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the USA🇺🇸 | citiesHonoluluSurf lessons, crater hike, royal palace, plate lunch | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Honolulu
👍 Recommendedcity ranked #19
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Waikiki Beach is the obvious pull, and the overlooked bit is that Honolulu is also a real working city with great cheap food and a proper bus system. It sits on the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii, in the United States. I once paid US$13 for a plate lunch of kalua pork and mac salad, and it beat any resort dinner nearby. Spend your time on Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and local food, and skip the overpriced beachfront bars. Your first day could be sunrise hike, plate lunch, then a sunset swim.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 the USA Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #19 city in the USAWhat sets this place apart

Honolulu works for backpackers because it packs Waikiki surf lessons, a hiking trail with a city view and world-class history into one island hub. Hostels cluster in Waikiki and Ala Moana, so you can walk to the beach, grab poke and plate lunches from local counters, and ride TheBus almost everywhere. It is also the main airport gateway for flights to other Hawaiian islands, which makes it a natural start or end point. Pricey by mainland standards, but worth a few days.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Waikiki Beach: Gentle waves make it the place for a first surf lesson. Go early morning to beat crowds. Free; lessons run about US$75 to 100 for 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Diamond Head State Monument: A steep trail climbs to a crater rim with sweeping coastline views. Arrive at opening for cooler air; reservations are required. About US$5 entry plus US$10 per vehicle for non-residents, 1.5 to 2 hours.
  3. Pearl Harbor National Memorial: The USS Arizona Memorial is moving and well run. Go in the morning. Entry is free, timed tickets cost about US$1 to 2 to reserve, allow 3 to 4 hours.
  4. Iolani Palace: The only royal palace on American soil, with koa-wood staircases and the throne room. Guided tours suit mornings. About US$30 to 35, 1 to 1.5 hours.
  5. Bishop Museum: The best place to understand Hawaiian culture, with
… read more 👉
  1. Waikiki Beach: Gentle waves make it the place for a first surf lesson. Go early morning to beat crowds. Free; lessons run about US$75 to 100 for 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Diamond Head State Monument: A steep trail climbs to a crater rim with sweeping coastline views. Arrive at opening for cooler air; reservations are required. About US$5 entry plus US$10 per vehicle for non-residents, 1.5 to 2 hours.
  3. Pearl Harbor National Memorial: The USS Arizona Memorial is moving and well run. Go in the morning. Entry is free, timed tickets cost about US$1 to 2 to reserve, allow 3 to 4 hours.
  4. Iolani Palace: The only royal palace on American soil, with koa-wood staircases and the throne room. Guided tours suit mornings. About US$30 to 35, 1 to 1.5 hours.
  5. Bishop Museum: The best place to understand Hawaiian culture, with feather cloaks and a planetarium. About US$30 to 35, 2 to 3 hours.
  6. Chinatown: Lei shops, noodle counters and street art around Maunakea Street. Visit mornings for the market. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
  7. Kapiolani Park and Kuhio Beach hula show: Free evening shows on select nights near the Duke Kahanamoku statue. About 1 hour.
Honolulu also opens up day trips to Hanauma Bay, Manoa Falls and the North Shore beaches.

Diamond Head is the best pick for a first visit, because it gives you the whole shoreline in one go.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do in Honolulu

Private 60 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Honolulu

Private 60 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Honolulu

5.0(96) 1h
From €462
per personViator
Full Day Private Customized Sightseeing Tour in Oahu Hawaii

Full Day Private Customized Sightseeing Tour in Oahu Hawaii

5.0(90) 7h
From €1,179
per personViator
The Magical Mystery Show After Dark Close-Up with Shoot Ogawa

The Magical Mystery Show After Dark Close-Up with Shoot Ogawa

5.0(88)
From €227
per personViator
Oahu Private Tour Customizable

Oahu Private Tour Customizable

5.0(72) 8h
From €159
per personViator
Island Tour - Waikiki to Oahu's North Shore

Island Tour - Waikiki to Oahu's North Shore

5.0(56) 8h
From €123
per personViator
Private Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, Missouri Ship & City Tour

Private Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, Missouri Ship & City Tour

5.0(53) 5h
From €731
per personViator
Departure - Private Transfer Waikiki Hotel to Airport

Departure - Private Transfer Waikiki Hotel to Airport

5.0(53) 1h
From €45
per personViator
Hike to a Tropical Waterfall - pick up included

Hike to a Tropical Waterfall - pick up included

5.0(40) 3h
From €117
per personViator
Northshore ocean adventure and circle islandJeep Tour- Guaranteed to see turtles

