5 Days on Oahu Itinerary

Heading to Oahu? We’re sharing a detailed 5 days on Oahu itinerary and guide filled with the best beaches, things to do, food and coffee, hikes, and so much more!

It’s no secret that we LOVE Hawaii. We have now been to the islands 6 times together and every time we have to force ourselves to leave, spend weeks (or months) sad that we left, and instantly begin planning another trip back.

During our second trip to Oahu (you can watch all of our Oahu vlogs here) we had the most incredible 5 days beach hopping, eating shave ice and acai bowls, going on sunrise and sunset adventures, soaking up tons of sunshine (it was our first ever Hawaii trip without an ounce of rain!), and so much more!

To hopefully make planning a trip to Oahu a bit easier for others, we’ve created a 5 days on Oahu guide filled with tips on where to stay and an itinerary for 5 days that will give you a good taste of what the island has to offer, especially if you’re limited on time (like us) or it’s your first time to Oahu. You could easily spend more than 5 days on Oahu, so we included a bunch of extra ideas if you have more time or just want more options!

A few disclaimers before we dive on in:

• We craft our travel guides based on both our experiences and a lot of research. With that said, we haven’t spent a ton of time on the Leeward Coast (West side) or Northeastern portion of the island, so there aren’t many spots in those areas included on our guide. However, we do have some suggestions in our “if you have extra time” section based on our research.
   
• We absolutely love the North Shore and East Side of the island, so we are dedicating a lot of the guide to those regions.
   
• We are not lay out at the beach all day type people. We like to spend our days doing a mix of beaches, hiking, eating, and exploring towns, so our guide definitely caters more to our busier travel style, but it still will give you tons of ideas even if you prefer to travel differently!
   
• We have gotten some questions about leaving your items on the beach while you’re swimming. We aren’t the biggest ocean swimmers, so we tend to be on the beach most of the time, but we have had no issues leaving our belongings (and hiding valuables very well) when in the water and keeping an eye on it the whole time. Aloha Lockers is a great option at Waikiki to store your stuff for more peace of mind!

We hope you have a relaxing, magical, and adventurous trip to Oahu! If you have any questions about the island or our guide, then please shoot us an email or send us a message on Instagram!

More Oahu guides:

• Hiking to the Lanikai Pillboxes on Oahu: Where to park, when to hike, & more tips!
• Hiking up the Koko Head Stairs on Oahu: Everything you need to know before you go!

Heading to the Big Island, Maui, or Kauai? Check out our other Hawaii guides:

• 7 Days on the Big Island
• Best Beaches on the Big Island
• 5 Days on Maui
• 7 Days on Kauai
• All Hawaii guides
• Watch our Hawaii vlogs (Oahu and Big Island)

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!

These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

Note: this blog contains affiliate links. Full disclosure– if you click on these links and make a purchase, then we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!

When to visit Oahu

While there is truly no bad time to visit Oahu, there are a few important things to know about both weather and crowds to help you decide when is the best time for you to visit!

Weather
As you can see in the image above, the weather on Oahu is pretty dang perfect year round. We have visited Oahu in both November and June and the weather was incredible both times.

As it gets closer to your trip, you may notice the weather forecast says it’ll rain on Oahu…don’t panic! During almost every trip we have taken to the Hawaiian islands, typical weather websites would call for rain, but we ended up not having much (or any at all!) during all of our trips. And even if it does rain, it is usually just for a little bit and then it’s sunny again. 🙂

We found that the best weather website for Hawaii is Hawaii Weather Today. It will tell you the weather for different regions of the island, which is very important because the island is full of different ecosystems.

The Leeward side (West side) is the “dry” side of the island, whereas the Windward side (East side) is wetter and more lush. So just because it’s raining on one area doesn’t mean it’s raining in the other!

Crowds
One important thing to know about Oahu is that it is the busiest and most visited of the four main Hawaiian islands, so it will feel more crowded than the Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai. If you want to avoid some of the crowds, then we’d suggest avoiding the summer and holidays. The island is much busier during these times of the year.

However, we have only visited during the summer and Thanksgiving and didn’t find the crowds to be that bad. But it definitely is busier than the other islands we have been to!

Getting to Oahu

The best (and only!) way to get to Oahu is to fly! Oahu is home to one airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), which is located about 10 minutes from downtown Honolulu.

One of our favorite things about this airport is that it has tons of open air, outdoor spaces! So when you land you’re instantly greeted with that fresh Hawaiian air.

Where to stay on Oahu

During our most recent trip to Oahu, we stayed in an Airbnb on the North Shore. We love the convenience of a kitchen and being able to cook meals (it helps us save a lot of money while traveling), as well as getting to stay in more local areas. 

