If you’re searching for the best things to do in Oahu, Hawaii, look no further than this Oahu travel guide! Oahu is one of the most popular Hawaiian islands to visit. I fell in love with Oahu and the perfect mix of city and nature on the island. It’s home to Hawaii’s capitol, Honolulu, after all! From the bustling Waikiki Beach to the hippy North Shore there’s so much to see and do on Oahu. It can be overwhelming to plan a vacation to Oahu, the island packs in a lot!

There’s something for everyone on Oahu- the beach bum, the city girl and the nightlife aficionado. It’s especially perfect if you like a mix of city and nature. Here’s my guide to the best things to do in Oahu, Hawaii, including where to stay, restaurants to check out and activities to do.

If you’re interested in taking pictures around Oahu, I also wrote an Instagram guide to the island.

When to visit Oahu

Oahu is a year-round destination. It tends to rain more in the late fall through spring. August is the hottest month with an average high of 89 and February is the “coldest” month with an average high of 80. Low season is August through December and high season is mid-December through April.

Getting there and getting around

Ohahu is the easiest Hawaiian island to get to and has the most flights. Honolulu is also the least expensive place to fly into in Hawaii.

You don’t need a car to vacation in Oahu, but I highly recommend renting one. Most of the hotels are in Waikiki and you could spend your entire trip there, but there’s so much more to see on Oahu. And that requires driving!

A big issue with rental cars in Oahu is parking, which can get expensive especially in Waikiki. On my trip I did daily rentals. There are so many car rental companies and I picked one walking distance from my hotel. Each night I returned the car and picked it up again in the morning so I avoided a high $50 nightly parking fee at my hotel!

Hotel recommendations on Oahu

Waikiki, the tourist hub on Oahu, is where most hotels are located. The good thing about Oahu is that it’s relatively small. So you can stay at a hotel in Waikiki for the duration of your trip and drive around exploring the island during the day!

The Laylow The Laylow is one of my favorite hotels on Oahu. It’s a stylish boutique in the heart of the action near Waikiki Beach. It’s part of the Marriott Autograph collection, so Bonvoy members can get and use points towards a stay. I love the aesthetic of The Laylow, rattan swing chairs, vibrant wallpaper, lots of plants. It’s like it was designed for Instagram! If you want to do daily car rentals The Laylow is close to many rental companies.

The Four Seasons Ko Olina If it fits your budget, this is one of the best hotels on Oahu. The Four Seasons is true luxury, with a beach front location and almost all rooms have ocean views.

Turtle Bay Resort This is the only large hotel on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s set on 850-acres of beautiful Hawaiian coast, and you may recognize its grounds from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “LOST.”

What to do on Oahu

Oahu is packed with so much, it’s hard to tackle everything in one vacation. From beaches, to hiking, to shopping, to museums there’s something for everyone!

Explore Waikiki

Waikiki is the tourist hub of Oahu. It’s a bustling area with the majority of the island’s hotels and shops. It’s also where the world famous and incredibly popular Waikiki Beach is located. While this part of the island may not be for everyone, I recommend checking it out at least once. After a day shopping around Waikiki and laying on the beach, enjoy a cocktail and the sunset views at Duke’s Waikiki, a popular restaurant and bar located right on Waikiki Beach.

Visit the North Shore

This is the more “natural” and hippy part of Oahu. You’ll most likely be staying closer to the Waikiki area, but renting a car and doing the short drive north is highly recommended. The North Shore is famous for surfing and its laid back attitude. I recommend making a day out of a visit here. Stop at The Sunrise Shack for breakfast, lay out at the famous Pipeline Beach to watch the surfers, eat at one of the area’s famous shrimp trucks and grab shave ice from Matsumoto.

Be a beach bum

Oahu is packed with gorgeous beaches! If you’re staying in Waikiki you’ll have popular Waikiki Beach right there. This is a beach you have to check out (and watch the sunset from) but it gets crowded. I preferred leaving the Waikiki area to discover smaller, lesser known beaches. Some of the best Oahu beaches are:

Lanikai One of the most popular beaches in Hawaii. It has very calm waters which makes it perfect for swimming and families. Keep in mind that Lanikai is located in a residential area and parking can be limited.

Hanauma Bay This beach is in a state park, so there’s a small entrance fee and limited operating hours. It’s one of the most popular snorkeling locations.

Waimea Bay This is a popular surfing beach known for its huge waves! It’s located on the North Shore.

Get your heart rate up

Oahu is an active place. The island has one long mountain ridge that runs though the middle and there are many hiking opportunities along this ridge. Some of the best hikes on Oahu are:

Diamond Head This is a very popular and pretty easy hike. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the top and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous vistas of Waikiki and the ocean.

Lanikai Pillbox This is another very popular, easy hike on Oahu. The trail starts close to the famous Lanikai beach and it’s a short but steep journey up. It’s a great hike to do at sunrise.

Manoa Falls After Diamond Head, this is the second most popular hike on Oahu. This is a jungle trail that leads you to a beautiful waterfall.

Where to eat on Oahu

The food in Oahu is amazing! Everything is very fresh and for the most part healthy. Being an island Oahu is known for its seafood, specifically poke. I tried poke all across the island and I noticed that some of the best poke can be found in unassuming places- grocery stores, gas stations and liquor stores!

The Sunrise Shack This is a cute stop for breakfast, a light lunch or a snack on Oahu’s North Shore. The colorful food stand serves acai bowls, smoothies and other healthy treats.

The Pig and the Lady This popular Honolulu restaurant serves Hawaiian and Asian fare with a modern twist.

Olive and Oliver Delicious coffee shop in the heart of Waikiki with the cutest cups!

Matsumoto Shave Ice Shave ice is a famous Hawaiian treat that can be found all over the island. It’s literally shaved ice topped with a variety of fruit syrups and sweet Hawaiian delicacies. This is the BEST shave ice on the island!

Shrimp Trucks On Oahu you’ll hear a lot about shrimp trucks dotting the island. They serve one thing, a platter with white rice and garlic sautéed shrimp (some trucks have other styles, like hot and spicy). Every local seems to have their favorite truck! Giovanni’s on the North Shore is the most popular truck. We waited in a long line to try it, and it was ok. We tried a couple other shrimp trucks around the island and they all tasted pretty similar, I wouldn’t wait in the long line again!

Leonard’s Bakery This famous bakery is known for its malasada, which are Portuguese donuts with no hole. They’re delicious and make a great quick breakfast!

Oahu poke break down

Ahi Assassins I love the name of this spot, and their poke is delicious!

Foodland It’s surprising but true that some of the best poke on Hawaii can be found at the grocery store! Foodland is a local grocery store chain that serves a delicious poke.

Tamura’s Fine Wine SO many people on Oahu told me that their favorite poke was sold at a liquer store. i couldn’t believe how odd that sounded… but it’s true! A poke counter offering a variety of styles is in the back of the store, and it’s amazing!

I hope you found this Oahu travel guide helpful! Hawaii is such a magical place and Oahu is a great island to visit. If you have any other Oahu suggestions please drop them in the comments below!