Papeete

Travel Guide

Papeete
Papeete Town Hall which includes a garden and heritage architecture
Papeete Market which includes interior views and markets as well as a small group of people
Papeete Market showing flowers
Papeete showing cruising, a bay or harbor and kayaking or canoeing
The spiritual capital city of French Polynesia is full of surprises, from exotic fruit and tropical vegetation to its famous black pearls.

Papeete is a port city on the west coast of the island of Tahiti known for its rare black pearls. These exceptional gems are sold in market stalls around the city and at the Black Pearl Museum. Visit the charming waterfront to experience the highlights of French Polynesia’s capital city, including a market and the impressive town hall.

The Black Pearl Museum is the ideal place to see the city’s most famous export. Learn about the science and nature behind the pearls. See exhibits of pearls in vibrant hues of gold, silver, blue and green. You can purchase your own in the museum shop or from a vendor.

French Polynesia is also renowned for exotic fruit, such as nono, breadfruit, carambolas and soursops. Try these tasty and healthy treats at Papeete Market. Examine handmade items across two floors of the large indoor market. Haggle with vendors over hats, handicrafts and fragrant oils.

Relax under the shelter of a banyan tree in Parc Bougainville. Enjoy a traditional Tahitian picnic of tropical fruit and native fish. Kids can play on the swings in the playground.

The majestic Papeete Town Hall is the city’s architectural highlight and a fine example of French colonial design. See its brightly colored façade and admire the clock tower that seems to hover over the city. Relax in the site’s well-kept gardens. Visit Tahiti’s oldest Catholic church, the Cathédrale de l’Immaculée Conception. The church, which blends Gothic and Colonial styles, represents France’s presence on the island in the 1800s.

Learn about French Polynesia’s turbulent nuclear history at the Place du 2 Juillet, 1966. The tranquil park memorializes 30 years of nuclear tests in the area.

Fly into Papeete via Faa’a International Airport, just a 15-minute drive from the city centre. Papeete enjoys a mild, tropical climate year-around but it is best to avoid visiting during December and January, the wettest months. The landmarks around Papeete’s waterfront present a carnival of bright colors and enchanting aromas.

Boutique Hotel Kon Tiki Tahiti
Boutique Hotel Kon Tiki Tahiti
3 out of 5
Bd de la Reine Pomare IV, Papeete, Îles du Vent
$178 nightly
The price is $197 total per night from May 26 to May 27
$197 total
May 26 - May 27
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Papeete. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (833 reviews)
"The hotel is absolutely fabulous and the breakfast very good. The rooms very large and looked newly updated. Front desk staff superb all 5 of them. We arrived at 3:30 am and was greeted by very polite and friendly staff"

Reviewed on May 7, 2025

Boutique Hotel Kon Tiki Tahiti
Hotel Sarah Nui
Hotel Sarah Nui
Bp 4354 Fare Tony, Papeete, Windward Islands
$122 nightly
The price is $141 total per night from May 19 to May 20
$141 total
May 19 - May 20
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Papeete. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,003 reviews)
"bonjour, hôtel tout à fait correct pour un passage à Tahiti (un point pour la gentillesse du personnel) néanmoins, une isolation sonore des fenêtres pourrait être souhaitable car nous étions coté centre ville et le bruit des scooter la nuit était dérangeant pour la nuit. cordialement"

Reviewed on May 8, 2025

Hotel Sarah Nui
Polynesian Cabins by Kon Tiki
Polynesian Cabins by Kon Tiki
Bd de la Reine Pomare IV, Papeete, Windward Islands
$82 nightly
The price is $96 total per night from May 24 to May 25
$96 total
May 24 - May 25
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Papeete. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (161 reviews)
"Clean and frendly"

Reviewed on May 2, 2025

Polynesian Cabins by Kon Tiki
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
TAHITI - Condo Miki City Center
TAHITI - Condo Miki City Center
Papeete
Enjoy free WiFi, an in-room coffeemaker, and housekeeping. Popular attractions Papeete Market and Port de Papeete are located nearby.
"We had a wonderful two-week stay here. The condo was extremely clean and well-appointed, with everything we needed to cook and do laundry. The AC unit was great—after a long day out in the heat, it was a relief to return to the condo and have a cold, local juice and cool off. TV was perfect for unwinding ..."

Reviewed on Mar 9, 2025

TAHITI - Condo Miki City Center
TAHITI OCEAN VIEW HOME
TAHITI OCEAN VIEW HOME
Papeete
Stay at this apartment in Papeete. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker and air conditioning. Popular attractions Papeete Market and Port de Papeete are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
Papeete Stay
"We had an excellent time in Papeete checking up with family. The accommodation was excellent aswell choice views and plenty of room.Would highly recommend Tahiti Ocean View Home"

Reviewed on Jan 29, 2025

TAHITI OCEAN VIEW HOME
KIRAHU
KIRAHU
365 Bd de la Reine Pomare IV, Appartement 8 3ème Etage, Papeete, Îles du Vent
Stay at this apartment in Papeete. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and in-room massages. Popular attractions Port de Papeete and Papeete Market are located ...
KIRAHU
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Papeete

3.6
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
9
5 - Excellent 17%
4 - Good
19
4 - Good 36%
3 - Okay
21
3 - Okay 40%
2 - Disappointing
3
2 - Disappointing 6%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 2%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Papeete is a good stop-over to Moorea or Bora Bora, but feels much more like a busy city. It’s kind of like Honolulu, but not nearly as nice.

3/5 - Okay

Philip

Many homeless in side streets and a few on main street. But none that begged for money.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

I was actually only there for a day before flying to New Zealand. I spent more time on Moorea, which I loved.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Book early and get a better accomodation

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Hard to maneuver around the area without street signs.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Kind ruin down, lots more homeless, around at night Parking too bad Few parking lots, not much shopping Few high end shop and most tourist traps Pearl Museum is petty cool Would recommend , you can see very high end pearls

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