Kauai Travel Guide: Things To Do, See, and Eat
Published November 2022 | Updated May 2024
Kauai is my absolute favorite Hawaiian island. It is lush and green, has a lovely local culture, and has great food. Whether you’re visiting Kauai for the first time or have been a dozen times, this Kauai travel guide has everything you need to know before planning your trip.
While Maui is known as The Valley Isle, Kauai is called The Garden Isle because of its beautiful, lush landscape. Kauai is the oldest island geologically and is also one of the wettest places on Earth! No wonder it stays so green.
Many movies have been filmed here, including Jurassic World and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Even if you’re not interested in movie locations, knowing how many productions picked this island as their filming location should tell you just how gorgeous it is.
This Kauai travel guide will help you plan your perfect trip to Kauai with tips, things to do, best restaurants, where to stay, and more!
This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.
10 Tips For Visiting Kauai
Rent a car: You cannot rely on public transportation to get around easily. A rental car is essential for a low-stress trip to Kauai. It gives you much more freedom and time than you would have trying to use the buses.
Kauai is a WET island. The hikes can be very muddy, it can rain at any moment, and some days may be overcast. Be ready for rain and pack accordingly — I always bring a light raincoat, especially for the north shore.
Download maps offline: There are areas where you likely will not have any service and it’s helpful to download a map of the whole island on your Google Maps app. This way you can navigate no matter where you are on the island. I do this for most trips and it’s incredibly helpful when we’re out and about.
Slow down: You’re on island time! Kauai culture is slow, relaxed, and carefree. Remember to be patient and slow down. Plan for longer wait times for takeout and at restaurants.
Research Kauai’s history: I always recommend researching the history and culture of a place before you visit. Kauai and the other Hawaiian islands are no different! Spend some time learning the geological and cultural history of Kauai ahead of your trip.
Respect the locals: The Hawaiian people have a rich and beautiful culture, which existed long before Hawaii became part of the United States. It is a privilege to visit the islands and the locals and environment should be treated with respect — you are visiting their home.
Leave the wildlife alone: Not only is it harmful to the animals to approach or touch them, but it is illegal. Sea turtles are protected and there are hefty fines if you touch or get too close to one. Don’t touch or disrupt plants, rock stacks, or any wildlife.
Pack and travel sustainably: Kauai, like all the Hawaiian islands, has a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly living. This includes wearing reef-safe sunscreen, reducing single-use plastics, and minimizing your impact on the environment.
Explore the whole island: Each area of the island has its own unique activities, sights, and restaurants. It’s a small island and easy to visit each area of the island, even on a shorter trip!
Book local-led tours: One of the best ways to explore Kauai and learn about its history and culture is by booking a tour led by a local Hawaiian guide. They have so much knowledge to share and it supports local tourism companies. I recommend browsing the activities on Get Your Guide to see what interests you!
What To Pack for Kauai
These are some of the essentials I recommend packing for Kauai. For a full packing list and more details, read my Hawaii Packing Guide.
Tote bags (for grocery shopping)
Travel utensils (for the food trucks)
Best Time To Visit Kauai
Summer is the best time to visit Kauai since it has the fewest days of rain. You’re most likely to have a hot and sunny trip in summer compared to other seasons. It is also the most popular time to visit Kauai and can be more crowded. Be sure to book hotels and rental cars months in advance if you plan to visit in summer.
Spring and fall are the shoulder seasons, both of which are great times to visit. There is a higher chance of rainy days, particularly on the North Shore, compared to summer. Although, during a 10-day stay in Princeville, we only experienced one day of rain in September.
Winter has the most rain, but it is also the least crowded time to visit Kauai. It’s still warm in Kauai during winter, which makes it a popular destination for people looking to escape the cold weather in other states. Just be prepared for rain!
