One Perfect Week on Kauai: A Foolproof 7-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 🌺

From beautiful beaches and must-do day trips, to stunning waterfalls and delicious food trucks, here’s how to spend 7 perfect days on Kauai.

Are you planning your first trip to Kauai? You’re in for something special. 

Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is the most lush and dramatic of the Hawaiian Islands. With waterfalls tumbling down emerald cliffs, wild stretches of beach, and deep rose-colored canyons, Kauai is a beauty.

And one of the best things about Kauai is that it’s the smallest of the four main Hawaiian islands. That means it’s easy to see the island’s highlights without rushing (and with short drive times!). 

If it’s your first time visiting Kauai, this one-week Kauai itinerary is designed just for you! 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice.  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

As an Oahu resident, my husband and I visit Kauai often. And to me, the perfect Kauai itinerary balances just the right amount of adventure with plenty of time to relax.

Because part of the magic of Kauai is simply being there.

Before we dive into the day-by-day itinerary, let’s start with a quick overview of the island and a few tips for exploring. 

Map of Kauai

Where to Stay on Kauai

Most visitors to Kauai stay in one of three main areas:

• Poipu (South Shore): The sunniest part of the island, with great beaches, resorts, and dining.
• Kapaa / Coconut Coast (East Shore):  A central location that makes it easy to explore both north and south. Home to lots of vacation rentals and family-friendly, affordable hotel options on Kauai.
• Princeville / Hanalei (North Shore): Known for gorgeous mountain-and-ocean scenery. A smaller-town feel with luxury resorts like 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Resort. It can be rainier, especially in winter.

Read More: The Luxurious 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is Kauai’s Most Expensive Hotel (is it worth the sticker shock?)

👉 Tip: Your home base will shape your daily plans. If you’re in Princeville, you’ll spend more time on the North Shore. If you’re in Poipu, the South Shore is easier to access. This itinerary is written for a central base, but you can easily adjust it based on where you decide to stay.

Need help deciding which part of the island to stay?

Read This: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kauai Hawaii for First-Time Visitors

Practical Tips for a Kauai Itinerary

Rent a car – Public transportation is limited, and ride-shares are spotty outside Lihue. A car gives you the freedom to explore the entire island at your own pace. Even if you book organized day trips, you’ll still need to get to the tour meeting point (very few tours include hotel pickup).

Pack for rain – Kauai is known for its lush greenery for a reason—it rains often, especially on the North Shore. A light rain jacket is handy.

Book ahead – Popular tours (like the Nā Pali Coast) and sites (like Hā‘ena State Park) require reservations well in advance.

Allow buffer time – Kauai has only one main road that doesn’t go all the way around. Traffic jams do happen (especially near Hanalei), so don’t overpack your days.

Download the Shaka Guide App – Kauai is a great island to explore on your own, and the Shaka Guide App is the perfect complement to DIY exploring. Tours are about $20 each to download.

Or, grab the “Kauai Tour Bundle,” which includes the North Shore Kauai Driving Tour, the Waimea & Na Pali Driving Tour, the Poipu & Koloa Driving Tour, and the Wailua Valley & Waterfalls Tour for just $34.99.

Ok, that’s enough of the practicalities.

Grab your rental car keys, your reef-safe sunscreen, and your flip flops (or slippahs, as we call them here), and let’s hit the road!

The Ultimate 7-Day Kauai Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Settle In

After landing at Kauai’s Lihue Airport (LIH), pick up the rental car and head to your hotel to check in.

👉 Tip: To make your arrival extra special, book this fun Kauai Airport Lei Greeting.

Day One is the perfect time to get your bearings and settle in. Don’t make any major plans for your first day, just in case of flight delays. 

Also, it’s a long flight to Hawaii, and you’ll probably be tired. Take it easy—walk the beach, watch the sunset with a mai tai, or just rest after your long flight.

Before you leave Lihue, grab malasadas at Kauai Bakery or a Leige Waffle from the Aloha Leige Waffle truck.

Note: You’ll need to land early to catch both of these. If your flight lands in the afternoon, be sure to come back for these treats later in the week!

