Best time to visit
Hawaii's worth a visit all year round, but depending on what you're planning, it's worth looking at the details. April to October is perfect for beach days, snorkelling and island-hopping.
Hawaii round trips: Maui, Kauai, Big Island and O'ahu
Hawaii adventure: beach life, surf vibes and wild volcanic craters
Hawaii grabs you like a wave – intense, unforgettable and wild. On O'ahu, you feel the heart of the islands beating all around you. Surfers dance through the waves on the North Shore, the scent of garlic prawns and grilled kalua pork rises from Honolulu's street kitchens and sunsets bathe Waikīkī in gold. Kauai shows you nature's raw beauty – green, rugged and cinematic, like the Nā Pali Coast Trail. Maui takes you on the most beautiful road trip of your life as the Road to Hana winds through jungle, past waterfalls and all the way to Red Sand Beach. And Big Island delivers lava right beneath your feet, starry skies above Mauna Kea and the feeling that you're standing at the beginning of the world. Here, you can hear the ocean breathe and feel the wind like a promise on your skin.
Tips and info for your Hawaii trip
Currency
In Hawaii, you pay in US dollars (USD).
Flight time
A flight to Hawaii takes up to 24 hours depending on the layover, as there are no direct connections.
Language
English is spoken in Hawaii, which makes your trip easy. Hawaiian is the second official language and you'll encounter it in place names, greetings and on signs.
What are the must-sees in Hawaii?
Hawaii is full of highlights, but these sights definitely belong on your bucket list.
O'ahu: Honolulu and Waikiki Beach
O'ahu grabs you from the first moment, with city beats and tropical vibes in one. Start at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, where the sun glitters, surfers chase waves and Diamond Head watches over everything like a silent giant. Carry on along winding coastal roads to Kailua, where everyday life runs in slow motion and Lanikai Beach looks like something from a dream. In Hanauma Bay, snorkel through a kaleidoscope of fish before the Byodo Temple immerses you in silence. And the sweetest snack is fresh pineapple straight from the Dole Plantation.
Maui: road trip vibes meet jungle energy
Maui serves up a road trip vibes in a tropical setting – winding, surprising and full of highlights. The famous Road to Hana snakes along green cliffs and past waterfalls, bamboo forests and hidden coves. At the end, the Red Sand Beach awaits – a crescent-shaped bay of red volcanic sand framed by the green wilderness. Whether you're standing above the clouds in Haleakalā National Park or jumping into turquoise waves on one of the many beaches, Maui shows you nature in all its facets. And even though Lahaina is beginning anew, you can still feel the spirit of the island here – it remains. Maui isn't just beautiful, it touches you.
Big Island: volcano island of extremes
Big Island is pure primal force – an island that bubbles, steams and surprises. In Volcanoes National Park, you'll stand amongst lava fields, steaming vents and the still-active Kilauea volcano. The earth is alive here, and you're right in the middle of it. Then the switch comes as serpentine roads lead you up to Mauna Kea Mountain, where the air gets thinner and the starry sky delivers pure cinema. In the east, Hilo rushes by – green and tropical – as Rainbow Falls throws its mist into the sun's rays like magic. Heading west, things get quieter as Kona City and Keauhou serve up beach life and the best snorkelling spots. And suddenly, there's Punalu'u Black Sand Beach – black sand, the wild ocean and true goosebump moments.
Kaua'i: where Hawaii is at its greenest
Kaua'i is nature at its finest – wild, enchanted and full of 'wow' moments. Above the Nāpali Coast, jagged cliffs tower like something from a fantasy film, steep and dramatic all the way to the horizon. In the west, Waimea Canyon awaits – so surreal that you'll want to look twice. Fancy diving in between sights? At Tunnels Beach, you can snorkel amongst reefs and turtles, while Secret Beach and Kauapea Beach deliver solitary calm and wild waves. And then there are the Wailua Falls – a double waterfall that tumbles over mossy rocks like liquid light. Kaua'i feels like a film, and it's an experience that stays with you.
