Book on their siteFood · 3–3.5 hoursWaikīkī without a car
STOP 1 OF 9
Fort DeRussy Beach Park
Waikīkī & Diamond Head · Free to visit
The widest, quietest stretch of sand.
1–3 hours · Free
EThe editors · 2 Waikīkī on foot lists — switch
Waikīkī without a car
A walk from the Hilton lagoon to Kapiʻolani Park, with the views, the banyans and the beach food in between.
9 placesA full dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. Fort DeRussy Beach ParkThe widest, quietest stretch of sand.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit1–3 hoursFree
2. Royal Hawaiian, the pink palaceThe pink palace. Walk through the gardens.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFrom outside20 minFree to walk through the grounds
3. International Market Place banyanThe banyan in the middle of the market.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit15 minFree
4. Moana Surfrider veranda and banyanThe oldest hotel on the beach and its banyan courtyard.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFrom outside20 minFree to look
5. Duke Kahanamoku statueDuke Kahanamoku, usually draped in lei.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit10 minFree
6. Kūhiō Beach hula showA free hula show by the beach on set evenings in season.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit1 hourFree
7. Kai CoffeeKona coffee across from the beach.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFood & drink15 minCoffee about $5–8
8. Queen’s Beach and Sans Souci, Kapiʻolani ParkCalm water at the park end.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit1–3 hoursFree
9. Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) summit trailThe crater hike. Book a timed entry.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadPaid entry1.5–2 hours$5 per person plus $10 per car for non-residents
The guide
How to do it: Waikīkī without a car
Waikīkī is a two-mile walk from the Hilton lagoon to Kapiʻolani Park, and almost everything worth seeing is on it: the old hotels, the banyans, the surf statues and the calmest swimming in town.
This list walks it end to end, west to east, with the Diamond Head hike as an optional finish.
- The order to do it in
- Fort DeRussy, the Royal Hawaiian and the market banyan, the Moana, Duke’s statue, then the park end. Book Diamond Head for the next morning or for the end of the day.
- When to go
- Morning for the beach, late afternoon for the walk back with the light behind you.
- Getting there
- On foot. The Waikīkī Trolley and TheBus run along Kalākaua and Kūhiō avenues if you get tired.
- What to bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.
- What it costs
- Free, apart from Diamond Head ($5 plus $10 a car for visitors).
Worth knowing
- The hotel grounds are open to walk through; be quiet near the pools.
- Kūhiō Beach’s hula show runs on set evenings in season; check before you plan around it.
Started from the pins on Flashpacking America’s Oʻahu maps (the map). Places, notes and the guide checked and written by us; prices and opening times change, so check before you go.
Private tours
Rather go with a guide?
Book on their siteFood · 3–3.5 hours