The royal palace in downtown Honolulu, toured by timed ticket only (no walk-ups or same-day reservations). You check in 30 minutes early at the ticket window next door, take off sunglasses, put on shoe coverings, and climb the stairs to the second floor; the elevator is out of service for now. A self-led audio tour or a docent tour takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
Know before you go. ʻIolani Palace doesn't list sensory hours or a quiet room. Here's what it does say about check-in, the doorway rules, the stairs and the tour.
Hours
Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Sundays and Mondays. Self-Led Audio Tours: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9 am to 3:30 pm, Wednesdays 1 to 3 pm, Thursdays 1 to 2 pm. Docent-Led Tours: Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 am to 12:30 pm, Saturdays at 3 and 3:30 pm. Closed Thanksgiving (Thu Nov 26 2026), Lā Kūʻokoʻa (observed Mon Nov 30 2026) and Christmas (Fri Dec 25 2026). The Basement Galleries are closed for renovations.
364 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 (corner of King St. and Richards St.)
“Check in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour at Iolani Barracks next to ʻIolani Palace.”
“Late arrivals: Arrive on time for your scheduled tour; arrivals after the 5-minute grace period must purchase a new ticket subject to availability.”
“Attire and etiquette: Shirts and footwear required; shoe coverings provided; avoid profanity, bathing suits, beachwear, and remove sunglasses before entering.”
“Guests are welcome to use their own earbuds/headphones for their comfort or request to use those provided by the Palace.” iolanipalace.org (Self-Led Audio Tours)
“Palace Elevator is temporarily Out of Service; As a result, all levels are accessible only by stairs.”
ʻIolani Palace calls itself a sacred place and asks guests to dress respectfully: shirts and footwear are required, and bathing suits, beachwear and clothing with profanity aren't allowed.
Children under 5 are free and must be in a front-held carrier, strapped in a Palace stroller or holding an adult's hand; personal strollers aren't allowed inside. The tour booking pages differ: both tours are listed for ages 5 and up, the Docent-Led Tour says children must be 5 to 12 to take part, and both say the Palace cannot accommodate infants or strollers at this time. Call the Ticket Office at 808-522-0832 for more information.
The Royal Hawaiian Band plays free concerts on the Palace grounds most Fridays, noon to 1 pm; listed dates are Fri Dec 4, Dec 11 and Dec 18 2026. You may hear band music outside if your tour is on a Friday at midday.
Tickets are timed and sold online only, with no walk-ups or same-day reservations. Check in at least 30 minutes early at Hale Koa, next to the Palace; more than 5 minutes late means buying a new ticket, if one is available.
Guests take off sunglasses and wear Palace shoe coverings inside. No large bags (bigger than 8½ x 11 inches), backpacks, luggage, food or drinks, and no storage on site.
The elevator and wheelchair lift are out of service for now, so the second floor is stairs only. Ropes mark areas that are off-limits.
Self-Led Audio Tour (60 minutes): adults 18 and up $28, teens 13 to 17 $23, youth 5 to 12 $13, children 4 and under free (the booking page lists this tour for ages 5 and up). Tours start every 15 minutes. Kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi State ID or Hawaiʻi driver's license, one ticket per ID): $11.95, $10.95, $6. Active U.S. military (valid ID per ticket): $18, $16, $7.95.
Docent-Led Tour (about an hour): adults $34, teens $31, youth 5 to 12 $16, children 4 and under free (include them in the reservation; the booking page also lists this tour for ages 5 and up). Kamaʻāina $19.95, $15.95, $6. Active military $26, $24, $7.95. Tours start every 30 minutes. Groups are limited to 15 guests per entry time, while the booking pages list a maximum of 20 people. Members of The Friends of ʻIolani Palace tour free; call 808-522-0832 or email palacetickets@iolanipalace.org to reserve.
Refunds: email palacetickets@iolanipalace.org at least 72 hours (3 business days) before your tour for a full refund, less processing fees; voicemails don't count. There's no refund inside 72 hours, for no-shows or for late arrivals, and all ticket sales are also listed as final. If unforeseen circumstances arise, guests with confirmed reservations can reschedule or get a full refund.
Photos: selfies and personal photos are welcome; no flash, video, audio recording, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks or extended lenses. Respect roped-off areas and posted signs.
Kamaʻāina Sundays (free for Hawaiʻi residents, second Sunday of each month, 9 am to 2 pm): Sun Dec 13 2026 and Sun Jan 10 2027. The Richards Street gate opens at 8:30 am; self-led audio tours go to the first 500 attendees, one free ticket per resident with a Hawaiʻi ID or proof of residency. There's food, vendors and entertainment, and no parking on the Palace grounds that day.
Parking: limited spots on the Palace grounds, entered from Likelike Mall off King Street; the pay station takes cards, bills and coins, $4 for two hours, and the Palace suggests paying for at least two. The Aliʻi Place garage (1099 Alakea Street) is $3 for every 30 minutes. Street parking may have time limits and rush-hour tow-away rules. Parking validation isn't provided.
Access: Palace loaner wheelchairs are free, first come, first served, and the Palace recommends reserving one in advance by calling (808) 522-0832. For now tours are not wheelchair accessible, because the elevator and wheelchair lift are out of service. Motorized scooters and electric wheelchairs aren't allowed in the Palace itself. A printed audio tour script can be requested on site, and an ASL interpreter can be arranged with notice. Service animals are welcome; tell the reservations office or cashiers before you go in.
