Now that you have decided to visit Kauai, the next step is to decide where on the island to stay. Lihue and Princeville are the areas most people decide to stay – there are plenty of accommodations and services nearby. Whether you are opting to stay in a hotel or an Airbnb, this guide will help you decide where to book!
South Shore
On the Southside of Kauai you will find Koloa and Poipu. Poipu is home to one of the best beaches on the island and Koloa has a ton of services nearby. There are plenty of hotel accommodations and can make a great home base. This area is your best bet for dry and sunny weather! Although, please keep in mind you may see rain in all parts of the island but it quickly passes. It is about a 30 minute drive to Lihue and about an hour drive to Princeville.
Southeast
Lihue and Kapaa are located on the Southeast of the island and are a great place to choose for a home base. They are central to most parts of the island and there are an abundance of hotels/rentals. The airport is located in Lihue so they have everything you might need around. The South areas of the island are bustling with restaurants, shops, and things to do. It is about a 30 minute drive to Princeville/Hanalei.
North Shore
In the North, you have Princeville and Hanalei Bay. This side of the island will feel more private with plenty of space to relax and adventure. This area is full of nature activities like hikes, kayaking, snorkeling, and other things to do. While there may not be as many restaurants nearby, you won’t be disappointed with the choices they do have! This is the wettest area of the island (with Kauai being one of the wettest places on Earth!), but the rain is not likely to dampen your plans. The rain in Kauai comes and goes and it is easy to enjoy it!
Our Recommendation
For our first time on the island, we split our time between Lihue and Princeville and it was convenient for us to cover everything on the island with minimal driving time. If you are staying for a week or more, I definitely recommend splitting your stay. For the first 4 nights we stayed in Lihue and covered all of the South and West, and the last 4 nights we stayed in Princeville and covered everything North/East. You can start on whichever side of the island you prefer. Some people might choose Princeville so that they don’t have to end there and have a long drive back to the airport in Lihue. Either way, it is nice to divide the island and get as much done as possible this way.