Things To Do in Kauai
Things To Do On The North Shore
The North Shore of Kauai has tons of undeveloped wilderness, making it one of the most beautiful areas on the island. The area is less touristy than the East Side and South Shore and has a variety of outdoor activities and sights.
Hāʻena State Park
You must make reservations to visit Hāʻena State Park (they implemented this reservation process in April 2021). Book them well in advance (before your trip!). It’s highly recommended to take the shuttle, as parking sells out immediately and it has a much lower environmental impact than driving yourself. The shuttle was great!
Keʻe Beach: This beach was gorgeous! It had crystal clear, turquoise water and felt incredibly refreshing. It does get crowded as more shuttles arrive and drop people off throughout the day, so I recommend going earlier if you can get an early time slot!
Kalalau Trail: There are a few different points you can hike to here. We only hiked about half a mile in to check it out, but there are a few different hikes you can do. This is a TOUGH trail and most people heading back down looked exhausted, but many people say the 3-mile hike to the waterfall was incredible.
Queen’s Bath
This is a dangerous spot! If the gate is closed, do not go, and do not swim. About 30 people have died here, and some people call it the “Death Pool.”
If you check the tides and plan accordingly, you can safely visit Queen’s Bath in the summer. It is not safe to visit in fall or winter when the ocean is rougher.
We went at low tide and watched the pool/waves for a bit before deciding whether it was safe to get in or not. There were not any waves at all and the tide was low enough that the ocean didn’t spill into the pool.
Get there early (6-6:30am) if you want an easy parking spot, as it usually fills up by 7:30am since there are only about seven spots. Alternatively, you can pay to park at the nearby golf course and walk to the entrance of the trail.
Hanalei Bay and Pier (Black Pot Beach)
Spend some time at Hanalei Pier/Black Pot Beach for a nice swim with jaw-dropping views of the Na Pali Coast. In the early mornings, you’ll find fishermen fishing off the pier, and later in the day, kids are jumping off the pier and climbing back up to do it again.
The surf is gentle here and it’s shallow pretty far out, making it the perfect swimming spot for all ages.
Limahuli Gardens and Preserve
Book tickets ahead of time for this botanical garden! We booked our tickets the day before, but recommend booking a few days in advance during high season.
These are beautiful, meaningful gardens that have tons of beautiful plants, an archaeological site, and preserved Hawaiian culture and history.
Kilauea Lighthouse
We didn’t go down to the lighthouse, but the view from the lookout spot at the top is the best part! Visit at golden hour for the most beautiful lighting and views.
This is also a bird refuge, so there are tons of birds flying around in the area which I love.
Hanalei Valley Scenic Overlook
This spot is a super quick stop that only takes five minutes to pull over, check it out, and continue on the road. From the road, it doesn’t look that unique, but once you pull over you can see all the taro fields below that meet with the awe-inspiring mountains of the Na Pali Coast.
Downtown Hanalei
Hanalei is a small town that reminds me a bit of North County San Diego. There are tons of food trucks, little shops, and overall cute vibes.
Things to do in Hanalei:
Farmer’s Market: This is a pretty small market on Saturdays with local farmers and artisans.
Ching Young Village: The village has shops and restaurants, along with a grocery store.
Waiʻoli Huiʻia Church: This is just a really cute church architecturally. People stopped to take photos of it, and I did the same!
Beaches on the North Shore of Kauai
Waikoko Beach: The waves are rougher here, so you may not be able to swim on more stormy days. It’s a more hidden/secret beach that very few people visit.
Sealodge Beach: It’s a bit of a trek to get here and it’s not easy to find. We followed directions from this Google review because the person who lives near here has done everything possible to try and hide the entrance, but this is a public beach, and completely legal to walk down the driveway to get to the trail.
Black Pot Beach: Right next to Hanalei Bay with calm surf, tons of beach, and a nice pier (mentioned above).
Things To Do On The East Side
The East Side of Kauai has great beaches and an adorable downtown in Kapa’a. It’s one of the most populated areas on the island and many locals live on the East Side.
