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
Also nearby
Essentials · 4 min
Tahiti: Where to eat on the peninsula?
Editorial: Maeva LAUTRET
The Tahiti Peninsula, also known as Tahiti Iti (as opposed to the larger island, Tahiti Nui), is a small preserved gem away from the hectic pace of the “city,” offering breathtaking landscapes and idyllic beaches.
If there’s one question that comes to mind during a getaway to the peninsula or a tour of the island, it’s where to eat!
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a full meal…
Whether you prefer burgers and pizza, or raw fish in coconut milk and grilled lobster…
…the peninsula offers a multitude of options, and we’ve gathered them all for you.
All that’s left is for you to make your choice.
If, after reading this article, you’re still hungry, I recommend the Eating section.
Restaurants
Hoanui Mataiea Réservations au 40577080 Open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #bellevue #vuesurlamer #atypique
Nuutea Mataiea Reservations at 89773377 Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:3 p.m. - Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #terrasse #specialitepoisson
Gauguin Museum Bar Pk 50.5 côté mer, Papeari Reservations at 40571380 Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Web #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #cuisinefrançaise #dessert #bellevue #vuesurlamer #atypique #terrasse
Terre-Mer Sea side, Phaeton Bay, Taravao Reservations at 40570857 Open Sunday to Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #cuisinefrançaise #dessert #bellevue #vuesurlamer #atypique #terrasse
Le Manoa Located in Taravao Reservations at 40577101 #cuisinefrançaise #climatisation #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #terrasse
Chez Loula et Rémy Rue du Tavana Olivier, Taravao Reservations at 40577499 #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #cuisinefrançaise #dessert #climatisation
Tū’ati Pk 60, Taravao Reservations at 40579856 Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm and Friday to Saturday from 11:30am to 3pm and from 7pm to 9pm. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #cuisinefrançaise #dessert #atypique #terrasse
T.K.T Panda Taravao Taravao Reservations at 40571260 Open Monday to Thursday, 11am to 1.30pm and 6pm to 8.30pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am to 1.30pm and 6pm to 9pm. Closed on Sundays. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #cuisinechinoise #dessert #climatisation #animations
La plage de Maui Pk 7,7 côté mer Toahotu Reservations at 87747174 Open all week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #bellevue #vuesurlamer #atypique #terrasse
Taumatai Tairapu Est Reservations at 40571359 Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #decorationlocale #jardinluxuriant
Tavania Tairapu Ouest Reservations at 40577235 Open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #terrasse
Vanira Lodge Teahupoo Reservations at 40577018 or 87726962 Breakfast from 7am to 9am - Dinner from 6.30pm to 8.30pm #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #bellevue #vuesurlamer #atypique #enmontagne #jardinluxuriant
Snacking / Roulotte
Ô Tumu Mape Teva I Uta Reservations at 87222009 Open Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #hamburger #terrasse #aemporter #jardinluxuriant #decorationlocale #bellevue #vuesurlamer
Croqmaster Tuatara en face de l’opt, Taravao Reservations at 40481011 #sandwiches #terrasse
La Kantine Pk 1,3 Afaahiti à Taravao Reservations at 87245212 Sunday to Thursday from 4pm to 9pm and Friday to Saturday from 4pm to midnight #pizza #terrasse #crepe #aemporter
Motu de Mymy Taravao Reservations at 87798758 Open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. and then from 5 to 9:30 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #dessert #bellevue #barbecue #healthy #vegan
Poke Taravao, opposite Macdonald’s Open Sunday to Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. #cuisinelocalepolynésienne #terrasse #healthy #smoothie #dessert #petitdejeuner
Pizza
Presqu’île Pizza Taravao Reservations at 89537900 Open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 20:00. #pizza #livraison #platsaemporter #placesassises
Pizza folies Taravao Taravao Reservations at 87715628 Open Thursday to Tuesday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. #pizza #livraison #platsaemporter #placesassises
La Sicile à Tahiti in Taravao Taravao Reservations at 89442443 Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. #pizza #livraison #platsaemporter #placesassises
Pizz&Co Taravao Reservations at 89201000 Open daily from 4:30 pm to 9 pm #pizza #livraison #platsaemporter #placesassises
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