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ALOHA FRIENDS!!! If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, you can’t miss Waikiki, the iconic neighborhood in Honolulu, Oahu. As someone who lived there for a month last July, I can tell you firsthand that it’s the absolute PERFECT place to experience the Hawaiian lifestyle.  Out of all of our monthly travels and living in a new city every single month, Hawaii is DEFINITELY TOP of the list of our favorite spots 🙂 it was truly a tropical dream to be able to live there a month!! Here’s THE ULTIMATE travel guide to living (or just visiting) Waikiki, Hawaii!

Waikiki is on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and is a vibrant and exciting neighborhood in Hawaii that should not be missed! To get there, you’ll fly into Honolulu airport, and drive to Waikiki which is a city right along the beach with high-rise hotels lining the shore, it’s a vibrant neighborhood known for its popular surf beach. With its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and endless activities, Waikiki is the perfect destination for any traveler, solo, family, or couple. Let’s get into everything you need to know before you visit Hawaii!

WHERE TO STAY:

We actually rented a vacation rental in one of the high rise buildings along the Ala Wai (our view pictured above) and it was one of the best locations, being only a couple blocks from the main beach of Waikiki! There are a bunch of hotels in the area too, so if we were just visiting for a weekend or five days, my recommendation would be the Moana Surfrider or the Royal Hawaiian!

WHAT TO DO:

OH MY GOSH there are truly ENDLESS things to do in Waikiki and Oahu in general. I can’t wait to share everything with you! Of course we had a month to fill it with fun activities, so depending on how long you’re visiting for, plan accordingly! Our favorites were:

• Rent a moped from Cruzn Hawaii and ride to Kailua for the day: we rode along the 72 (gorg views) to China Walls, past Hanauma Bay and through Kailua. Then we hiked the Pillbox Hike (INCREDIBLE views at the top), then went down to the Lanikai Beach to snorkel and relax.
• Walk the grounds at the Royal Hawaiian (iconic pink hotel in Waikiki)- you could even get brunch or drinks here
• Sunset Catamarran Sail- purchase tickets from Mai Tai Catamarran. They pick you up right in Waikiki and you can see gorgeous sunset views on the water, drink a mai tai, and watch dolphins jump in the water below you
• North Shore: there is a LOT to do up on this part of the island
  • Haleiwa is a cute town to stop in along the way with great food options- fun food truck area and the Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck and Surf N Salsa cannot be missed!
  • Turtle Beach is a 10/10 our FAVORITE!!! Lots of huge giant turtles everywhere!
  • Waimea Beach/Bay- most gorgeous water and beautiful beach day..you can also hike to a waterfall here
  • Snorkel at Shark’s Cove
  • Swim at Three Tables Beach
• Waimanalo Beach: windy but gorgeous colors and very NOT touristy which was great!
• Take a surf lesson at Waikiki Beach!
• Hike Diamond Head- it’s rigorous but if you’re in pretty good shape you should be fine!
• You can also visit Pearl Harbor- I did this as a child and it is absolutely crazy and definitely worthwhile if you’re into history!

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK:

Because we lived here for a month, we cooked a lot of meals at home which was very convenient! We did venture out to dinner a bunch of times though, had a few great brunches, and you can’t skip the shaved ice and yummy fresh fruits/desserts! Here are some of our favorite spots and places you must go to:

COFFEE/BRUNCH: 

The Surfjack– cute/trendy coffee shop

Island Vintage Coffee- order the Hawaiian honey latte

Leonards– malasadas are Portuguese fried donuts that are a Hawaiian must (just get there early, they sell out fast)

Sunrise Shack– there is one in Waikiki but my favorite (and pictured above) is the literal “shack” in the North Shore for açaí bowls, smoothies, etc!

Banan– this is right in Waikiki on the beach and is banana ice cream with lots of fresh fruit, granola, etc toppings served in pineapples!

Kaimana Beach Hotel- they have the most delicious pancakes for brunch at their outdoor beach restaurant!

LUNCH: 

Waialua Bakery– a cute sandwich shop on your way to the North Shore (you MUST order the crazy nut sandwich which has homemade coconut peanut butter with banana and honey, WOW)

Surf N Salsa– delicious burritos in a food truck style atmosphere!

Kalapawai Market- delicious fish sandwiches/fresh food right near Waimanalo Beach!!

DINNER: 

Beach House Moana– at the Moana Surfrider and the most romantic setting, the best sunset views, and most delicious dinner! Highly recommend!

Chart House– 10/10 delicious, romantic, dinner on the harbor! Order the macadamia crusted mahi mahi!

Noi Thai– delicious Thai food and a great ambiance. Order the crispy garlic chicken, spicy green beans, and veggie pad Thai

Maui Brewing Co- casual brewery in Waikiki for yummy food/drinks

Surf n Tacos Waikiki- get the fish burrito (it’s a casual eatery like chipotle style)

DRINKS: 

Moana Surfrider Patio- Get sunset drinks here!! The best Pina coladas!

Dukes- get sunset drinks here! Live music outside too!

Hideout Waikiki– coolest rooftop patio for drinks and a fun/trendy vibe!

DESSERT: 

Dole Whip at the Moana Surfrider (a must!!!)

Matsumotos Shave Ice– another MUST stop and classic Hawaiian dessert!

Li Hing Watermelon Candies- sounds silly but go to Rite Aid and pick up some of this authentic Hawaiian candy!

TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

One of my best tips if you’re there for awhile or want to get around easily without a car, I recommend downloading the bike share app Biki (it’s the public bike share). It was actually SO convenient for us! We rode bikes all around Waikiki, every single day. They were so easy to use, we even just purchased the monthly pass for unlimited bike rentals.

I recommend ordering a beach umbrella from amazon and a snorkel set if you’re in town for a week+! Super convenient so you won’t have to rent them daily at the beach. Also, bring a beach towel since you’ll be going daily!

The gym we joined while here was 24 Hr Fitness! It was a very crowded gym, but honestly we need to get in our daily workouts, so worth it for us. It was also affordable for a one month pass!

MAHALO for reading my Hawaii travel guide 🙂 If you have ANY other questions or recommendations on visiting or traveling to Hawaii, please let me know in the comments below… I’m happy to answer!