The largest island and international gateway to French Polynesia, Tahiti combines vibrant local culture with spectacular natural scenery. Explore the colorful markets and waterfront of Papeete, hike through lush valleys to waterfalls, surf legendary waves like Teahupo'o, and discover black-sand beaches. It's the best island for experiencing everyday Polynesian life, food, and culture.
Tahiti in pictures
Tahiti Tourisme
Tahiti TourismePlaces on Tahiti
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1. AIMATA - The vahine pareo, between heritage and creativity
Akua: For a culinary adventure on the Punaauia lagoon with a stunning view of Moorea, this intimate spot is perfect for a romantic dinner.
Akua: For a culinary adventure on the Punaauia lagoon with a stunning view of Moorea, this intimate spot is perfect for a romantic dinner.
Interested in politics and curious about how French Polynesia is governed?
Open in MapsInterested in politics and curious about how French Polynesia is governed? Let me take you on a tour of Tahiti’s main institutions.
Open in MapsBlue Banana: Located in Punaauia, this restaurant is a must-visit for seafood lovers.
Blue Banana: Located in Punaauia, this restaurant is a must-visit for seafood lovers. Don’t forget to reserve your spot at the end of the pier for an unbeatable view of Moorea.
And if you really want to taste the spirit of the islands, let yourself be carried away by two local breweries that will make your drinks and your evenings sparkle: HOA and Les 3 Brasseurs.
And if you really want to taste the spirit of the islands, let yourself be carried away by two local breweries that will make your drinks and your evenings sparkle: HOA and Les 3 Brasseurs. Each one has its own style, its own story, its own music. It’s up to you to choose your own tempo.
The electric mountain bike is ideal for adjusting your effort to suit your mood: activate the assistance to make the climb easier or reduce it for more of a challenge!
The electric mountain bike is ideal for adjusting your effort to suit your mood: activate the assistance to make the climb easier or reduce it for more of a challenge! And the icing on the cake is that you can stop to swim in the rivers and admire the Puraha waterfall, the lake, and much more.
In depth
Tahiti: everything you need to know before you go
Beyond the airport: the market, the valleys, Teahupo'o and the west coast - how to give the main island the days it deserves.
Most visitors use Tahiti as a door to the other islands. Stay a little, and you find the real center of Polynesian life. The biggest island, the highest mountains, the capital, the markets, and the most famous wave in surfing: give Tahiti days, not hours.
Where is it?
Tahiti is the main island of French Polynesia, in the Windward Islands. It is really two round islands joined by a narrow strip of land at Taravao: Tahiti Nui, the big part, with Papeete in the northwest - and Tahiti Iti, the wild peninsula. At its end sits Teahupo'o, where the road stops and the famous wave begins.
How do you get there?
You arrive here: all international flights land at Faa'a, and every island flight and Moorea ferry starts here. The real question is how to get around. Rent a car for the island, and take the ferry for Moorea. Plan extra time on the coast road - it is the only road, and everyone shares it.
When should you go?
May to October is the drier, cooler season. November to April is warm, wet and green. Humpback whales pass from about July to November. The big waves at Teahupo'o also come mostly in the dry months - so surf season and dry season are almost the same.
What to do
- Start at the Papeete market. Two floors of fruit, fish, monoï (the scented coconut oil), flowers and weaving - the island's living room. The market is at its best early in the morning, and earliest of all on Sunday.
- Drive into the valleys. The Papenoo valley cuts through the green heart of the island, past waterfalls and old trails - a 4x4 day trip into a Tahiti most visitors never see. The Faarumai waterfalls, near the north coast, are an easier short walk into the same green world.
- Go to the end of the road. Teahupo'o, at the tip of the peninsula, is a village first and a legend second. From a taxi boat you can watch the surfers on the wave. From the shore, you can feel why they respect it.
- Swim the west coast. Black-sand beaches, sunsets over Moorea, and easy snorkelling along the Punaauia coast. Tahiti's lagoon is simpler to enjoy than people think.
- Eat at the roulottes. In the evening, the food trucks set up and the whole island lines up together: grilled fish, chow mein, crêpes. It is the cheapest good dinner in French Polynesia, and the most local one.
Where to stay
Papeete keeps you close to the market, the ferries and the little nightlife there is. The west coast - Punaauia, Paea - has the beaches, the sunsets and most of the hotels. The peninsula is for surf and quiet. There are family guesthouses all around the island, and they are easy to reach.
Is Tahiti for you?
