Things to Do in Downtown Honolulu: ʻIolani Palace Tickets, Tours, and Getting There

ʻIolani Palace sits at 364 South King Street in downtown Honolulu, and the palace operator describes it as a short drive or bus ride from Waikīkī.

For the bus, take Routes 2, 13, or E to Hotel/Alakea, or Routes 2L or 42 to Beretania/Punchbowl. If you’re planning your arrival in Waikīkī first, how to get from Honolulu Airport to Waikīkī is a separate part of the trip. Route details can change, so check the official site before you go.

ʻIolani Palace offers docent-led, self-led audio, and specialty tours, with the options varying by day. Both the docent-led and self-led audio tours include the first and second floors.

Docent-led and self-led audio tours

Choose between a guided visit with a docent and an audio tour you follow on your own. Both formats cover the first and second floors, including the palace’s public rooms and private suites.

Specialty tours

Specialty options include Hawaiʻi’s Royal Connection to Japan and the Kalākaua Legacy Tour. Tour availability varies by day, so reserve ahead; walk-ins are accommodated only when space is available.

Children under 5 enter free. Personal strollers cannot be taken inside, but you can use a Palace stroller at no charge. Service animals are permitted on the premises; the palace asks visitors to notify the reservations office or cashiers before entering.

The palace’s rooms connect Hawaiʻi’s royal history with the events that shaped the monarchy. ʻIolani Palace is a registered National Historic Landmark and the State of Hawaiʻi Museum of Monarchy History.

The first floor includes the Grand Hall, State Dining Room, Blue Room, and Throne Room. Upstairs, the King’s and Queen’s suites sit alongside the Music Room and Imprisonment Room. Queen Liliʻuokalani was held under house arrest in the Imprisonment Room for a little under eight months after the overthrow of her government.

Restored public areas and private suites are open on tours. Personal photography is allowed, but flash photography, video, audio recording, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, and extended lenses are not permitted.

Wear a shirt and footwear, and expect to use the shoe coverings supplied by the palace. Bathing suits, beachwear, and clothing displaying profanity are not permitted. Large bags, backpacks, luggage, food, and beverages cannot be brought inside.

Kawaiahaʻo Church, Aliʻiōlani Hale, and the State Capitol are a short walk from the palace grounds, making them natural additions to a downtown visit. The city’s collections also include art museums, covered in this guide to art museums in Honolulu.

The Palace Shop is in the Hale Koa Barracks building next to the palace. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For another Waikīkī-area historic stop, Fort De Russy’s place in Waikīkī offers a separate stop closer to the beach district.

Do you need to reserve ʻIolani Palace tickets?

Reservations are highly recommended. Walk-ins are accommodated based on availability.

What days is ʻIolani Palace open?

The palace is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

What is included in a standard palace tour?

Both the docent-led and self-led audio tours include the first and second floors, with historic public rooms and private suites.

Can you bring a bag inside ʻIolani Palace?

Large bags, backpacks, and luggage are not allowed inside. Food and beverages are also prohibited.