Northshore ocean adventure and circle islandJeep Tour- Guaranteed to see turtles

5.0(38)
From €635
per personViator
4 Hour Half Day Island Jeep Tour

4 Hour Half Day Island Jeep Tour

5.0(29) 4h
From €172
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsHow different areas shape the experience

Honolulu sprawls, but the parts worth your time fit in a few zones, and one of them is a wall of hotels.
  • Waikiki: Crowded, walkable and slightly absurd, with surf lessons on one side and designer shops on the other. Come for the beach at dawn and cheap poke, skip the overpriced restaurants on Kalakaua Avenue.
  • Downtown and Chinatown: Flat and walkable, with Iolani Palace, lei shops, noodle counters and dive bars. First Friday nights are the liveliest. Worth a full afternoon.
  • Kaka’ako: Giant murals, breweries and food halls. Good for an evening wander, dull at midday.
  • Manoa: Leafy, quiet and rainy, with a waterfall hike and a university crowd. Needs a bus ride.
  • Kapahulu: Local plate-lunch spots and shave ice a ten-minute walk from Waikiki. Skip the lines at the famous ones if you’re hungry.

⌛️ 1 daySeeing the highlights in 24 hours

7:00 AM: Diamond Head Start here, because the crater trail is cooler early and the views clear. Take a bus or rideshare back toward Waikiki afterward.
10:00 AM: Waikiki Beach Swim or rent a board at Kuhio Beach, then walk toward downtown.
12:30 PM: Chinatown Eat noodles or pastries at a local counter and browse the lei stalls on Maunakea Street.
2:00 PM: Iolani Palace Walk ten minutes to tour the royal rooms and see the King Kamehameha statue outside.
4:30 PM: Kakaako murals A lesser-known stroll past large street murals and warehouse cafes, ideal for late light.
6:30 PM: Magic Island Finish with sunset on the lawn by Ala Moana Beach Park, where locals picnic.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Dry Season (April to October): Highs of 28 to 31°C (82 to 88°F), steady trade winds and the calmest south-shore surf. Crowds and prices peak in summer.
  • Wet Season (November to March): Highs of 25 to 28°C (77 to 82°F), passing showers and big north-shore waves. Daylight shrinks to roughly 11 hours, and hotels spike around Christmas.
  • Shoulder Months (April, May, September, October): Fewer visitors, lower fares and warm water.
Book flights for May or September and you pay noticeably less.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutthe USA Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Waikiki is the best base for budget beds, with the most hostels in Hawaii and direct bus links to everything. Dorms fill up quickly in summer, so book weeks ahead. The streets are lit and busy late, though noise from bars and street musicians carries after dark. Pick a spot a few blocks back from Kalakaua Avenue for quieter sleep. The other sensible option is Kapahulu, on the Waikiki edge, where rooms are calmer and cheaper, local eateries are close, and buses reach downtown. Downtown and Chinatown have a few beds, but streets empty out and feel rougher at night.
Best hostels in Honolulu


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundHow to get from A to B

Renting a car for a Waikiki stay is the costliest mistake here, because hotel parking runs US$40 to 60 a night and the rental sits idle. Waikiki and downtown are walkable, and TheBus covers nearly everything else.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to cover Waikiki, Kapahulu and Chinatown. Midday sun is brutal, so go early.
  • TheBus: A fare is about US$3, with a day pass near US$7.50 and a HOLO card to tap in. Routes reach Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Manoa. Big backpacks and surfboards are not allowed on board. Service runs from roughly 4am to near midnight on main lines, but it can be slow.
  • Biki bikeshare: Single rides cost about US$4.50 for 30 minutes, and passes are cheaper per day. Handy for short hops, not hills.
  • Rideshare and taxis: Uber and Lyft cost about US$15 to 25 from the airport to Waikiki.
… read more 👉
Renting a car for a Waikiki stay is the costliest mistake here, because hotel parking runs US$40 to 60 a night and the rental sits idle. Waikiki and downtown are walkable, and TheBus covers nearly everything else.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to cover Waikiki, Kapahulu and Chinatown. Midday sun is brutal, so go early.
  • TheBus: A fare is about US$3, with a day pass near US$7.50 and a HOLO card to tap in. Routes reach Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Manoa. Big backpacks and surfboards are not allowed on board. Service runs from roughly 4am to near midnight on main lines, but it can be slow.
  • Biki bikeshare: Single rides cost about US$4.50 for 30 minutes, and passes are cheaper per day. Handy for short hops, not hills.
  • Rideshare and taxis: Uber and Lyft cost about US$15 to 25 from the airport to Waikiki. Worth it only when splitting with others or when buses stop.
  • Airport shuttle: Shared vans run around US$20 to 25 per person. TheBus is far cheaper if you pack light.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Honolulu