However, since our visit, a lot has changed on the island with Airbnb. Oahu has passed a new law making Airbnb and other short term rentals illegal in many areas on Oahu (including our favorite areas–the North Shore and the East Side). 🙁 You can still rent an Airbnb in these areas, but for a minimum of 30 days.

What this means is that the only area on the island where short-term Airbnbs are legal is in Waikiki.

Regions of Oahu

There are four main areas that people will stay on Oahu: West side (Leeward Coast), Waikiki/Honolulu, East Side (Windward Coast), and North Shore.

Our favorite areas of the island are both the North Shore and the East Side. These sides just feel more laid back to us and are close to some of the best beaches on the island!

There are not really hotels on this part of the island, but even with the Airbnb laws, there are still some options to stay in these areas, which we will cover below.

If you’re looking for convenience, then Waikiki/Honolulu are your best bets, as the area is very central to the activities on this guide. Normally, our biggest advice in Oahu is to not stay at Waikiki.

While Waikiki is a super fun area, it is too busy and commercialized, in our opinion, if you’re wanting that true Hawaiian experience. However, with the change in Airbnb laws, it is the area with the most options of places to stay.

As long as you leave Waikiki most days to explore other parts of the island, you’ll still get to experience a more laid back Hawaii!

If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort vibe away from the city then a great option is the West Side. The Ko Olina area on the West Side is one of our favorite areas of the island.

There are 4 resorts, including the Disney resort and two condo type resorts with kitchens, that give both larger groups and families a great place to call home on the island.

The lagoons in this area are nice and calm, making it great for kids or for those who don’t want to get slammed by waves. There are also lots of restaurants and shops within walking distance, or a short drive.

Lodging Options

Here is a list of some lodging options for each of the four areas we covered above!

North Shore

• VRBO Condo #1: A 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo just a two minute walk from the beach
• VRBO Condo #2: A 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo that sleeps 4
• VRBO Condo #3: A 2 bedrooms + Den, 1 bathroom house just 100ft from the beach
• Booking.com Condo #1: A 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom rental near Shark’s Cove
• Booking.com Condo #2: A 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house
• Turtle Bay Resort

Booking.com also has other options for condos on the North Shore!

East Side

• Booking.com Condo #1: A studio close to trailheads and the beach
• Booking.com Condo #2: A 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom rental with a nice patio
• Booking.com Condo #3: A 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment with beach chairs and boogie boards included!

Waikiki

• VRBO Option #1: A studio with incredible Diamond Head views
• VRBO Option #2: A spacious 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo
• VRBO Option #3: A 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo in the heart of Waikiki
• Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort
• Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
• Hilton Hawaiian Village
• Sheraton Wakiki
• The Royal Hawaiian

West Side

• Ko Olina Beach Villas: this is where we stayed during our first trip to Oahu. The building is full of individually owned condos. You can find listings of condos in the Beach Villas, as well as in the surrounding area on Booking.com and VRBO.
• Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
• Aululani, A Disney Resort & Spa
• Four Seasons Resort at Ko Olina (if you’re feeling extra fancy!)
• Embassy Suites Kapolei

Getting Around Oahu

Both times we have visited Oahu we have rented a car. We love having the flexibility to go anywhere we want during the day, especially because there is so much to explore on the island!

While this Oahu itinerary does include a bit of driving, the scenery while driving on Oahu is beautiful, so it goes by very quickly! We suggest turning on Da Pa’ina, rolling down the windows, and soaking up the views.

If you only plan to leave the area you are staying once or twice, there is Uber on Oahu. However, with how far some things can be, it may be pricier than renting a car for the day.

We recommend checking out Uber’s Fare Estimate tool to see what the costs would be and then decide if renting a car or Ubering is the best option for your budget.

Oahu Itinerary

In this Oahu itinerary we are splitting up the days by area so you can spend less time driving around the island all day and more time enjoying your trip! This itinerary is almost identical to how we spent our 5 days on Oahu, but you could definitely reorganize the days if needed to fit your trip.

Looking for other options of things to do and places to eat? Make sure to check out our “if you have extra time” section below!

The North Shore: Day 1

1. Start the day with coffee at Brew & Foam. Make sure you try their coconut whipped cream!
    
2. For breakfast, grab an acai bowl at Haleiwa Bowls. Bonus points if you take it to the beach!
    
3. Spend the rest of the morning at Laniakea Beach, a gorgeous beach on the North Shore with beautiful views. If you’re lucky, then you’ll see a sea turtle on the beach!
    
4. After relaxing for a few hours, explore the town of Haleiwa! This area has a small town, surfer vibe and we love walking around the shops here.
    
5. Grab lunch at Kono’s. We recommend their breakfast bomber or the pork lunch plate!
    
6. Enjoy your first (of many) shave ice during the trip at Matsumoto Shave Ice. Don’t forget to get ice cream and a snow cap!
    