Foodie Highlights:

• Malasadas at Kauai Bakery
• Liege waffles from Aloha Liege Waffles Truck 

Day 2: North Shore & Hanalei

• Kilauea Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge (reservation required)
• Hā‘ena State Park (reservation required)
• Hanalei – Explore the town and walk the historic pier
• North Shore Beaches – Hanalei Bay, Tunnels Beach, Anini Beach 

If you’re on mainland US time, you’ll be up early today! Take advantage of that jet lag and get an early start. It’s the perfect time for a full day exploring the stunning North Shore. 

On your way to or from the North Shore, a stop at the Kilauea Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge is a must. Reservations are required to visit the lighthouse (open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm).

But if that doesn’t fit into your schedule for today, the overlook at the end of Kīlauea Road is always accessible. From there, you can view the ocean, seabirds, Kīlauea Point, and the lighthouse from a distance.

Hā‘ena State Park is the end of the road on the North Shore. Unfortunately, it also requires a reservation.

That includes gorgeous Ke’e Beach, which is located inside the park. I recommend planning your day around your reservation time here. Hikers will want to leave enough time to hike part of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpī‘ai Beach or Falls.

After the park, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Hanalei Town, and be sure to take a walk along the Hanalei Bay Pier. 

👉 Tip: If you can’t score a reservation at Hā‘ena State Park, hit Tunnels Beach instead. It’s a beautiful beach and is known for terrific snorkeling. 

Foodie Highlights:

• Shave ice at Wishing Well
• Mai Tais at Tahiti Nui
• Taro donuts at Holey Grail

Day 3: Nā Pali Coast + Waimea Canyon

• Morning boat tour of the Nā Pali Coast (catamaran or zodiac from Port Allen)
• Afternoon drive through Waimea Canyon State Park and Kōke‘e State Park
• Stroll through Hanapēpē Town

Today’s the day to see the incredible Na Pali Coast (of Jurassic Park fame!). A boat trip along the Na Pali coast is one of the best things to do on Kauai.

Read More: The Top 5 Fun Things to Do on Kauai (#1 is a must!)

And if it’s whale season (November to March), you’re really in for a treat! 

Most Na Pali Coast tours are half-day tours, and I recommend scheduling any boat trips early in your stay in case they have to be rescheduled due to bad weather.

A morning tour is the best time of day for a chance of calm waters. If you’re concerned about seasickness, a larger catamaran is a more stable ride than the smaller raft tours. 

Here are my two favorite Na Pali Coast boat trips:

• Deluxe Na Pali Morning Snorkel Tour on the Lucky Lady (catamaran, larger boat)
• Na Pali Coast Super Raft Adventure with Snorkel (raft tour, smaller boat)

For a deeper dive on all the top whale watching trips, read this:

👉 Ultimate Guide to the Best Kauai Whale Watching Tours

Since most Na Pali Coast tours depart from Port Allen on Kauai’s west side, you can spend the late afternoon exploring Waimea Canyon State Park after your boat trip. 

Dubbed the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific,’ if you’re a big hiker, you’ll want to plan a whole day here, including Koke’e State Park (home to the Kalalau Lookout point).

But if you just want to drive through the park and see the highlights, you can easily combine it with a morning boat trip along the Na Pali Coast. Don’t miss the unique Red Dirt Waterfall on your drive.

End your day on the west side with a stop at charming Hanapepe town to check out the shops and the Swinging Bridge.

👉 Tip: If you booked a 4WD rental car, add a stop at Polihale State Park while you’re on this side of the island.

Foodie Highlights:

• Lunch from Mama Bear’s Kitchen Food Truck
• Famous lilikoi pie at Aunty Lilikoi’s

Day 4: Beach Day + Luau Night

• Relax at your resort pool or beach
• Or drive to one of Kauai’s best beaches
• Evening luau (many are on the South Shore near Poipu)

After two busy days, you’ll probably be ready for a relaxing beach day on Day 3. If you’re staying at a resort with a great pool and beach, you’re all set. 

If not, hop in the car and head to one of Kauai’s many gorgeous beaches. I love Anini Beach, Lydgate Beach Park, or Salt Pond Beach Park for a quiet beach day with calm, clear waters for swimming.

