Category Historic Downtown & Palace Tours

Honolulu · HISTORIC DOWNTOWN & PALACE TOURS

The 15 Best Historic Downtown & Palace Tours

19 reviewed

Downtown Honolulu holds the only royal palace on American soil, along with the statehouse, the old mission houses and Chinatown’s markets. These 15 tours walk you through Iolani Palace and the streets around it, some folding in Pearl Harbor or a wider city loop. Below: what each covers, how long it runs and which suit a half day against a full one.

Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial & Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial & Honolulu City Tour - USS Arizona Memorial: the solemn part, and how to make it work

1.Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial & Honolulu City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,866 reviews · 5 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $94Our pick

Comfortable half-day coach tour blending downtown Honolulu sights with the solemn USS Arizona Memorial, plus optional Missouri and Hangar 79 upgrades.

“There was allegedly a systems issue when we arrived which meant that we had to wait in line in the ‘standby’ queue for 2hrs before getting on the boat. The tour guides literally pointed us in the direction of the line and then disappeared. None of the rangers seemed to know anything about the systems issue, so not sure if that’s what happens every day or we were unlucky. We therefore had to rush round the battleship and the aviation museum and didn’t get time for lunch. Not ideal. Our tour guide on the coach was very knowledgeable. Other than the bad start when we arrived it’s definitely a worthwhile…”

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Pearl Harbor City Tour

Pearl Harbor City Tour - Downtown Honolulu: the story behind the monuments

2.Pearl Harbor City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,254 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $69

Guided Honolulu and Pearl Harbor tour with USS Arizona Memorial ferry, downtown sights, and WWII exhibits, starting with Waikiki pickup.

“Let me tell you RJ was the bomb. If I ever get in a taxi a shuttle and airport ride or a bus I pray that it was him driving. This guy was fantastic with the narrative today. Could not have asked for a better driver with all the info this man had. Made the trip very enjoyable to say the least. Thank you RJ”

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Oahu: Mauka Warriors Luau Honoring Polynesia’s Forgotten History

Oahu: Mauka Warriors Luau Honoring Polynesia's Forgotten History - The 4-hour schedule: how the evening usually flows

3.Mauka Warriors Luau Honoring Polynesia’s Forgotten History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,013 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $145

Mauka Warriors Luau on Oahu: pickup options, all-you-can-eat Polynesian feast, hands-on culture activities, and fire-knife storytelling of Kipapa and Kamehameha.

“It was amazing and very kid-friendly. They offered lots of fun and interesting activities, and the show was much higher quality than I expected.”

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Pearl Harbor, National Memorial Cemetery and Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor, National Memorial Cemetery and Honolulu City Tour - Timing you can count on: 9:00 or 10:45 pickup

4.Pearl Harbor, National Memorial Cemetery and Honolulu City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,777 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $59

Waikiki pickup for Pearl Harbor and Honolulu highlights, including USS Arizona Memorial access via Navy launch. Six to eight hours.

“Tour operator didn't even pick us up. Upon checking was told we had wrong time and tour was cancelled. Infact we were on right time and tour person was blaming viator booking..... Waiting for refund..”

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Tribute to Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour

Tribute to Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour - Getting from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor: pickup that keeps stress low

5.Tribute to Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 733 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $45

Small-group trip from Waikiki to the USS Arizona Memorial, plus Honolulu landmarks and Punchbowl Cemetery. Arizona shuttle included.

“Book early, tickets sell out quickly. Only 75 on the memorial at a time because you have to take a boat out to the memorial. This was well worth the cost and our tour guide was very nice and knowledgable.”

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Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour - USS Arizona Memorial: the ferry ride and the moment it lands

Deluxe Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour

Deluxe Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour - Entering the USS Arizona Memorial experience: what to expect in practice

Grand Pearl Harbor and City Tour

Grand Pearl Harbor and City Tour - Bowfin Submarine Museum: A WWII Stop That’s Usually Off the Radar

8.Grand Pearl Harbor and City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 342 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $69

Morning Pearl Harbor and Honolulu landmarks tour with included USS Arizona Memorial access, plus Bowfin, Missouri, aviation stops, and pickup.

