On the east side, Honolulu begins at Diamond Head, the volcanic cone that is so iconic to the islands. Hike the 760 feet to its top for great panoramic views of the city and Oahu itself. From this cone known around the world, Honolulu stretches westward for about 26 miles to Pearl Harbor, another attraction with instant recognition. Every day, thousands of people board boats and head out to the harbor to solemnly remember how and why the United States got involved in World War II after the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

Between these two east-west landmarks lies plenty for visitors to enjoy and explore. Roughly 5 million sun-seekers visit Honolulu every year, and most of them stay in famed Waikiki, where high-rise hotels line picturesque beaches. Who hasn’t seen a postcard of that scene?

Although only a little more than 2 miles long, Waikiki is jam-packed with more than hotels. The surprisingly compact area overflows with restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, shops, shops galore—some of them touristy tacky, others as top-of-the-line as they get. Think Gucci, Chanel, and the like.

From Waikiki, Honolulu runs inland about 12 miles. Away from the shoreline, it features all the usuals found in any bustling capital city—a downtown area where business deals are made, a government center where smooth-talking legislators debate political issues and pass laws, a large university where ambitious youngsters study and prepare for their futures, shopping and entertainment districts where people go for fun, and residential neighborhoods where the locals nest with their families.

In the midst of all that routine city life are numerous interesting attractions, including the Bishop Museum, Chinatown, Iolani Palace, Kawaihao Church, the Mission Houses Museum, and the State Capitol Building.