Read More: These 7 Kauai Beaches are Simply Too Gorgeous to Ignore

Since there’s no specific schedule for this day, it’s the perfect day to book one of Kauai’s top luaus for dinner. On our last visit, we attended the Sheraton’s Luau Ka Hikina and really enjoyed it.

Other popular Kauai luaus are the Luau Kalamaku and the Smith Family Luau.

Foodie Highlights:

• Dinner at a classic Kauai luau
• Kauai Bakery & Aloha Leige Waffle (if you missed them on Day 1!)

Day 5: Coconut Coast + Waterfalls

• Kayak the Wailua River + short hike to Secret Falls
• Visit ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls and Wailua Falls
• Kapa’a – Browse shops & food trucks

It’s waterfall day! Today we’re exploring Kauai’s beautiful east side, also known as the Coconut Coast. 

This part of the island is famous for waterfalls, and the #1 tour is the Secret Falls Kayak and Hike. I highly recommend booking this fun tour. Just be sure to book it several weeks before your trip, it sells out fast!

Secret Falls tours are offered in the morning, starting at 9:00am. Try to book the first time slot so you’ll have plenty of time left over to explore.

After the Secret Falls tour, the other two waterfalls in the area are easy to see on your own. Wailua Falls is the famous waterfall shown in the opening credits of the TV show, Fantasy Island. 

Save some time to explore the shops and food trucks of charming Kapa’a town.

Foodie Highlights:

• Breakfast at Kountry Kitchen
• Shave ice at Wailua Shave Ice
• Tacos at the Al Pastor Truck

Day 6: South Shore Highlights

• Poipu Beach for wildlife sightings and snorkeling
• Spouting Horn Blowhole
• Old Kōloa Town

If you haven’t spotted any of Hawaii’s wildlife yet, today’s the day. Poipu Beach is one of the best places on Kauai to view Hawaiian green sea turtles and monk seals enjoying a nap on the beach.

Just be sure to give them plenty of space (the law is 10′ for turtles and 50′ for monk seals, make that 150′ for a monk seal momma with a pup!).

Poipu Beach is also a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. 

While you’re in the area, don’t miss a visit to Kauai’s best natural wonder, the Spouting Horn Blowhole. 

Read More: Spouting Horn: Ocean Meets Lava at One of Kauai’s Best Free Attractions 🌋🌊

After the beach, head to Old Kōloa Town to explore the shops. 

Foodie Highlights:

• Acai bowl from Little Fish Coffee
• Hawaiian-style hot dog at Puka Dog
• Dinner with a view at Beach House Restaurant

Day 7: Anything left on your wish list!

You’ve been on the island for a week now. What’s still left on your Kauai Bucket List? Today’s the day to tackle that list. 

Read More: Bucket List Kauai: 40 Unforgettable Things to See, Do, and Eat! 🌈🌺🍧

Here are a few more tour ideas if you need them.👇

Or just spend one more day relaxing and doing nothing at all (there’s no better place than Kauai for that!). 

A helicopter tour or scenic flight is a splurge-worthy finale and the perfect way to end your stay on Kauai. It allows you to see all the remote parts of Kauai you couldn’t access by car. 

Here are the top 3 Kauai tours from the air:

• Private Doors-Off Kauai Helicopter: Ultimate Waterfalls & Canyons
• Hughes 500 4-Passenger Doors-Off Helicopter Tour
• Kauai (Fixed Wing) Airplane Tour: Na Pali Coast, Waterfalls & Window Seats

Foodie Highlights:

• Your favorite restaurants and food trucks from the week—go back for seconds!

Wrapping a perfect week on Kauai

If you tackled everything on this 7-day Kauai itinerary, you’ll end your vacation knowing you’ve seen all the best the Garden Isle has to offer. 

And if you didn’t? Even better. 

Because now you’ll have to come back!

And trust me, once you’ve spent a little time on Kauai, you’ll already be dreaming about that next visit.

And if you’re island hopping:

One Perfect Week on Kauai: A Foolproof 7-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 🌺

I Live in Waikiki, Here’s My Favorite 7-Day Oahu Itinerary 🚗🌈🏖️