Best Places To Stay in Kauai – Neighborhood Guide
Kauai is the epitome of Hawaiian paradise with its lush green mountains, pristine beaches, wild canyons, tropical valleys of palms, and welcoming towns. Whether it's your first visit to the island or you've been here before, you'll know that picking where to stay is super important. Enter the best places to stay in Kauai guide!
Kauai is easily broken down into 4 different geographical regions, each with its own distinct attractions, style, climate, and vibe. - North Shore - East Side - South Shore - West Side To put it simply, here's what you need to know about each of them.
4 Main Regions and Neighborhoods of Kauai
North Shore
Graced with the picturesque Napali coast, beaches, lush valleys, and the affluential Princeville, this is simply postcard-worthy.
As the most populated part of the island, it's as “busy” as the island gets with a big part dedicated to commercial development, and essential big stores and restaurants. That said, there's still plenty to see and do here.
East Side
South Shore
This part of the island gets the best weather and as a result, you'll find it the most popular with visitors. Anchored by Poipu, there are many resorts and beaches here.
This part of the island becomes dramatically much more raw in both the development sense but also the geology. Drier and more barren, you'll find the Grand Canyon of the Pacific here and the start of the Napali Coast.
West Side
What to be careful about
Try not to get the red sand/mud on your shirt as that stuff is really hard to get off fabric. Follow the signage for hike trails. If a trail is closed because of erosion, don't go around it thinking you'll be okay. Finding a hiking stick on your hike may come in handy.
Next steps
More Amazing Travel Inspiration