“A good trip with Michael the tour guide stopping at a few sights in Honolulu which was unexpected but a great addition to the tour. The great thing about booking through an official tour was that we were pre-booked to see the USS Arizona memorial which made it easier and reduced the queuing. However, the trip was only 5 instead of the advertised 6-7 hours and thus there was no time to visit the USS Missouri despite it being mentioned as a stop on the trip - we knew admission wasn’t included but expect time to visit as per the itinerary. Micheal the tour guide was great.”

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Bishop Museum General Admission Ticket

Bishop Museum General Admission Ticket - How Long Should You Plan? 1 to 8 Hours on a Big Campus

9.Bishop Museum General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 243 reviews · 1 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $38Best value

General admission to Bishop Museum in Honolulu for $38.95. Hawaiian culture, Pacific migrations, planetarium skies, and hands-on science for hours.

“Very educational and interesting. Loved seeing so much of Hawaiian history. Well worth your time to visit.”

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Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki

Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki - The short U.S. Navy boat ride: calm water, sharp perspective

10.Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour from Waikiki

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 233 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $69

Waikiki pickup and guaranteed Pearl Harbor entry lead to the USS Arizona Memorial, then a guided downtown Honolulu loop with famous landmarks.

“Viator was very confusing and gave us wrong information. Aloha Sunshine was great and corrected their errors. The tour itself went well. Not spectacular.”

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Private Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tour

Private Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tour - USS Arizona Memorial: what guaranteed entry means in practice

11.Private Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 214 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $233

Private USS Arizona skip-the-line plus Honolulu highlights with a local guide, Diamond Head views, and downtown stops. Pickup included.

“Thank you Eva for a wonderful day! Your knowledge of the island’s history, and the information about the Pearl Harbor tour was so informative and helpful. I recommend everyone to ask for Eva if you have to opportunity; you won’t be disappointed.”

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Pearl Harbor with USS Arizona and Hawaiian Kingdom History Tour

Pearl Harbor with USS Arizona and Hawaiian Kingdom History Tour - Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha Statue: the big names, no fluff

12.Pearl Harbor with USS Arizona and Hawaiian Kingdom History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 184 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $57

A 5-hour Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Kingdom-history tour with USS Arizona Memorial access, interactive exhibits, and downtown royal landmarks from Waikiki.

“This memorial is humbling. I’m so honored to have had the chance to get up close vies and personal information Our guide Kanoi/Bob (if you’re a trouble maker) was a beautiful Hawaiian woman. She had a magical amount of local and international knowledge. She provided a Class A tour. Great experience!”

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Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona and Honolulu City Tour

Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona and Honolulu City Tour - USS Arizona Memorial: Museums, Film, and the Shuttle Boat Ride

13.Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona and Honolulu City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 141 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $76

A half-day tour pairing Pearl Harbor’s USS Arizona Memorial with downtown Honolulu sights, Punchbowl, and guided stories, plus hotel pickup.

“Chase was a great tour guide and very informative. He accommodated requests for different drop off locations which was great! We were a little disappointed we were unable to go out to the memorial but understand that's not the fault of the tour but weather!”

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Pearl Harbor [Early Access], USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu Tour

Pearl Harbor [Early Access], USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu Tour - USS Arizona access: how the boat ride really works

14.Pearl Harbor [Early Access], USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $79

Early-access Pearl Harbor tour with USS Arizona boat ride and Downtown Honolulu monuments, small group pickup from Waikiki.

“Not sure what we paid for? Maybe just the ride to Pearl Harbour. We paid extra to get ticket to Arizona Memorial when in fact that is free! City walk tour was to look at 4 statues. No mention of Hawaii five O until I asked back in van only to be told yeah it was that statue area. Were told could not bring bags to Pearl Harbour day before tour but then got told on day a clear bag is acceptable…… too late to organise one. Overpriced for what we got…..spent most time collecting and dropping people even from airport .”

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PRIVATE Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, Missouri Ship & City Tour

PRIVATE Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, Missouri Ship & City Tour - USS Arizona Memorial: The Boat Ride That Changes the Tone

15.PRIVATE Pearl Harbor: Arizona Memorial, Missouri Ship & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $805

Private Pearl Harbor and Battleship Missouri tour with hotel pickup, USS Arizona memorial boat visit, and downtown Honolulu passing sights.

“Absolutely amazing. Austin made the entire tour super fun. He was so knowledgeable and understanding. My entire family loved it. Highly recommend Hawaii Pacific Adventures.”

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