Kauai

Lush Landscapes and Secluded Beaches

Kauai stands out as a place where lush green mountains meet sparkling blue waters. The island’s volcanic origins created steep cliffs and deep valleys filled with rainforests that stay wet year-round. Rivers carve through the land, forming waterfalls that flow into calm streams. Beaches vary from soft sand to rocky shores shaped by ocean waves. Local farms grow taro and pineapples under bright sun, while small towns preserve traditions passed down through generations. Hiking trails reveal hidden valleys and lookouts where views stretch far across the Pacific horizon.

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Island in United States

$$$+

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.3

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken and the primary language on the island, making it very easy for tourists to communicate and navigate.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 21 Oct 2026

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Kauai Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

World-class for tropical landscapes and outdoor adventure. Hike the Nā Pali Coast, kayak jungle rivers, swim at sandy beaches and enjoy helicopter views of dramatic cliffs.

Place score

8.9

Best at:

Islands

Natural sites

Sea

Beaches

Waterfalls

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kauai, United States

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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High season:	Jan. - March, June - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Sep. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

North shore swimming is dangerous in winter, big surf and strong currents from about October to April, safer on the south shore

Weather differs by shore: north and east are wetter, south (Poipu) and west (Waimea) are drier and sunnier year-round

Napali Coast boat tours run mostly May to September, hiking the Kalalau Trail beyond Hanakapiai needs a permit

Don't miss

🌄 Hike the breathtaking trails of Waimea Canyon
🚤 Take a boat tour along the Na Pali Coast
🤿 Snorkel at Poipu Beach with vibrant marine life
🎨 Visit the charming town of Hanapepe for art night
🌊 Watch natural geysers at Spouting Horn blowhole

You've been here?

Why travel to Kauai?

Kauai is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The Na Pali Coast is a dream for hikers and boaters and Waimea Canyon offers sweeping views that are hard to forget. It’s also an amazing spot to just unwind on secluded beaches. However, it’s worth noting that Kauai can get quite rainy, especially on the North Shore, so always have a plan B for wet days.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Hanalei Bay
2 Hanapepe
3 Kilauea Lighthouse
4 Poʻipū Beach
5 Wailua Falls

🎡Places for activities

1 Fern Grotto
2 Kalalau Trail
3 Kokee State Park

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Na Pali Coast State Park
2 Spouting Horn
3 Wailua River
4 Waimea Canyon State Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Old Koloa Town

🎈Events

Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair
Waimea Town Celebration
Eo E Emalani I Alaka'i Festival
Red Clay Jazz Festival
Koloa Plantation Days

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a car; public transport limited, roads winding and narrow.
Reserve Haena State Park entry online 30 days ahead for Na Pali access.
Check ocean conditions daily; strong currents and rogue waves common.
Drive Waimea Canyon early morning; fewer crowds, best light for Grand Canyon photos.

How to travel to Kauai

Fly into Lihue Airport (LIH), which offers flights from Honolulu and the U.S. mainland. There are no ferries from other Hawaiian islands, so air travel is the primary option.

Access summary

From Lihue Airport (LIH): Short taxi or shuttle to resorts, 10–25 minutes.
From Honolulu (Oahu): Frequent inter-island flights to Lihue, usually 35–45 minutes.
From U.S. mainland: Direct flights to Lihue from West Coast, about 5–6 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kauai

Kauai offers a range of accommodations from luxury resorts in Poipu to charming guesthouses and vacation rentals in Hanalei. Camping is also possible in designated areas, perfect for adventurers.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

THE ISO HOTEL, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

8.3

OUTRIGGER Kauai Beach Resort & Spa

8.0

Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas

8.9

Club Wyndham Ka Eo Kai

8.6

Castle Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows

7.9

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort And Spa

9.0

Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai by OUTRIGGER

8.5

Banyan Harbor Resort

8.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kauai

Renting a car is highly recommended for exploring the island. Public transport is limited and many natural attractions require driving. There are also local shuttles and guided tours for popular sites.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+19 %

Daily expenses in Kauai are around 19% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£88	£200	£571
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£41	£105	£285
🍝 Food per day	£38	£86	£250
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£9	£35

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£35
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£14
☕ Cappuccino	£5
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£20
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£120
🤧 Cold medication	£9
💇 Basic haircut	£18

Safety information overview

General safety

Kauai is generally very safe. Petty theft can occur, especially at beach parking lots, so avoid leaving valuables in your car. Natural hazards like strong currents require caution.

Health & Medical

Kauai has good medical facilities, including Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue. Medical care is high quality, but for anything severe, you might need to travel to Honolulu.

Accessibility

Many resorts and public areas are accessible. However, some natural attractions, like hiking trails, may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Kauai. Public drinking fountains are available and a refillable water bottle is recommended for convenience and sustainability.