Between the beaches and downtown, there’s a great balance of nature and local culture.
Downtown Kapa’a
The largest town on the East Side of Kauai is Kapa’a. It has a large downtown area with local shops to explore, as well as some incredible restaurants! My favorite restaurant downtown is Java Kai.
If you’re looking for souvenirs or gifts to bring back home, Kapa’a is a great area to do your shopping.
Waterfalls on the East Side of Kauai
‘Ōpaeka’a Falls: Easy-to-view waterfalls with a large parking lot, picnic tables, and restrooms. You are not allowed to hike down to the base (it’s extremely dangerous), but there is a viewing platform near the parking lot to see the falls.
Wailua Falls: Beautiful waterfalls you can only view from above since there is no legal or safe hike to reach the base. Parking is limited — I recommend getting there early to get a spot!
Island Air Tour
If you’re feeling daring, you can book an AirVan tour to explore the entire island from the sky in just 65 minutes! The tour takes off from Lihue Airport on the East Side of Kauai and takes you over Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast.
Beaches on the East Side of Kauai
Moloaʻa Beach: The pilot and first episode of Gilligan’s Island were filmed at the beach! This seems to be a bit of a less-visited beach compared to some others and it has a nice, long shoreline. The water here was beautiful too!
Lydgate Beach: You don’t even need snorkel gear on a sunny day to see all the fish in this enclosed ocean pool. There’s a large wall of rocks that creates a perfect beach pool to swim and snorkel without worries of currents or sharks.
Things To Do On The South Shore
Kauai’s South Shore is the most popular area for visitors to stay because of the abundance of resorts and stunning beaches. In addition to the beaches, there are many restaurants to choose from.
The South Shore is home to a few cool towns, including Hanapepe and Poipu. Even if you aren’t staying on the South Shore, it’s worth a visit!
Hanapepe
The sweet, tiny town of Hanapepe is the inspiration for Lilo & Stitch! Despite it being one of the furthest points from where we stayed (in Princeville), we made the drive out to it twice. The first time it was a very sleepy town during the day to check out the swinging bridge and the second visit was for the night market, which was lovely.
Beaches on the South Shore of Kauai
Poipu Beach: There is a reef that protects the bay, making it ideal for kids and snorkelers. This is one of the most popular beaches on the South Shore.
Salt Pond Beach Park: For a more local beach near Hanapepe, Salt Pond Beach Park is perfect. It has a large, sandy beach area, bathrooms, picnic tables, and a protected bay.
Glass Beach: This is a pretty small beach and the waves were far too big to safely swim in. We stopped here just for a few minutes to check out the sea glass and were pleasantly surprised to find this was also a black sand beach!
Makauwahi Cave Reserve
This limestone cave (the largest in Hawaii!) is a preserved archaeological site. If you’re lucky, you might spot some tortoises that live in the area!
Allerton Garden
Visit the botanical garden in Koloa to see a wide variety of colorful and native Hawaiian plants! Take one of their guided tours to learn all about the plants, people, art, and nature.
Reservations for a guided tour are required to visit Allerton Garden. You cannot take a self-guided tour.
Things To Do On The West Side
The West Side of Kauai is the most undeveloped area on the island. It is home to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon, and doesn’t have much else as far as accommodations, restaurants, or activities.
Waimea Canyon State Park
You can easily drive around Waimean Canyon and stop at the pullout spots without having to do much walking, or you can hike/camp throughout the canyon. If you’re staying on the North Shore, it will be about a 1.5-2 hour drive (more if there is commuter or weekend traffic) to get to Waimea Canyon.
Take a tour with a local guide to learn more about Waimea Canyon while stopping for photo ops along the way.
Other State Parks
Polihale State Park: This state park is a beach! It’s as far west as you can go in Hawaii on public land and is a remote area.