Tahiti is for travellers who want to see Polynesia at work: a real city, real traffic at rush hour, and under it all, the deepest culture, food and history in the islands. It is not the postcard lagoon - Moorea and the atolls do that better. Give Tahiti two or three days at the start or end of your trip. It may quietly become one of the reasons you come back.
Practical tips
- Rent a car - the island is bigger than it looks, and buses are rare.
- Go to the market early - by mid-morning the best fish and flowers are gone.
- Rain showers pass quickly on the north and east coasts - wait a little before you cancel a plan.
- Much of the interior is protected land - visit the valleys with a local guide.
- Bring a light jacket for the mountains - the interior is much cooler.
That is Tahiti.
23 places · 34 guides · 24 things to know
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Stories · 4 min
Discover the Marae of Polynesia: A Journey to the Heart of Ma’ohi Culture
Discover the Marae of Polynesia: A Journey to the Heart of Ma’ohi Culture
Imagine yourself treading upon sacred ground, where the whispers of ancestors still echo. In French Polynesia, and particularly in Tahiti and its surrounding islands, marae are much more than mere archaeological remains. They are portals to a rich and complex past - places where history and spirituality meet. Are you ready to dive into the soul of ma’ohi culture?
What is a Marae?
A marae [mah-rah-eh] is a sacred Polynesian site, a center for social, political, and religious gatherings. It was the beating heart of the community, where important ceremonies, investitures, offerings to the gods, and celebrations of life took place. These ceremonial platforms were seats of power and points of connection with the spiritual world.
- Marae are characterized by their paepae, paved platforms made of stone or coral, often rectangular, which served as the foundation for sacred structures.
- One can also find unu, carved red wooden boards representing ancestors and deities.
Marae in Tahiti and the Society Islands
While the marae of Taputapuātea is the most iconic and the largest, Tahiti and the other Society Islands are home to many more modest but equally fascinating marae. Often hidden within lush vegetation, these sites bear witness to the richness of Polynesian cultural heritage.
- Marae Mahaiatea in Tahiti: Featuring a stepped pyramid unique in Polynesia, this marae impresses with its bold architecture.
- Marae Arahurahu in Paea: Carefully restored, this site offers an immersive look into ancestral rituals and ceremonies.
- Island Marae: Every island has its own marae, often linked to the specific history of its clans and chiefs.
Marae Taputapuātea in Raiatea: The Sacred Cradle of Polynesian Culture
Located on the island of Raiatea - the first Marae of Polynesia - Taputapuātea is considered one of the most sacred sites in all of Polynesia. For centuries, this vast ceremonial complex was a major religious, political, and cultural hub where priests, chiefs, and navigators from across the Pacific gathered. Great ceremonies dedicated to ʻOro, the god of war and navigation, were held here, cementing the site’s spiritual prestige.
Taputapuātea was also a center for navigation and the transmission of knowledge. Expeditions set sail from Raiatea (known as Hava’i during the era of the Ari’i) to other archipelagos, helping to culturally link the islands of Polynesia. This central role is why the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017: it stands as a testament to the vast cultural and maritime network that united Polynesian societies.
There is a powerful symbol associated with Taputapuātea: the sacred octopus, called Fe‘e Nui (fe’e means octopus in reo tahiti). In certain traditions and oral histories, the octopus represents the common origin and spiritual connection between the Polynesian islands, reaching far beyond the Polynesian Triangle to Hawaii, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Rapa Nui, encompassing every archipelago within.
In this symbolic vision, the head of the octopus rests at Raiatea, at Taputapuātea, while its tentacles stretch out to the various islands of Polynesia and the Pacific. This image expresses the idea that this marae was a radiating spiritual center from which navigation routes, cultural exchanges, and alliances between chiefdoms originated.
Respect and Etiquette: How to Visit a Marae
Visiting a marae is an enriching experience, but it must be done with respect for local traditions and beliefs.
- Adopt a respectful attitude: It is strictly forbidden to walk on the paepae or touch the sacred stones. On a marae, everything is sacred: the stones, the earth, the trees, the flowers, the leaves, and even the fish (the sacred space often extends into the sea as far as the reef pass). Therefore, nothing should be picked, broken, or degraded.
- Prioritize guided tours: Local guides can provide invaluable information and share their passion for their culture.
Prepare Your Journey to the Heart of Polynesia
So, are you ready to explore the marae of French Polynesia? Whether you are a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or simply seeking an authentic experience, you won’t be disappointed. Tahiti and her islands open their arms to reveal their treasures.
For an unforgettable trip, visit the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands in Puna’auia, which explains the settlement of the Pacific starting from Raiatea.
Written by Brune Vazquez
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