10 of the Best Neighborhoods on Kauai and How To Visit

Odds are, Lihue is the first place you’ll set foot in on Kauai—after all, it’s where the major airport is located. But while most people opt to get in their rental cars and zip away to the tourist hubs in the north and south, it's worth sticking around for a day or two, as the Garden Isle’s capital city has quite a lot going for it.

Pop into the Kauai Museum to learn about local history, then grab a piping hot noodle soup lunch from Hamura Saimin. Or, for a different angle on the city's culture, visit the Kilohana Plantation to watch a luau with dinner, take a ride on the plantation train, and stop by its on-site rum distillery.

Kapaʻa is the largest town on Kauai, with a population of around 11,000 people. And since it’s a community hub of sorts, it has an absolutely thriving food truck scene, with The Musubi Truck, Smash Time Grinds 808, and Positive Coffee being a few local favorites. Plus, don’t miss your chance to visit charming Old Town Kapaʻa, take a chocolate tour of locally owned Lydgate Farms, and go on a bike ride along the oceanfront Ke Ala Hele Makālae path.

Next door to Kapaʻa lies Wailua, and while you’ll want to pop into the larger Kapaʻa for meals and accommodations, Wailua is one of the best towns on Kauai for outdoor adventures. Want to get out on the water? Kayak out to Uluwehi Falls—also called Secret Falls, even if it’s not much of a secret anymore. Prefer to stay dry on land? Hike one of the Nounou Mountain (Sleeping Giant) trails for greenery and ocean views as far as the eye can see.

Hanalei is widely regarded as one of the best towns to visit on Kauai. For starters, it’s absolutely stunning. It's framed by the landmark Nā Pali Coast cliffs, and it's home to Hanalei Bay, a beautiful, crescent-shaped stretch of sand that’s ideal for a beach day. It’s also a particularly great spot to pick up gems from local shops and vendors, such as the Hanalei Farmers Market, Chocolat Hanalei, and Ohanalei.

A 20-minute drive from Hanalei lies Kīlauea, a town known primarily for the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. There, you can spot the Kīlauea Lighthouse and several types of local birds, including Hawaiian geese, Laysan albatross, and Newell’s shearwaters.

Beyond the refuge, you can take a local farm tour at Common Ground Kauai, try tropical fruit juices from Kauai Juice Co, and sample island-inspired liquors on a Hanalei Spirits Distillery tour.

Insider tip: Plan ahead if you’d like to visit the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge—you must book tickets, and it isn’t open daily.

Looking to splurge and wondering where to stay on Kauai? The North Shore’s Princeville should be high on your radar. This is where you’ll find the most luxurious resorts on the island, including the relatively new 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay and The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. To stick with the indulgent theme, you can also play a round of golf at the oceanfront Princeville Makai Golf Club, or take an in-demand golf cart sunset tour.

Without a doubt, Poʻipū is one of the best areas to stay on Kauai. When comparing North Shore destinations to the South Shore’s Poʻipū, this touristy Kauai town is a little more lively (by island standards). It has several more accommodation options, and boasts dozens of diverse restaurants.

Spend your day making the most of the calmer waters, swimming at Poʻipū Beach Park, shore diving from Kōloa Landing, or snorkeling at Lawai Beach.

Take a step back in time to Kauai’s sugarcane plantation days with a visit to Old Kōloa Town. Here, you’ll find some of the cutest shops and restaurants on the island, such as the counter-service Koloa Fish Market eatery and the Kauai Chickens gift shop.

Outside of this adorable downtown area, don’t miss out on Allerton Garden, an 80-acre (32-hectare) botanical garden with flora from all across the globe: tours are required to visit.

If you’re visiting Kauai for the first time, be sure to add the tiny town of Hanapēpē to your itinerary. Within its 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers), there’s a whole lot to do. Snap a few pictures on the Swinging Bridge, get crunchy taro chips from the Taro Ko Factory, or pop into one of the many art galleries. Plus, bookworms can head just outside of city bounds to Talk Story Bookstore—a beloved institution filled with local reads, which is also the westernmost bookstore in the US.

If you’re exploring Kauai by car, you’ll likely pass through the small town of Waimea on your way to landmark landscapes such as Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokeʻe State Park.

Stop in Waimea en route, and head to Waimea Pier to find one of Kauai’s only black-sand beaches (although it’s technically gray). Then, grab an acai bowl from G’s Juicebar and purchase a jar of award-winning lilikoʻi (passion fruit) wasabi mustard from Aunty Liliko'i's Passion Fruit Products.