How to Spend 3 Days on Oahu: The Perfect Oahu Itinerary for First Timers!

Welcome to my Ultimate 3 Day Oahu itinerary! The island of Oahu is Hawaii’s most visited island, and for good reason! Home to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, and some of the most diverse range of activities, there’s something for everyone on this incredible island. I was lucky enough to spend a week on Oahu in 2022 for work, and I can’t wait to go back someday.

If you’ve never visited Oahu before, I recommend spending at least 3 days on the island to be able to see and do a majority of what it has to offer. In this 3 day Oahu itinerary, I cover all the must-dos, from hiking Diamond Head Mountain to surfing at Waikiki Beach. I’ll also cover where to stay, how to get around, and more!

So keep reading if you are planning a trip to Oahu! I guarantee you will absolutely love the island of Oahu and the Hawaiian islands after visiting 🙂

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The Ultimate 3 day Oahu Itinerary for First-Timers

Below is a map of Oahu that includes all of the hotel, activities, and restaurants mentioned in this itinerary! Make sure to save it for your trip!

Day 0: Arriving on Oahu

This itinerary assumes you are arriving to Oahu in the late afternoon or evening, so the real fun begins on Day 1!

To get to Oahu, you will fly into Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu! The airport is located on the south side of the island, just 20 minutes from the famous Waikiki Beach and 30 minutes from North Shore.

After landing, pick up your rental car (I cover this more in the next section) and head to your hotel!

Wondering where to stay while visiting Oahu? There are a few different main areas on the island, but I recommend staying in the Waikiki area. Not only is it the most popular spot on the island, it’s also the perfect home base for all the activities in this Oahu itinerary.

There are some incredible hotels in the Waikiki area, like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Sheraton Waikiki, and the Moana Surfrider!

Pssst: Make sure to check out my list of the 13 Best Things to Do in Waikiki so you don’t miss anything in the area!

If you’re looking for less touristy vibes, you can stay on North Shore or the Kailua area, but you will have to drive more each day!

Important Note: As you’ll notice in this itinerary, a lot of activities require advance reservations. Hawai’i is a very popular travel destination, so I highly recommend booking as many things in advance as you can!

Renting a Car on Oahu

The island of Oahu is quite large and spread out. Since you will be spending 3 days on Oahu, you will need to rent a car! This itinerary includes trips to places like North Shore and Kualoa Ranch, which are about an hour away from the Waikiki area.

I highly recommend using RentalCars.com. They allow you to compare prices across all of the major rental car companies. Plus, they have a great cancellation policy (typically free cancellation up to 48 hours in advance). Oh, and they price match!

Day 1: Pearl Harbor, Surfing, & Sunset Cruise

Visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Day 1 of this 3 day Oahu itinerary starts off with some activities in and around Waikiki. You won’t venture too far today in case you need to take a quick siesta back at your hotel 😉

To begin the day, head to one of the famous attractions on the island of Oahu – the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Located about 20-30 minutes away from Waikiki (depending on traffic), the Memorial is a must visit during your time on Oahu.

The best part? It’s free! There’s no entry fee for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, and no ticket is required to see the museums. To see the USS Arizona Memorial (via a short boat ride), you can wait in the free standby line or secure a reservation for $1.

Explore Waikiki Beach

When you’re finished taking in everything Pearl Harbor has to offer, make your way back to Waikiki. Grab some lunch at one of the many places in the area, like Paiea Fish Market or Lulu’s.

After lunch, wander around Waikiki and explore the many shops, restaurants, and vendors. Head down to the beach and see the famous Duke Kahanamoku Statue!

If you’re interested, this is the perfect time and place to take a surf lesson! I took a lesson with Moku Surf Shop, but there are tons of places in the area to choose from! Waikiki Beach is a great place for beginners to learn, as the surf break is relatively small year-round.

Go on a Sunset Cruise

To cap off your first night in paradise, spend the evening on a sunset cruise!! There are many options to choose from. Some companies, like Hawaii Nautical, offer tours that include alcoholic drinks and appetizers, for around $100. Other tours are cheaper and BYOB, like this one from Living Ocean Tours.

Make sure to check out my full guide on the Best Waikiki Sunset Cruises for even more information!

Day 2: Waterfalls, Jurassic Park, and North Shore

Explore Mānoa Falls Trail

Your second day on Oahu will be action-packed, so make sure to rest up and start with a big breakfast! Then, it’s time to make your way from Waikiki to the Mānoa Falls Trail, about 30 minutes away.

This trail is very popular, so it’s best to get an early start! The hike is moderately easy, about a 1.7-mile out-and-back trail that should take around an hour to complete. The trail is open year-round, but the waterfall will be most impressive during rainy season! Make sure to wear stable shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy!

