Maui · Travel guide
Maui, done right
Sunrise above the clouds on Haleakalā, the winding Road to Hāna, and the best whale watching in the islands.
Fly into
Kahului (OGG)
Getting around
Rent a car — book ahead
Where to stay
Kāʻanapali or Wailea for beaches
Heads up
Lahaina is rebuilding — visit open areas only
Book these first
The experiences that define the island
These sell out first, and each one is the reason people fly here. Every guide compares the options side by side.
Haleakalā Sunrise & Summit Tours
Sunrise from above the clouds is Maui’s most famous early alarm. Here’s how to do it by van, by bike, or at sunset instead — and what it takes to drive it yourself.
Compare 7 tours
Road to Hāna Tours
Tight curves, one-lane bridges, and waterfalls along the way. Let someone else drive, or take a guide in the app.
Compare 6 tours
Molokini Snorkel Tours
A sunken volcanic crater three miles offshore, protected since 1977. Go early, before the wind comes up.
Compare 7 tours
Maui Whale Watching
Every winter, humpbacks crowd the shallow channels between Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi. These are the boats worth booking.
Compare 5 tours
Maui Lūʻau
Fire-knife dancers, kālua pig, and an oceanfront sunset. The big differences are the setting, the meal, and the refund policy.
Compare 4 tours
Maui Helicopter Tours
The West Maui Mountains, the Hāna rainforest, and Molokaʻi’s north-shore sea cliffs, all from one heliport.
Compare 5 toursTraveler favorites
The most-reviewed tours on the island
Ranked by Viator review count — the trips thousands of visitors have already vetted.
Know the island
Two volcanoes, five regions
The West Maui Mountains and Haleakalā are joined by the central isthmus around Kahului. Sunny West and South Maui are the easy bases; Upcountry climbs Haleakalā’s slopes, and East Maui is the long, green Road to Hāna.
West Maui
Resort beaches, sunset views of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi
Good baseSouth Maui
Sunny, dry and close to the best south-shore snorkeling
Good baseCentral Maui
The airport, the county seat and the gateway to ʻĪao
Good baseUpcountry Maui
Cool slopes, ranch towns and the road to the summit
Good baseEast Maui
Surf-town Pāʻia, rainforest switchbacks and quiet Hāna
Good baseExplore
Everything worth doing on Maui
Tours & Activities
Boat days, helicopter flights, snorkel sails, luaus, and the island’s signature night and summit trips — the bookings that define a Hawaiʻi trip.
ExploreBeaches
White-sand resort coves, young black-sand beaches, hike-in solitude, and the reefs worth bringing a mask for.
ExploreSights & Parks
National parks, sacred places, waterfalls, and valley lookouts — the sights to build your days around.
ExploreEat & Drink
Shave ice, poke, plate lunch, saimin, and coffee at the farm — the island food worth planning a day around.
ExploreEditor’s picks
Places worth the drive
West Maui
Kāʻanapali Beach
It’s the easiest beach day on Maui: walk out of your hotel, swim off the sand, and snorkel Black Rock before the wind comes up.
Read moreWest Maui
Kapalua Bay
Calm morning water, real reef within a few kicks of the sand, and restrooms and showers steps away. It’s an easy first snorkel.
Read moreSouth Maui
Mākena (Oneloa) Big Beach
Few beaches in Hawaiʻi this size are still undeveloped. Come for the sand, the views of Kahoʻolawe and Molokini, and the sunset.
Read moreEast Maui
Waiʻānapanapa State Park (Pāʻiloa Black Sand Beach)
Jet-black sand against green hala and blue water is the best scene on the Road to Hāna, and the reservation keeps it from being overrun.
Read moreUpcountry Maui
Haleakalā National Park (Summit District)
Watching first light spill across the crater from above the clouds is unforgettable, and the sunset and night sky are just as good without the 3 a.m. alarm.
Read moreEast Maui
Kahanu Garden & Piʻilanihale Heiau
Standing beside the massive stone walls of Piʻilanihale is the most powerful cultural stop on the Hāna side, and the garden around it tells the story of the plants that fed Hawaiʻi.
Read moreWhere to stay
Stays we’d book
Four Seasons Maui
Couples and families who want full-service luxury on a calm south-shore beach
Polished service on one of the south shore’s best swimming beaches, with snorkeling off the lava points at either end.
Grand Wailea
Families who want a big pool scene on a good swimming beach
The pool complex is a full day out for kids, and Wailea Beach is right there when they’re ready for the real ocean.
Pāʻia Inn
Couples starting the Road to Hāna or wanting a surf-town stay
You can walk to Pāʻia’s cafés and shops, then get an early jump on the Road to Hāna.
Getting around
You’ll want a rental car.
Public transit is limited and the best sights are hours apart. Pick up at Kahului (OGG) and compare every major company in one search.