The USS Arizona Memorial is one of the USA’s most important World War II sites. We’ve rounded up five of the best memorial tours for a deep dive into the sombre sight.
The USS Arizona Memorial is at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu (Photo: Getyourguide.com)
The USS Arizona Memorial was built over the midsection of the sunken USS Arizona to mark the resting place of the 1,102 soldiers who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The event became one of the most pivotal moments in US history, ulitmately leading the US into World War II. It’s easy enough to book a ticket to visit the memorial, but if you’re hoping for historical context, it’s worth booking onto a tour. Many of these combine a live or audio guide tour with admission to the site, transportation and trips to related sights. We’ve cherry-picked the best memorial tours based on value for money, customer reviews and itinerary.
Official USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Audio Tour
If you’ve already booked your tickets for a trip to USS Arizona Memorial, this two-hour self-guided audio tour is an excellent option. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, the tour includes interviews with historians and Pearl Harbor survivors. The award-winning experience is approved by the National Park Service too. You can take your tour at any time between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to coincide with your reservation for both museums. Tour prices include the audio tour, disposable earbuds and a visitor centre map but do not include admission. From £6.92 per person.
Pearl Harbor Tour with Arizona Memorial
This half-day tour offers the full package (Photo: Getyourguide.com)
This 5.5-hour tour combines admission, transport and a live tour. The day begins at 11 am with hotel pickup and a trip aboard the navy launch to see the USS Arizona Memorial. From here, an expert guide shares the history of the site and offers insights into what it was like to live here during World War Two. The day rounds off with a whistlestop tour of the city’s most famous sights, including the Iolani Palace, the State Capitol, King Kamehameha Statue and Aloha Tower. Prices include transport, boat tickets, entry to Pearl Harbor Center and USS Arizona Memorial, as well as a guide for the duration of the tour. From £43.54 per person.
Full Day Tour to USS Missouri, Arizona and Punchbowl Cemetary
For a deeper dive into the legacy of Pearl Harbour, we recommend this full-day tour of Oahu. The day begins with a trip to the Visitor Center at Peal Harbor, followed by a trip to the historic USS Missouri, the site of the Japanese surrender in 1945. After a tour around downtown Honolulu’s historic landmarks, the tour finishes with a drive through the Punchbowl National Cemetery, a memorial to honour men and women who served in the United States armed forces. From £124.73 per person.
Private Custom Oahu Tour
Tourists can combine a trip to a wide range of historical and natural sights on this tour (Photo: Getyourguide.com)
If your priority is flexibility as well as historical context, this private custom Oahu tour is the best-value option we’ve found on the internet. The private six-hour tour is led by a knowledgeable local guide with expert insight into Oahu’s most famous sights. As well as visiting the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, customers can choose from dozens of famous sights to visit, from Dole Plantation to Kualoa Ranch to Turtle Beach. Tour prices include pickup and a live guide, but do not include admission to sights. From £194.90 per person.
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona and Historic Honolulu Limousine Tour
This tour might seem expensive at first glance, but split between six people it becomes an affordable private tour. Plus, customers can enjoy a private chauffeur in a luxury limousine, with a wet bar on ice and snacks. As well as guided tours of Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial, the tour makes a stop at the Submarine USS Bowfin and accompanying grounds. After lunch, the day finishes off with a VIP drive through the city with stops at famous sights like the Mission Homes Museums.
For something
From £605.48 per group of up to six people.