Holiday in Papeete

What makes Papeete special as a destination?

Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is located on the island of Tahiti and is the gateway to one of the most romantic archipelagos in the world. The city combines French flair with Polynesian culture — baguettes alongside Poisson Cru, Chanel boutiques next to tattoo studios. The Roulottes at the harbor are Papeete's culinary heart: mobile food trucks that serve Chinese, French, and Polynesian dishes in the evenings — a food court under the stars with a view of the yachts. The Marche de Papeete offers vanilla, Monoi oil, pearls, tropical fruits, and flower garlands. From Papeete, the dream islands are accessible: Bora Bora (50 min flight) with its overwater bungalows and the iconic lagoon, Moorea (30 min ferry) with dolphins and stingrays, and Rangiroa (1 h flight) with one of the best dive spots in the world. Tahiti itself is often underestimated: the interior of the island is mountainous and green, with waterfalls (Faarumai), the viewpoint Belvedere, and the Arahoho blowhole. Paul Gauguin painted his famous South Sea pictures here, and the Gauguin Museum tells his story. The black volcanic sand beach Point Venus, where Captain Cook observed the transit of Venus in 1769, is historic ground.