When choosing where to stay on Kauai, you have a range of options, from 5-star luxury resorts to quaint, beachy condos. There are four main regions on Kauai, each with its own activities, sights, and character.

Kauai is easily my favorite Hawaiian island. It’s lush, has stunning beaches, and many areas are raw, undeveloped nature. Despite being arguably the prettiest island in Hawaii, it’s the least visited of the four largest islands!

If you’ve never been to Kauai, you’re in store for an incredible island experience. From the local farmers markets full of tropical fruit to the towering, green Na Pali Coast, there is so much natural beauty on Kauai.

Where you decide to stay on Kauai depends on what kind of trip you want to have. I’ve broken down each region of Kauai so you can pick which area is best for you and browse hotels in each one!

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Where To Stay on Kauai: Best Areas on the Island

Regions of Kauai

The North Shore: The most lush, beautiful area on Kauai is the North Shore. It’s not as conveniently located as other areas, but you won’t want to leave the beautiful beaches and views of the Nā Pali Coast anyway.
The East Side: You’ll find more budget-friendly options on the East Side of Kauai. Its proximity to the North and South Shores makes it a nice location for those who want to hop around the island.
The South Shore: Some of the most luxurious resorts and gorgeous beaches are on the South Shore. It’s the most popular area for visitors to stay, which means it can get crowded and feel more “touristy.”
The West Side: The stunning Waimea Canyon is the main attraction on the West Side of Kauai. This area is remote and best for people who plan to hike the canyon for most of the trip, as other areas of the island are not convenient to reach from here.

Know Before You Go

Kauai is the wettest island. It gets tons of rainfall throughout the entire island, but mostly on the North Shore. Pack accordingly and have some indoor backup plans if there’s rain forecasted.

There is one road to get around the island. The one road that wraps around the island is the only way to get from one region to another. It does not connect between the North Shore and West Side.

Rent a car. Unless you plan to stay at a resort the whole time, a car is necessary to get around. Book your rental car ahead of time and pick it up once you arrive at the airport. Driving is the best way to get around Kauai and you can stop at all the scenic sights you want!

Kauai is expensive. It’s no secret that Hawaii is a luxury destination with a higher price tag than other destinations. While I’ve included some “budget” options in this guide, they are budget prices for Kauai and not necessarily other places. Kauai is gorgeous and the prices are worth the beauty!

Where To Stay in Kauai: Best Areas on the Island

Best Places To Stay on Kauai

While I recommend reading through to find which areas and accommodations on Kauai are best for your trip, these are my top picks of best places to stay by category and location if you’re in a rush to book!

Best By Price

Best 5-Star Hotel: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (South Shore)
Best mid-range: Two-bedroom Townhome (ocean views)
Best Budget: Hale Moi #103B (North Shore)

Best By Region

Best North Shore: 1 hotel Hanalei Bay (5-star resort)
Best East Side: Waipouli Beach Resort (4-star hotel)
Best South Shore: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (5-star resort)
Best West Side: Waimea Plantation Cottages (3-star hotel)

Best by Preferences

Best For Couples: Honeymoon Vacation Home (Hanalei, North Shore)
Best For Families: Waipouli Beach Resort (East Side - pools with slides)
Best Ocean Views: Sheraton Kauai Resort (South Shore - beachfront)

The North Shore of Kauai

Kauai’s North Shore is known for its lush, green landscapes thanks to the large amount of rainfall it gets each year. It includes the Nā Pali Coast, Hanalei, Princeville, and Kilauea.

The North Shore has a local feel, with a small farmers’ market, fewer tourists, and incredible local food options. Many of the “restaurants” on the North Shore are food trucks!

Kauai’s North Shore beaches are great for surfing or spending the day relaxing on the beach. The ocean set with the dramatic backdrop of the Nā Pali Coast makes North Shore beaches some of the most stunning on the island.

Things To Do on the North Shore

Hanalei Beach/Pier
Hā'ena State Park
Limahuli Garden & Preserve, National Tropical Botanical Garden
Queen’s Bath
Kīlauea Lighthouse

Reasons To Stay on the North Shore

The North Shore is perfect for a quiet, romantic getaway. You’ll be immersed in nature, surrounded by gorgeous green cliffs, and near secluded beaches. It’s the most beautiful area on the entire island, in my opinion.

This is an ideal area to stay on Kauai if you want a more authentic Kauai experience, proximity to hiking and outdoor activities, and fewer crowds. The drive to the other areas on the island is also gorgeous!

North Shore is my favorite area to stay on Kauai. It’s peaceful and has the beachy, surfer vibes that I think of when I picture Hawaii.

Fewer families stay on the North Shore, which makes it great for a quiet and romantic getaway. The North Shore is perfect for couples on their honeymoon or just wanting an intimate trip away from the crowds.

Reasons Not To Stay on the North Shore

The main downside of staying on the North Shore is the distance to other areas of the island. There are many activities on the East Side and south coast that you may want to do, which will require some driving.

The North Shore gets the most rainfall of all regions on Kauai. You are more likely to get rain and have rough oceans during your trip if you stay on the North Shore, mostly in the winter months.

Where To Stay on the North Shore

Princeville is the main area to stay on the North Shore of Kauai and is about 10 minutes from Hanalei. The accommodations include high-end resorts and nice vacation rentals.

It doesn’t have much of a town center or a personality of its own, but it does have a grocery store and some shops. The beaches are trickier to access from Princeville since it is on a cliff — we drove the short trip into Hanalei for the beaches instead!

Luxury: 1 hotel Hanalei Bay (5-star resort)
Mid-range: Two-bedroom Townhome (ocean views)
Budget: Hale Moi #103B (two-bed suite)

Hanalei is a small, typically Hawaiian beach town. It has mostly quaint vacation rentals in local neighborhoods with proximity to the beaches and an adorable downtown.

