Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistoric SitesHistory Museums
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy, is a marvel of opulence, innovation and political intrigue. Meticulously restored to its former grandeur, this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu tells of a time when their Majesties, King Kalakaua, who built the palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, walked its celebrated halls. Today, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular living restorations in all of Polynesia and immerse yourself in Hawaii’s royal heritage. E komo mai! Welcome!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Downtown Honolulu
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • EVELYN B
    Sunnyvale, California1 contribution
    Historical Marvel
    The docent was fantastic in explaining the history of the Palace as related to Hawaiian history and culture. The house itself is a marvel and we were fortunate to partake of the building and its story. The staff were very helpful, calm and welcoming. It is a marvel to partake of this gem in Hawaii.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 10, 2022
  • Ollie418
    2 contributions
    Iolani Palace visit
    Beautiful 140 year old palace of the Hawaiian royal family. Our guide was incredibly professional, knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Palace. Well worth a visit - it will add to your perspective on Hawaii's union with the mainland.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 10, 2022
  • kingchingy2022
    Kapolei, Hawaii1 contribution
    Officiation
    Last time Iʻve been to Iolani Palace was in elementary school about 50 plus years ago. You really donʻt appreciate it at that age. It was so worth while, understanding and heartfelt, not too mention our guide was so informative and knowledgeable. Glad I took this journey. I will pass it on to family & friends, it is a must to do this excursion as an adult.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 11, 2022
  • eesabuzza
    Apple Valley, California1 contribution
    Amazingly beautiful
    My husband and I visited the Iolani Palace while on a trip in early December, 2022. The docents were so friendly and forthcoming with additional information that made our visit even more meaningful. We were so impressed with the sophistication and beauty of the palace and all of its historical artifacts. The Hawaiian history and culture connected with the palace was very enlightening. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there - about 2 1/2 hours in total.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 12, 2022
  • sanav1946
    1 contribution
    Beautiful experience
    Warmly greeted and given excellent audio receivers. We put on shoe covers and were escorted into a very large grand hall. There are many volunteers to escort you and answer questions. There are two floors with a massive Koa wood staircase. An elevator is also avaiable
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 13, 2022
  • Keiko Y
    10 contributions
    Worth visit historical place
    It was educational and beautiful. A small group with self-guided tour. I could take time and learn at my space. It took me more than 30 minutes to come from Wikiki area to this place by bus due to the traffic. Make sure you plan plenty of travelling time to get to place and to go back to Wikiki. Buses from this place to Wikiki does not come often (probably due to the traffic). I arrived earlier and they were very nice to put me an open space for earlier time when I checked with me. It helped me as I could go to the next site on time by taking bus which took long to go back to Wikiki area.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 15, 2022
  • 208tracef
    Birmingham, United Kingdom14 contributions
    Fascinating and interesting
    Fascinating tour of the beautifully restored palace. Tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and proud of the Hawaiian culture and heritage. Very well worth a visit and help contribute to keeping this historic gem running
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 16, 2022
  • ExecBourbonStew
    15 contributions
    Iolani Palace Docent Led Tour
    We enjoyed our Iolani Palace tour and appreciate the level of knowledge and commitment to retaining this cultural aspect of Hawaii's history. I spent some time growing up on Oahu back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, but wife had very little exposure to Hawaiian history...and I learned that I had forgotten most of what I thought I had learned. Incredibly knowledgeable staff that is committed to the restoration and maintenance of the Palace, this history and the culture. You should do this tour and feel free to donate to the Friends of Iolani Palace who are responsible for saving this important historical landmark. Fun fact...the Iolani Palace had electric lights and indoor plumbing before the White House did. We paid for two hours of parking...with the tour and a quick stop in the gift shop, we were right at two hours.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 17, 2022
  • Ralph J
    2 contributions
    Iolani Palace
    We enjoyed the visit. We did the self guided audio tour, and would probably recommend the guided tour if you want any questions answered. If you just want to look at the art work and decor, the audio tour is fine.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 18, 2022
  • ColinMcCann
    Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
    Iolani Palace tour - fantastic
    Finally got to the Iolani Palace on our third trip to Oahu and islands. I've had many memorable experiences in Hawaii, this tour is one of the top 3 things I have done. The guide was so knowledgeable and the stories about the palace and Hawaiian history were both fascinating and poignant. A real privilege to be able to view the palace and hear the stories first hand. Thanks so much to all the staff we encountered at Iolani I recommend booking a tour.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written December 19, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

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8,026 reviews
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Poor
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Natalie G
Sydney, Australia8 contributions
Nov 2023
Stunning palace with a fantastic background on the history of Hawaii. It helped us understand so much of what we saw/ experienced during our stay in Honolulu
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim444626
Seattle, WA1 contribution
Nov 2023
A beautiful building for sure; but also a portal to a heartbreaking part of Hawaiian history. Highly recommmended, especially for those who like history.
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

maribelgarcia0711
Oakland, CA1 contribution
Dec 2023
On Friday afternoon we did the audio tour and it was fantastic. The information was thorough and a fun way to learn about the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The tour is about an hour in length but it is self directed so you can make it as short or long as you want. After the audio tour you can visit the rest of the exhibit in the basement which I also recommend. The gift shop is a great way to close up your visit as they have clothing, jewelry, perfumes, books, etc that are all of great quality and locally produced.
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elizabeth C
Rockville, MD26 contributions
Nov 2023
My husband and I did the audio tour of the palace and found it very interesting and enjoyable. The building is so carefully restored and has many interesting and beautiful objects to see. We learned a lot of history too.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

2023Tammy62
Wailuku, HI1 contribution
Nov 2023
Our docent was amazing! He started the tour with a chant in Hawaiian! Excellent knowledge of the heartbreaking history of the Ali’i, and the Hawaiian people! Take the time(15 minutes), too, if possible, to view the video in the room near the ticket pick-up! Queen Lili’uokalani ‘s intelligence, grace, beauty, and kindness is a part of history every person should know.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BlueHoo
Marina del Rey, CA73 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
I, like many Americans, am embarrassingly ignorant about Hawaiin history. Now I can say "was" because I learned so much during my tour at Iolani Palace. This is the only royal palace in the United States and although many of the original furnishings have vanished (i.e., were stollen) there is still much to see. The docent was excellent and made the tour very interesting. This is a must do when in Honolulu.
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

zak571
Austin, TX2 contributions
Nov 2023
Loved this spot. We did the self-guided audio tour. As somebody who loves podcast, I responded well to the audio-led format. The information and flow of the exhibit was very digestible and kept you moving from one room to another. The staff was incredibly polite and hospitable, and the contents of the palace were very impressive. Would recommend to anybody with an interest in fashion, history, politics, of any level!
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gracie Z
5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Lots of history on this tour. It was great to be able to tour the inside of the Palace. I really enjoyed this tour. We did the self paced tour only because the guided tours were sold out. I would have loved the guided tour.
Written 29 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mimi2023144
1 contribution
Nov 2023
It was nothing like I expected. The explanation was given during the tour and was jaw dropping. Such an important part of history for all Americans to know.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karen02015
Grove City, OH1 contribution
Nov 2023
The docent we had on our tour answered any questions we had and shared the history of the palace and the family. We were encouraged to take photos while she was speaking which helped keep the tour on schedule.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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IOLANI PALACE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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