You can find plenty of pretty and Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu.
I love taking beautiful photos when I travel to new places, and I knew there would be so many amazing photo opportunities when I visited Oahu!
From the tropical plant life to the colourful and Instagrammable food, there are so many photo-worthy spots in Oahu.
Hawaii is now one of our favourite places, and we can’t wait to explore the beauty of the other islands.
If you’re looking for even more fun activities and things to do in Oahu, be sure to check out some local tours!
Here are some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu to visit!
Plan your Oahu trip
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Searching for more cool spots? Check out these Oahu hikes.
- Looking for places to eat? Stop into the best restaurants, poke spots, brunch spots, or dessert spots in Oahu.
- Putting together your itinerary? Check out my 10 day Oahu itinerary.
- Packing for your trip? Here’s what to pack for Hawaii and what to wear in Hawaii.
Where to stay in Oahu
Waikiki is the main touristy part of Oahu, and it’s the perfect neighbourhood to stay in – there are tons of amazing restaurants, great shopping, and fun beach activities all within walking distance!
The great thing about Oahu is that you can basically drive from one end of the island to the other in an hour (without traffic).
We usually stay in multiple accommodations in areas we’ll be visiting, but we were able to stay in one place the entire time!
If you’re looking to book your flights and hotels for Hawaii, I’d highly recommend using Expedia so you can collect points towards free rewards and discounts.
Hotels in Waikiki
Here are a few great hotel options depending on your budget:
- Vive Hotel Waikiki ($): A super cute and colourful 3-star boutique hotel.
- Hilton Hawaiian Village ($$): 4-star resort with a fantastic outdoor shopping centre within it, and they have free fireworks every Friday evening (open to the public)!
- Moana Surfrider ($$): Modern and chic 4-star hotel right on Waikiki Beach.
- Royal Hawaiian ($$$): Luxurious 5-star hotel right on Waikiki Beach with a gorgeous pink exterior.
Airbnbs in Waikiki
As most hotels in Waikiki were out of our budget, we opted for an Airbnb (and even got a weekly discount on it).
Airbnbs are a lot more budget-friendly, especially if you plan on doing a longer stay (like we did with our 10 days in Oahu).
If you prefer to stay in Airbnbs, I also have a separate blog post all about how to find the best Airbnbs!
Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel
The Royal Hawaiian is one of the cutest and most Instagrammable hotels in Oahu.
It’s painted in baby pink, and it’s surrounded by lush greenery!
If you’re willing to splurge a little, it’s definitely worth staying at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
LOCATION: 2259 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a stunning spot to visit in Oahu, and there’s so much to explore in this beautiful botanical garden.
Probably the most popular photo taken here is standing in the middle of the road, which does make for some pretty epic photos.
They don’t allow you to take photos on the road in the very beginning of the park though (not even a quick selfie), so you’ll have to find a secluded spot somewhere else!
LOCATION: 45-680 Luluku Rd, Kaneohe, HI | Website
Byodo-In Temple
The Byodo-In Temple is actually a replica of an ancient Buddhist temple in Japan.
It was built in 1968 to commemorate 100 years since the first Japanese immigrants landed in Hawaii!
There’s actually a large population of Japanese people in Hawaii, so there are plenty of amazing Japanese restaurants in Oahu.
We totally didn’t know this until we started watching the Japanese reality series Terrace House on Netflix – they filmed one season in Oahu!
The show is actually what inspired us to visit Hawaii in the first place 😉
LOCATION: 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI | Website
Tantalus Lookout
Tantalus Lookout is a scenic lookout offering gorgeous panoramic views of Oahu.
This is actually a filming location in Terrace House, which is how we came upon it!
This tree is actually really difficult to get on, so I totally would not recommend doing it – especially in a dress.
LOCATION: Nutridge St, Honolulu, HI
Diamond Head Crater
Diamond Head is an ancient volcanic crater that’s now one of the most popular hikes in Oahu, and the views are absolutely incredible.
It’s also a really fun hike – it’s probably my favourite hike in all of Oahu!
We managed to get in quite a few hikes while in Oahu, and while they all offered amazing views, Diamond Head was actually enjoyable and not too exhausting.
It’s also a designated world heritage site, so that’s pretty cool.
LOCATION: Honolulu, HI | Website
Pillbox Hike
The Pillbox hike in Oahu offers up some of the best views on the entire island.
From the crystal blue water to the palm trees lining the shore, the view from the top of the trail is stunning.
I’d recommend wearing proper hiking shoes for this one, because part of the trail is quite sandy and slippery!
LOCATION: 265 Kaelepulu Dr, Kailua, HI
Maili Pillbox
The Maili Pillbox hike doesn’t actually have a proper start to the trail – you pretty much park on the side of the road and walk up.
It’s quite tiring, especially on a hot day, so bring plenty of water, a good hat, and some sunscreen!
The unique thing about the pillbox on this hike is that it’s entirely painted in pink both inside and out, and it makes for some pretty cute Instagram photos.
It’s also known as the Pink Pillbox hike!
LOCATION: Waianae, HI
Murals on Kakaako Street
If you’re a big street art fan, you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to Kakaako Street in downtown Honolulu.
Kakaako Street is lined with fun and colourful murals, and they actually change up every spring.
It’s one of the cutest and most Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu!
LOCATION: Pahukaina St. & Coral St, Honolulu, HI
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch offers up stunning views across their massive property.
It’s only accessible through tours, so book yourself a tour here and enjoy all the gorgeous tropical views!
You can do ATV tours, zip lining, and even a chill Hollywood movie locations tour.
LOCATION: 49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI | Website
Tree swings on Kamehameha Highway
There are actually quite a few different tree swings spruced out along the shores of Kamehameha Highway.
We managed to find a couple, and they all made for some pretty cute Instagrammable photos!
It’s a lot easier to just park and look for them rather than looking out for them from the highway.
LOCATION: Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI
Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu:
- The Royal Hawaiian Hotel
- Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
- Byodo-In Temple
- Tantalus Lookout
- Diamond Head Crater
- Pillbox Hike
- Maili Pillbox
- Murals on Kakaako Street
- Kualoa Ranch
- Tree swings on Kamehameha Highway
Pretty much all of Oahu is Instagam-worthy – there are so many beautiful spots to take photos on the island.
Check out my Oahu vlog on YouTube to see more of our trip!
If you’re looking for even more fun activities and things to do in Oahu, be sure to check out some local tours!
Have you checked out any of these Instagrammable places? What are some of your favourite Instagram-worthy spots in Oahu? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
Plan your Oahu trip
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Searching for more cool spots? Check out these Oahu hikes.
- Looking for places to eat? Stop into the best restaurants, poke spots, brunch spots, or dessert spots in Oahu.
- Putting together your itinerary? Check out my 10 day Oahu itinerary.
- Packing for your trip? Here’s what to pack for Hawaii and what to wear in Hawaii.
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