There is much more sense of culture and personality in Hanalei compared to Princeville. Hanalei has fewer accommodations available and most are higher prices. Hanalei has both large houses for families and luxury one-bedroom homes that are perfect for couples.

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)

The East Side (Coconut Coast) of Kauai

Kauai’s East Side is also known as the Coconut Coast due to the many coconut trees that grow in this region. The East Side is where many locals live, making it the most populated area on the island.

The main town on the East Side is Kapa’a, a historic town with local shops and amazing restaurants. In addition to the fun downtown area, the Coconut Coast offers beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and a river.

The government and commercial of Kauai are in Lihue, as is the airport! While it is on the East Side of the island, the tourism board of Kauai lists Lihue as a separate region. It’s located south of Wailea and Kapa’a and north of Poipu.

Things To Do on the East Side

Kapa’a shops & restaurants
Lydgate Beach
‘Ōpaeka’a Falls
Wailua River & Falls
Wailua Golf Course

Reasons To Stay on the East Side

It’s easy to reach the North Shore or South Shore without much driving when you stay on the East Side of Kauai. You may not even want to explore since the East Side has so much to offer!

The town has all the restaurants you’ll ever want, shops to grab any items you forgot at home (or replenish your Hawaii-safe sunscreen), and nice beaches where you can spend all day. It’s also close to the airport, which is in Lihue.

There are larger hotels and resorts at budget-friendly prices, making it ideal for families who plan to hang out at the hotel pools and want to save some money.

Reasons Not To Stay on the East Side

The accommodations are mostly large hotels, making this area feel more commercial and less local. There are a few great beaches, but they aren’t as beautiful as the ones on the North and South Shores, and they can get crowded.

Being a more budget-friendly area, it attracts more families with kids. Since it’s the most populated area on the island, as well as the main hub for the government and commercial center, the East Side is bustling and not very peaceful. If you want a quiet, romantic trip, this is not the area for you.

Where To Stay on the East Side

The East Side has the largest selection of hotels, many catering to families at budget prices. They’re typically within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and beaches.

Luxury: Waipouli Beach Resort (one-bedroom / two-bedroom)
Mid-range: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
Budget:

The South Shore of Kauai

The most popular area to stay on Kauai is the South Shore. Most visitors pick the South Shore due to its abundance of large resorts and vacation rentals, beautiful beaches, and the sunniest weather on the island.

The main areas on the South Shore are Poipu and Koloa. These two cities are where most people stay on the South Shore and where I recommend if you stay in this region. The South Shore is more commercialized than the other areas on Kauai, which offers conveniences like Walmart.

Things To Do on the South Shore

Poipu Beach
Shipwreck Beach
Old Kōloa Town
Spouting Horn Park

Reasons To Stay on the South Shore

Although Kauai is the wettest Hawaiian island, and one of the wettest places in the world, you’re most likely to have dry and warm weather on the South Shore.

The beaches on the south shore are also gorgeous with calm waves. You have many options for beaches on the South Shore and the larger resorts are right on the beaches.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious trip, the resorts on the South Shore are as luxurious as you can get on Kauai! The resorts in this area have all the amenities, pools, and nice rooms you could want or expect from a luxurious Hawaiian vacation.

The South Shore is also nicely located between the East Side and West Side for easy day trips to either area.

Reasons Not To Stay on the South Shore

Being the most popular area to stay, it can be crowded on the South Shore, especially during the summer months. The beaches can be crowded, resort pools can get full, and you will need to make reservations at restaurants in advance.

In addition to crowds, this area also attracts more families with kids compared to the North Shore. If you’re a family, this is probably a reason for you to choose this area! If not and you want that quiet, romantic trip, stick to the North Shore.

The South Shore is far from the North Shore. If you plan to visit Hanalei, Hā'ena State Park, or any other places in that area, you will have a full drive around the island (about 45 mi / 72 km, which can take 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic).

Where To Stay on the South Shore

As I said, the South Shore is great for luxury-seekers who want to stay at a grand resort with all the amenities. The resorts I’ve linked all have pools and easy access to the beaches!

Luxury:

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (5-star hotel)
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Koloa Landing Resort
Koa Kea Resort

Mid-range: CASTLE Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows
Budget: Poipu Plantation Vacation Rentals

The West Side of Kauai

The West Side is the most remote area you can stay in of the five regions on Kauai. There are very few accommodations here and it is far from the rest of the regions.

The main reason to stay on the West Side of Kauai is the proximity to Waimea Canyon State Park and the many hiking trails.

Things To Do on the West Side

Waimea Canyon State Park
Polihale State Park
Kōke’e State Park

Reasons To Stay on the West Side

If your main purpose for visiting Kauai is to hike through Waimea Canyon and you don’t plan to visit the other areas of the island much, then the West Side is where you will want to stay!

Waimea Canyon has hiking trails, a waterfall, and gorgeous canyon views that earned it the name “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

Reasons Not To Stay on the West Side

The West Side is best saved for a day trip if you don’t plan to hike Waimea Canyon throughout your trip. There is not much around aside from the canyon.

This area of Kauai is far from everywhere else. It takes at least 30 minutes to drive to Poipu on the South Shore, which is the closest region.

The North Shore is only reachable by driving all the way around the island through the South Shore and East Side since the road stops on the West Side.

Where To Stay on the West Side

The options for accommodations on the West Side are limited. There’s just one main hotel that gets great reviews and a few independent condos to choose from.

Other Places To Stay on Kauai

Still looking for where to stay on Kauai? There are more hotels and vacation homes to choose from if the above recommendations haven’t interested you.