Kōke’e State Park: This state park is visited for the many walking/hiking trails throughout the park. There is a museum you can visit to learn more about the plant and animal life in this area, as well as some scenic views from the top of the cliffs.
Where to Eat in Kauai
If you’re a foodie or interested in trying and learning about the local food, take a Kauai food tour! This tour operates throughout the entire island, visiting a different area each day of the week.
Places noted with (*) are food trucks/stands!
Where to Eat on the North Shore of Kauai
Nourish Hanalei*
This is a popular stand with the most amazing views of the valley and Hanalei Bay! It has good juices and bowls. Nourish Hanalei is one of the more popular spots, but wasn’t one of my favorites.
Hanalei Bread Company
Prepare for a 45-minute wait, but know that it’s worth it! I got fancy toast and a chai latte, which was the most perfect brunch.
Fresh Bite Kauaʻi*
For some fresh, delicious food with plenty of veggie/vegan options, stop at this truck! It’s in an area with 4-5 other food trucks, so it’s a great stop with a group who all have different appetites/tastes.
Wake Up Delicious
This used to be a food truck and now has its own place! We got our breakfast to go and ate it at the beach. Their breakfast burrito was great and really hit the spot.
Da Fazenda*
My first time having Brazilian food was at this amazing food truck! They have vegetarian/vegan options for plates and I was stunned at how good the food was. The food trucks were genuinely better than the restaurants.
Holey Grail Donuts*
Even if you don’t really like donuts—like me—give these a try! They make taro-based donuts cooked in coconut oil and have coffee, tea, etc. as well.
Hanalei Burger*
If you’re looking to grab some brunch, check out Hanalei Burger! I got an avocado toast with tomatoes and a fried egg, along with the most amazing lilikoi lemonade.
JoJo’s Shave Ice
We only got shaved ice once on our trip and it was at JoJo’s! They have tons of great flavors and put macadamia ice cream at the bottom. Even the smaller size is huge and we couldn’t finish it between two people.
Wishing Well Shave Ice*
This is a well-rated shave ice place that also has acai bowls. It’s family-owned and has become sort of famous in Kauai!
Sushi Girl*
Sushi Girl has poke bowls and rolls at their adorable food truck. We got some food and drinks and sat outside. The little shopping center it’s in is charming and wasn’t very busy when we were there about half an hour before the truck closed.
Where To Eat on the East Side of Kauai
Tiki Tacos
This was our first stop after we got our bags and rental car. They have incredibly fresh and delicious ahi tacos, along with many other types of tacos.
They told me the portions were generous and one was probably enough, but I ordered two and they were right. I’ve never seen such large tacos in my life! Even with a massive appetite, I would have been fulfilled with one.
Nana’s Snack Shack* [CLOSED]
UPDATE: Sadly, Nana’s Snack Shack is permanently closed as Nana retired to spend time with her family. In 2023, she posted on Facebook looking for a buyer, but it seems there have not been any takers since it is still closed in 2024. I will leave this here on the off chance it opens up again by the time you visit Kauai!
We stopped here multiple times throughout our week in Kauai. The Pitaya acai bowl hit the spot after a long day in the sunshine. There are tons of smoothie bowls to choose from, along with sandwiches, salads, frozen banana “nice” cream, and smoothies. The smoothies and smoothie bowls were the best I’ve had.
Java Kai*
The brunch here is great and was a perfect spot to fuel up on our way from the north to the south. They have a great chai and the Feta ‘Mo Beta bagel was a perfect combo of flavors. They also have a location across the street from Sushi Girl on the North Shore!
The Fish Express
The poke bowl I had here was the best fish I’ve ever had in my entire life!! I couldn’t eat fish the rest of the time without comparing it to how buttery, melt-in-your-mouth the ahi and salmon at this place was.
It’s a walk-up counter where you choose your fish, sauces, and additions (like seaweed salad, edamame, etc.) to create a poke bowl. Price is based on the total weight of the bowl.