Honolulu costs about US$135 a day for a backpacker with a dorm bed in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm (high season)US$45 to 60Waikiki hostels book out in summer
Dorm (off-season)US$35 to 50Easier to find deals in autumn
MealsUS$30 to 40Plate lunches run US$12 to 15
Local transportUS$3 to 6TheBus is US$3 a ride
City transport passUS$7.50Day pass caps at that
Activities and entry feesUS$10 to 20Hanauma Bay is US$25, hikes are free
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 10Sunscreen, snacks, laundry
Total Daily BudgetUS$135High season, one dorm bed
Buy groceries at a supermarket and cook at the hostel, which saves US$15 a day or more.

source: numbeo.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Oahu is small enough that every trip below works from a single bed, and most need only TheBus or a shared ride.Hanauma Bay: Snorkeling in a protected volcanic crater, about 30 minutes by road from Waikiki; city buses no longer drive into the bay. Entry is US$25 for non-residents, and you must watch a short video first. Go early, since the bay closes Mondays and Tuesdays. First-timers often arrive without reserving a slot online.
👉 Explore Hanauma BayPearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial is free but needs a timed ticket of about US$1 booked ahead. The bus takes about an hour. Plan on half a day with other sites around, and leave bags at the hotel, since they’re banned.
North Shore: Big winter waves at Waimea and Sunset Beach, with shrimp trucks at Haleiwa. Allow 90 minutes each way by bus (route … read more 👉
Oahu is small enough that every trip below works from a single bed, and most need only TheBus or a shared ride.Hanauma Bay: Snorkeling in a protected volcanic crater, about 30 minutes by road from Waikiki; city buses no longer drive into the bay. Entry is US$25 for non-residents, and you must watch a short video first. Go early, since the bay closes Mondays and Tuesdays. First-timers often arrive without reserving a slot online.
👉 Explore Hanauma BayPearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial is free but needs a timed ticket of about US$1 booked ahead. The bus takes about an hour. Plan on half a day with other sites around, and leave bags at the hotel, since they’re banned.
North Shore: Big winter waves at Waimea and Sunset Beach, with shrimp trucks at Haleiwa. Allow 90 minutes each way by bus (route 52 or 60) for about US$7.50 per day. Visit November to February for surf, or summer for swimming.
Lanikai Beach: Powdery sand and calm turquoise water on the windward side, about 45 minutes away. The bus and a walk costs under US$10. Go early, since street parking is tight and neighbors are strict.

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Honolulu eats on a plate-lunch budget. Try poke by the pound at a grocery counter, loco moco with gravy over rice, and shave ice piled with azuki beans and condensed milk. In Chinatown, the noodle shops and manapua (steamed pork buns) are cheap and filling. Food trucks and Kaka’ako’s food halls cover most evenings, and Kapahulu has malasadas. Local breweries pour pale ales brewed with island ingredients like lilikoi. Plates are huge, so share one and add a side of macaroni salad, since two scoops of rice is the default.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Honolulu

Honolulu is calm for most travelers, and theft is the main annoyance. Cars parked at trailheads and beaches get broken into constantly, so leave nothing visible and carry valuables with you at the beach. Waikiki is busy and fine at night, while Chinatown and downtown get quiet and unsettled after dark, with some street homelessness. Solo travelers do well here. The bigger risk is the ocean, so check lifeguard flags, and don’t turn your back on shore break.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Three to four days covers Honolulu well. Spend one day on Waikiki and Diamond Head, one on Pearl Harbor and downtown, and one or two on Hanauma Bay or the North Shore, all reachable by TheBus for about US$7.50 a day.
Yes, Honolulu works well for solo backpackers. Waikiki stays busy and well lit late into the night, and hostels make it easy to meet people. Car break-ins at trailheads are the common problem, so carry valuables, and Chinatown after dark calls for extra care.
Honolulu is known for Waikiki Beach, surfing, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, and Diamond Head crater, a hike of about 1.6 miles round trip. It also has Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on US soil, plus poke and plate lunches for around US$12 to 15.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American cities near Honolulu

Explore more nearby:

  • San Francisco—Golden Gate walk, Alcatraz audio tour, Mission murals, steep hills| 3854 km away
  • Los Angeles—Griffith views, Getty hilltop, taco hall, Venice boardwalk| 4120 km away
  • Portland—Powell’s bookstore, food cart pods, rose garden, light rail| 4176 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Honolulu trips go wrong when people stay glued to Waikiki. Rent no car, ride TheBus, and eat where locals line up. I would book Pearl Harbor tickets ahead and leave one open day for a spontaneous beach.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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