7. Head to Kaena Point for sunset! Depending on how much time you have you can do the full hike, or just wander around for a bit.
    
8. Heads up: a lot of spots close kind of early on the North Shore, but here are a few dinner options nearby or you can cook at your VRBO!

• Surf N Salsa
• Aji Limo Truck
• Seven Brothers
• The Elephant Shack

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership? Click this link or use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

The North Shore: Day 2

1. Kick off the morning with a sunrise hike up to the Ehukai Pillbox! It’s a 2.1 mile roundtrip hike with a 675 ft elevation gain and great views of the North Shore!
    
2. Fuel up after your hike at The Sunrise Shack. We LOVED this spot! We highly recommend getting their coconut bullet coffee (SO good, but very filling!)
    
3. Spend the rest of the morning soaking up the sunshine at Waimea Bay. Warning: parking here is a nightmare, so make sure you get here early!
    
4. For lunch, head to Ted’s Bakery (make sure to get some pie!) or Pupukea Grill (Note: Closed Mondays).
    
5. Finish the day by relaxing and watching the sunset at Sunset Beach. Make sure to find the crooked palm tree!
    
6. For dinner, check out a spot that you didn’t make it to yesterday or you can cook at your Airbnb!

• Surf N Salsa
• Aji Limo Truck
• Seven Brothers
• The Elephant Shack

Honolulu: Day 3

1. First things first: COFFEE! Head to Ali’i Coffee for some caffeine for the day. (Note: Ali’i Coffee is closed on Sundays)
    
2. Now that you’re awake and caffeinated, it’s time for a sugar rush at Leonard’s Bakery. Leonard’s is famous for its malasadas and WOW they are good! So good that Kathryn cheated on her gluten free diet (which she NEVER does) in order to try a couple bites…and it was totally worth it.
   1. If you want a more traditional breakfast, head to Sweet E’s Cafe or Joe’s Grill Express, which is a hole in the wall, affordable spot with amazing breakfasts (so we hear).
       
3. You may have just eaten a whole box of malasadas and that’s ok! Next stop: Hiking to the top of Diamond Head. This 1.8 mile round trip hike gains 452 feet and has some crazy awesome views of Honolulu and the East Side. It’s $5 to park (cash only) and it gets really busy and hot, so plan to arrive early!
    
4. After hiking Diamond Head, grab a Hawaiian lunch! Here are some good options:
   1. Ono Seafood (Note: Only open Tuesday-Saturday)
   2. Helena’s Hawaiian Food (Note: Only open Tuesday-Friday)
   3. Rainbow Drive-In
   4. Alicia’s Market (Note: Closed Sundays)
       
5. Make sure you save some room for shave ice! Head to Waiola Shave Ice to experience some of the softest shave ice we have ever had. As always, make sure to get ice cream and a snow cap!
    
6. After eating tons of delicious food and going for a hike, it’s time to relax at Waikiki Beach. This beach, with its view of Diamond Head, is iconic and while very busy, you have to experience it while on Oahu! Make sure to stay for sunset!
    
7. Finish the day with our Hawaiian tradition: dinner at Duke’s! We recommend eating at their barefoot bar (cheaper, less fancy food) overlooking the beach. Their salad bar is awesome too! And if you aren’t sugar-ed out from the day, then get the hula pie.

The East Side: Day 4

1. Get up bright and early to do a sunrise hike up to Lanikai Pillboxes. Wow, the view from this spot at sunrise is absolutely breathtaking! Make sure to bring a headlamp! Also, parking can be tough (it’s in a residential area), so please be mindful of signs and the residents. Read our detailed guide to hiking to the Lanikai Pillboxes!
    
2. After seeing an amazing sunrise, enjoy breakfast at Over Easy in Kailua. Or if you’re craving another acai bowls (which is totally normal!), check out Makai Bowls. (Note: closed on Sundays)
    
3. Next, head to ChadLou’s Coffee Roasters for some coffee. We loved their Ice Grinds, but warning, it has ice cream in it, so it’s more like dessert!
    
4. Admire the views at the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. It’s $3 to park and a quick stop, but the views are gorgeous!
    
5. Go chase waterfalls at Lulumahu Falls. This hike is technically government property and trespassing without a permit. Most people don’t get a permit, but it’s only $2.50 and super easy to get, so we recommend getting one to be safe. Also, this trail can be a bit confusing, but follow the pink markers on the trees and the stream and you’ll eventually find it. We recommend packing a lunch to enjoy before or after the falls.
    
6. Head back to Kailua to the Obama family’s favorite shave ice spot: Island Snow. They also have mac nut ice cream here…score!
    
