Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Hilo?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Hilo?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Hilo during their visit. After all, the authentic town has plenty to explore such as the hiking, the restaurant scene, and the gorgeous scenery.
Hilo is the largest town on the Big Island in Hawaii. It's on the eastern and windward side of the island so it's green and lush with many beautiful gardens and waterfalls. The town has a very local vibe with smaller hotels and access to many great hikes.
Do you have one or two days to visit Hilo? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Hilo?
Hilo is a small town that is quite popular with tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to get out into nature, sample the delicious cuisine, take in the beautiful scenery, and relax at the beach. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the authentic town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have at least 3 or as many as 7 days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.
How to spend a day in Hilo
Known for it's hiking, Hilo sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. You'll find incredible hikes in the area to many impressive waterfalls. There are also coastal trails and hikes to spectacular viewpoints.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Hidden Craters Hike of Kona ($194)
- Pelagic Wildlife Excursion ($153)
- Secret Jungle Tide Pool Hike - Private ($100)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. This is the largest city on the island and you'll find a restaurant scene that caters to both locals and tourists. There are a number of local dishes that you can try such as Pla Rad Prik (a Thai fish dish), mushroom pot pie, and crab and avocado melt.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Kona Walking Food Tour ($147)
- Farm to Table Cooking Class at Kulaniapia Falls ($169)
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Hilo?
A weekend is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Hilo. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the hiking, the restaurant scene, the gorgeous scenery, and the beaches. To genuinely appreciate the authentic town, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days here, after all. After all, Hilo, renowned for its numerous sights and attractions, is a major draw for tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
Hawaii Volcano National Park, near Hilo, Hawaii
How to spend 2 days in Hilo
With a weekend (two to three days) in Hilo, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.
Don't miss Akaka Falls State Park during your trip to Hilo, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
Hilo is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This side of the island is filled with beautiful waterfalls, lush rainforests, and tropical gardens.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Sunset Manta Ray Tour in Kailua-Kona ($95)
- Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens ($168)
- Sunset Kona Salt Farm Tour ($27)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Hilo, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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