Image via Google Maps
Where to Eat on the South Shore of Kauai
Midnight Bear Bakery
In the adorable small town of Hanapepe, you’ll find this bakery with delicious cookies, thirst-quenching teas, and other yummy food. I stopped here for some iced tea and coconut macaroons to sip and snack on while we explored Hanapepe.
Japanese Grandma
The front of this restaurant looks like a small hole-in-the-wall that shares space with a store. Once we asked for a table, we were lead through the store and down an outdoor walkway into a large, yet intimate, patio with live music and delicious sushi.
Where to Eat on the West Side of Kauai
There are very few places to eat in this area. If you’re planning to visit Waimea Canyon, pack lunches or grab some food on the East Side first!
Where to Stay in Kauai
We always stay on the East Side or North Shore when we visit Kauai. While the East Side is great because of its central location, I prefer the North Shore because of its local feel and incredible food trucks.
The South Shore is a popular area to stay in Kauai because of the variety of luxury resorts to choose from and stunning beaches. The West Side is incredibly remote and only recommended for people visiting Waimea Canyon as their primary activity.
Visit my full guide about where to stay in Kauai for more details about each area.
Where To Stay on the North Shore of Kauai
The north shore of Kauai includes Princeville and Hanalei. It’s the greenest area of the island due to the amount of rain the north shore receives, which makes it the most beautiful area to stay on the island (in my opinion!).
We have stayed in this region and I would absolutely stay here again. I enjoy being close to Hanalei Bay where we can grab some delicious food from a food truck and hang out at the beach.
It is just as lush as people describe, the views of the Na Pali Coast look too beautiful to be real, and it has a much more local vibe than other areas.
This area is the wettest on the island, so keep that in mind as you’re picking where to stay (and what to pack!). The torrential downpour we got on the day we left made it very apparent as to why everything is so green.
Where To Stay in Princeville
Luxury: 1 hotel Hanalei Bay (5-star resort)
Mid-range: Two-bedroom Townhome (ocean views)
Budget: Hale Moi #103B (two-bed suite)
Where To Stay in Hanalei
Luxury:
Kuuipo Hale on Weke Rd (3 bed / 2 bath)
Hanalei Getaway Vacation Home (3 bed / 3 bath)
Remodeled Vacation Home (3 bed / 2 bath)
Mid-range: Honeymoon Vacation Home (1 bed / 1 bath)
Where to Stay on the East Side of Kauai
If you’re planning to explore the north and south coasts often, the Coconut Coast might be the perfect place for you! It’s right between the two, meaning you’ll have a much shorter drive to get to either one. Best of all three worlds!
There are plenty of rentals and hotels in this area too. We stayed at the Waipouli Resort on our first few visits and we loved the massive pools, slides, and lazy river, with easy beach access too!
The nearby town of Kapa’a is a great spot to walk around, get food, and shop.
Luxury: Waipouli Beach Resort (one-bedroom / two-bedroom)
Mid-range: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
Budget:
Where To Stay on the South Shore of Kauai
This area is probably the most popular/touristy spot on the island. It has the Grand Hyatt Resort and a few other large hotels in Poipu, the main town on the south shore.
It is a bit more touristy than other areas and is further from the north shore, but you have more options for a luxurious stay at one of the resorts.
Luxury:
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (5-star hotel)
Mid-range: CASTLE Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows
Where To Stay on the West Side of Kauai
The west coast is the most remote area of the island that you can get to by driving. The road that goes around the island stops on the west coast, so if you’re staying in the north, you need to drive through the east and south coast clockwise around the island to reach it.
I only recommend staying on the West Side of Kauai if you are primarily visiting the island to hike and explore Waimea Canyon. Otherwise, it is not convenient to visit other areas of the island.
There aren’t a ton of rentals in this area, so if you’re up for a more adventurous/remote trip, check out Waimea!
More Hawaii Guides
Pin It For Later
