink pillbox is a short hike to the top of the mountain where you will find 5 pillboxes. Again, endless views of the pacific.

Explore the Mermaid Caves

You will find the mermaid caves close to the Nanakuli beach park, also easily found on google maps. The caves have been carved into the lava shoreline, which you can see through the holes in the rock. You also hear the echo of the water clashing into the caves underneath.

You can get into the caves and see them from below. The mermaid caves are best visited at low tide and should definitely be approached with caution! You need to be able to climb in and out of the cave.

Visit the mermaid caves at your own risk, there are no lifeguards around.

Visit a westside beach

We have our favorites on the westside. These are Makua Beach, Yokohama Bay and Makaha beach. These beaches are large and wide stretched sandy beaches with less crowds. These beaches are deep into the westside, which gives it a secluded and untainted feel. We often see dolphins jumping in the ocean in these waters. A day on the Westside beaches is a must while you’re on Oahu!

Grab some poké from Tamura’s

We’ve visited the westside quite often and haven’t been able to find good food. But Tamura’s market has a good supply of fresh fish to fill you up! We almost always order the spicy ahi poke bowl! You could also bring a cooler with fresh poké from Foodland, which we have done plenty of times as well.

Ka’ena Point Hike

Complete your day with an amazing hike, which is at the end of the road on the Westside! You will walk next to the black lava shoreline, with lots of tide pools, coves and monk seals. At the end you will find a bird sanctuary that protects birds such as the Laysan Albatross. It’s a perfect place to snap pictures of the Waianae Mountain Range and reflect on your trip to Oahu!

Read our detailed guide on hiking Ka’ena Point.

Add-ons for your Oahu itinerary

We have some recommendations for your Oahu itinerary, if you decide to stay longer on the island.

• Kuli’ou’ou hike (half a day)
• Moanalua valley hike (stairway to heaven hike, full day)
• Lulumahu falls hike (half a day)
• Kayaking to the Mokes (read our detailed post) (half a day)
• Snorkeling at Sharks Cove (half a day)
• Island hopping (We recommend Kauai!)

Where to stay on Oahu

We recommend to stay in one of the three resort areas on the island, which are Waikiki, the Ko’olina lagoons or Turtle Bay on the North Shore. Of these three, we would pick Waikiki. You will find the most hotel options, plenty of restaurants and stores in Waikiki.

In resort areas, you can also rent Airbnb’s for a short-term stay. On other parts of the island, that are not in the three resort areas described above, you can usually rent Airbnb’s for a minimum of 30 days.

Questions about your Oahu itinerary?

Let us know in the comment sections if you have any questions about your upcoming Oahu itinerary. We would love to brainstorm some ideas with you. We would also love to know how your trip to Oahu was, if you’ve already experienced it! Mahalo!