7. After a busy morning and afternoon, spend the rest of the day relaxing at Lanikai Beach.
    
8. For dinner, check out Kalapawai Cafe & Deli in Kailua!

The Southeast Side: Day 5

1. Start the morning with a beautiful sunrise at the top of Koko Head Crater. The trail to the top is a leg burner with 1,048 railroad ties (stairs) you have to go up, but the pain is totally worth it for the views. Make sure to bring a head lamp! Read our detailed guide to hiking the Koko Head Stairs!
    
2. After a killer workout, grab breakfast and coffee at Island Brew Coffeehouse.
    
3. Spend the rest of the morning snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. This is a gorgeous bay that is famous for being the best snorkeling spot on the island. Reservations are required, and they go on sale 2 days in advance beginning at 7:00am. You also have to pay $25 a person to enter, as well as watch a video on marine life and preservation. (Note: Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays)
    
4. Drive up the road to Halona Beach Cove, which is a beautiful cove you can hike down to that has been the backdrop for Pirates of the Caribbean, 50 First Dates, and an Elvis music video. There’s a cool cave at the beach and also a blowhole you can view from the parking area.
    
5. Continue up the road a little bit to the Makapu’u Lookout. You can either just soak up the views from the parking area or you can spend a little bit more time to hike to the lighthouse lookout. We also recommend packing a lunch to eat while you’re there!
    
6. Spend the rest of the day at Makapu’u Beach or Waimanalo Beach.
    
7. For dinner, either make a homemade meal at your condo or check out one of the spots in our “if you have extra time” section.
    
8. Cry because you have to leave Hawaii 🙁

If you have extra time…

Food

• Dat Cajun Guy (North Shore–Breakfast and Lunch only)
• Waialua Bakery and Juice Bar (North Shore)
• Kahuku Farms (North Shore)
• Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck (North Shore)
• Aloha Shrimp (Hauula)
• Musubi Cafe Iyasume (Waikiki)
• Crispy Grindz (North Shore)
• Alejandros Mexican Food (Honolulu)
• South Shore Grill (Honolulu)
• Koko Head Cafe (Honolulu)
• Marukame Udon (Honolulu)
• Cinnamon’s Restaurant (Kailua and Waikiki)
• Paia Fish Market (Waikiki)–We LOVE their Maui locations!
• Nalu Health Bar & Cafe (Kailua)
• The Hibachi (Kailua)

Sweets

• Raised by the Waves (North Shore)–this vegan friendly spot looks amazing for gluten free vegan waffles!
• Island Vintage Shave Ice (Waikiki)
• MATCHA Stand MAIKO (Waikiki)
• Shimazu Store for shave ice (Honolulu)
• UBAE (Honolulu)
• Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (Honolulu)
• Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts (Honolulu)
• Banán (Honolulu)

Coffee

• Coffee Gallery (North Shore)
• Island Vintage Coffee (Multiple Locations)
• Local Joe (Honolulu)
• Kai Coffee (Waikiki)
• Knots Coffee Roasters (Waikiki)

Activities

• Pretend you’re at Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch! You can do ATV tours, horseback tours, kayaking tours, a film and TV tour, and SO much more here!
• If you’re a golf lover, then play a cheap 9 holes along the ocean at Kahuku Golf Course. It’s not a glamorous golf course, but you can’t beat the price and views!
• Check out the Kailua Farmers Market (They have two Farmers Markets–one on Thursday nights and one on Sunday mornings)
• Tour Kahuku Farms and also grab a smoothie from their cafe!
• Enjoy the lagoons at Ko Olina. We love this area–make sure to grab a Dole whip at the Disney resort!
• Lay out at Makua Beach or Makaha Beach on the West side! These would be great beaches to combine with Ko Olina!
• Visit Pearl Harbor: We have yet to visit Pearl Harbor and really want to, but just haven’t had enough time.
• Go on a helicopter tour! Kathryn’s brother did this on our first trip to Oahu and it looked like so much fun!
• View the island from new heights by going skydiving! Kathryn’s other brother did this on our first trip to Oahu and the video and photos were INSANE!
• Learn how to surf at Waikiki
• Spend an evening at a luau! There are so many to choose from, but we would highly recommend Toa Luau or Experience Nutridge for the cultural experience.
• Visit the Iolani Palace in Honolulu

Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Book it on Tripadvisor and use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off!

Hikes
There are many amazing hikes on Hawaii, some of which are private property. Since we are big rule followers, we are only including trails that are legal to hike.

• Olomana Trail–4.5 miles, 1,784 ft elevation gain
• Manoa Falls–1.6 miles, 534 ft elevation gain
• Aiea Loop Trail–4.2 miles, 1,230 ft elevation gain
• Waimano Falls–2.8 miles, 770 ft elevation gain
• Maunawili Falls–miles, 1,210 ft elevation gain
• Mount Olympus Awaawaloa–5.2 miles, 2,047 ft elevation gain

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