You can read about the other waterfall hikes in my complete guide to the Best Waterfall Hikes on Oahu here!

Visit the Famous Kualoa Ranch

After you’ve finished the hike, it’s time to make your way to another iconic spot on Oahu – Kualoa Ranch! Never heard of Kualoa Ranch? You’ve probably still seen it before! Tons of famous movies were filmed here, like Jurassic Park & World, 50 First Dates, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla, and TONS more.

In addition to being a famous movie set, the ranch is also a working cattle farm. They offer a ton of different tours and activities, the most popular being the UTV Raptor Tour, Hollywood Movie Sites Tour, and the Horseback Riding Tour.

Whichever tour you decide on, I highly recommend booking in advance, especially during high season! This will guarantee you get to experience this amazing place on your trip! It is absolutely worth a visit.

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii but can’t decide which island to visit, make sure to read my comparison guide between Oahu and the Big Island here!

Watch the surfers and Hit the Food Trucks on North Shore

After finishing up at Kualoa Ranch, make your way up the coast to the famous North Shore. The drive from Kualoa Ranch to North Shore is absolutely stunning, and you’ll probably see many places to stop and take photos. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, I highly recommend stopping at the Shrimp Shack food truck on your drive – it was incredible!

As you continue along the north side of the island, you’ll stumble upon the famous areas of North Shore like the Banzai Pipeline (great place to watch the surfers) and Haleʻiwa (home of the famous Matsumoto’s Shaved Ice!).

Spend your afternoon exploring these areas of North Shore. If you’re interested, the Dole Plantation is also nearby! For sunset, I highly recommend heading to Waimea Bay Beach Park, where the waves are massive, and the sunset views are incredible!

Make sure to check out my guide to the Best Things to Do on North Shore here!

If you’re interested in a fancy dinner, you can head to the famous Turtle Bay Resort (where Forgetting Sarah Marshall was filmed). This is also another great place to watch the sunset! Or, if you’re looking for something more casual, check out one of the famous North Shore food trucks!

Day 3: Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay

Hiking Diamond Head (or Koko Crater)

On the last day of this Oahu itinerary, you will explore the southeast end of the island, one of my favorite parts! To start the day, you’ll be visiting the famous Diamond Head State Monument!

Known for its hiking trail, gorgeous coastal views, and military history, Diamond Head is a must do while visiting Oahu, and it’s perfect for the whole family! The park is typically open daily from 6am to 6pm (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). It costs $5 per person to enter and $10 to park. It’s recommended to make a reservation to guarantee your entry!

The hike to the summit is a moderate hike that typically takes around an hour to complete. Along the hike, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Waikiki and Honolulu.

If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, another great option nearby is the Koko Crater Railway Trail. Warning: it’s intense – but worth it!

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

After breaking a sweat on your morning hike, it’s time to cool off and get in the gorgeous Hawaiian water! Luckily, you’ll be heading to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island – Hanauma Bay State Park and Nature Preserve!

This Bay has a strong history to the Hawaiian people, and in 1990, they made a commitment to restoring and preserving the natural environment after years of overuse. Today, advance reservations are required to get into the park, which limits the amount of daily visitors to 1400.

Make sure to read my Guide to Visiting Hanauma Bay for important information about the reservation and entry process!

The park is only open Wednesdays through Sundays, with entry allowed from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, so plan your trip accordingly! If you won’t be on Oahu during these days of the week, another great snorkel spot is Kahe Point Beach Park (Electric Beach).

You could also book an organized snorkeling excursion like this Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Tour!

Luau or Sunset Dinner

If you’ve never visited Hawai’i before, I highly recommend spending your last night on Oahu at a luau! The most authentic experience on the island will be at the Polynesian Cultural Center, where they offer several different options and packages. Other popular luaus include the Toa Luau on North Shore or the Chief’s Luau in Kapolei near Disney’s Aulani Resort.

Not interested in a luau? No worries! There are tons of great dinner options left to hit in the Waikiki area. My favorite restaurants are Duke’s Waikiki (famous for their mai tais) or RumFire at the Sheraton (incredible vibes and sunset view!).

Enjoy your last night in paradise!

Final Thoughts

That wraps up my Ultimate 3 Day Oahu itinerary! I hope I’ve shown you how incredible this Hawaiian island is.

From waterfalls to movie sets, to epic sunsets, to incredible hikes, there’s no shortage of adventure on the island of Oahu! Have an amazing trip!

P.S. Make sure to check out my list of the top Cheap and Free Things to Do on Oahu!

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!