What to do in Papeete

Activities, attractions and tours

Papeete
Papeete
Papeete Town Hall featuring a park and heritage architecture
Papeete Market which includes markets and interior views as well as a small group of people
Papeete Market featuring flowers

Papeete Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Papeete has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Papeete is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Papeete to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Papeete Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Papeete.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Papeete attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Papeete Market

The oldest attraction on the island, Papeete Market, sits in the heart of French Polynesia’s capital city, just a short walk from the bay. It is a colorful and stimulating place with an array of food and keepsakes. Find hats, necklaces, fruit, vegetables and traditional souvenirs with a Tahitian theme lining the shelves of the modern complex that holds the market. Bright, decorative banners and streamers help to create a festive atmosphere among the inexpensive items for sale.
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Papeete Market which includes fashion and markets

2. Jardins de Paofai

The Jardins de Paofai are among the most beautiful spots in all of Papeete. Leave behind the hustle and bustle of this Pacific island city and wander through the pretty gardens which stretch all along the waterfront. It is a delightful place to while away a couple of hours and get to know indigenous flora from all over French Polynesia.
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Papeete showing a garden and a river or creek

3. Papeete Town Hall

The standout building in French Polynesia’s capital city is the architectural wonder of Papeete Town Hall. This magnificent structure was built as a replica of a former royal palace. Its bright yellow façade, white columns, red roof and scenic gardens perfectly embody the French colonial style that can be seen throughout Tahiti. Notice its red-and-white clock tower, an iconic symbol that hovers over the city.
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Papeete Town Hall featuring a garden and an administrative building

4. Robert Wan Pearl Museum

The Black Pearl Museum houses the largest Tahitian pearl in the world and is one of the only institutions in the world entirely devoted to pearls. The rare black pearl remains as exceptional today as in the fabled pirate tales and mythology. Enjoy the air of mysticism surrounding this Tahiti museum, where the cultural importance of pearls is explained through storytelling, history exhibits and works of art.
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Black Pearl Museum which includes interior views

5. Notre Dame Cathedral

The Cathédrale de l’Immaculée Conception is a colorful 19th-century church near the waterfront in French Polynesia’s capital city, Papeete. It is the oldest Catholic church on the island and a surviving example of 19th-century French Colonial architecture. Admire its red steeple and yellow façade with maroon arched windows. Visit this landmark in a spacious plaza in the historic center of town.
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Cathedrale de L\'lmmaculee Conception featuring religious elements and a church or cathedral

6. Parc Bougainville

The tranquil and tropical features of Parc Bougainville provide a calm oasis for visitors to Papeete. The park's statues, meandering stream and exotic trees give it an aura of beauty and grandeur.
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Parc Bougainville which includes a bridge

7. Place Jacques Chirac

Overlooking Papeete harbor is the picturesque park, Place du 2 Juillet (2nd of July Square), a lush green space known for its sculptures, vegetation and political symbolism. The date in the park’s name commemorates the first nuclear tests carried out in the South Pacific and the park acts as a protest against French Polynesia’s nuclear activity. See carvings that pay tribute to Tahiti’s turbulent past and victims of nuclear catastrophes worldwide. Attend official memorial services and enjoy a clear vista of the bay.
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Place Jacques Chirac featuring general coastal views and a park

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Recommended things to do in Papeete

Number of things to do
66
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Papeete express tour.: CA $54
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Papeete

Discover the most popular places to visit in Papeete

Papeete Market featuring food and markets

Papeete Market

4/5(22 reviews)

Divine aromas, delightful tastes and a sea of color stir the senses in this traditional marketplace full of exotic fruit, tropical fish and handmade artifacts.

Papeete Market
Papeete showing a garden and a river or creek

Jardins de Paofai

Enjoy the serenity and beauty of these botanical gardens in the heart of Papeete as you take advantage of the leisure and sporting facilities.

Jardins de Paofai
Papeete Town Hall showing an administrative building

Papeete Town Hall

3.5/5(5 reviews)

This inspiring structure is the city’s preeminent architectural triumph with its bright colonial features, picturesque grounds and iconic clock tower.

Papeete Town Hall
Black Pearl Museum which includes fashion

Robert Wan Pearl Museum

4/5(6 reviews)

One of the largest pearls ever found is displayed in this museum which is entirely dedicated to the mystical gems.

Robert Wan Pearl Museum
Cathedrale de L\'lmmaculee Conception featuring a church or cathedral and religious elements

Notre Dame Cathedral

4/5(6 reviews)

Explore a red-and-yellow cathedral, which is the oldest Catholic church in Tahiti and serves as a symbol of French colonial presence from the 1800s.

Notre Dame Cathedral
Parc Bougainville featuring a garden

Parc Bougainville

4.5/5(4 reviews)

This tropical park is home to exotic flora and an historic statue. It is an ideal spot for a picnic in the shade of a banyan tree.

Parc Bougainville
Place Jacques Chirac featuring general coastal views and a park

Place Jacques Chirac

4/5(1 review)

This park conveys a profound political statement in protest and memorial of the nuclear tests carried out over a period of 30 years in French Polynesia.

Place Jacques Chirac

Port de Papeete

Explore the waterfront in Papeete with a trip to Port de Papeete. Wander the seaside and beautiful beaches in this romantic area.

Port de Papeete

Papeete Ferry Terminal

Explore the waterfront in Papeete with a trip to Papeete Ferry Terminal. Stroll along the waterfront or visit the shops in the area.

Papeete Ferry Terminal

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Papeete

Black sand beach, Pirae, Tahiti island, French Polynesia

Pirae

View from the mountains of the north-west coast of Tahiti with Moorea island in background, French Polynesia, south Pacific ocean

Faaa

Amazing sunset

Pā'ōfa'i

Frequently asked questions

Is Papeete worth visiting?
One of the most popular things to do in Papeete is visit Plage Toaroto. Tick this leading attraction off your list, then discover more of the area's markets and nature.
How do I spend a day in Papeete?
When you've checked off popular attractions like Plage Toaroto and Fautaua Waterfall, spend the rest of your day enjoying the retail and food options in Papeete.
What is the top tourist attraction in Papeete?
The top tourist attraction in Papeete is Plage Toaroto, so don't forget to include it on your sightseeing agenda.
Is three days enough to stay in Papeete?
You can easily tick off top attractions like Fautaua Waterfall, Fautaua Waterfall and Plage Lafayette with a three-day getaway in Papeete. On average, most travellers plan two days here. There's plenty to see and do nearby too, so stick around longer and head to Faaa.
Is Papeete a walkable city?
With top attractions like Jardins de Paofai in the area, Papeete is every bit a place to explore on foot. Want to discover some exciting neighbourhoods within walking distance of the city centre? Pā'ōfa'i is around 2 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Papeete with kids?
If you are after activities and sights for all of your group, take a look at these fantastic ideas for what to do in Papeete with kids.

What to do in Papeete for adults?
Place Vaiete and Musee de la Perle Robert WAN - The Robert WAN Pearl Museum are just a few of the things to do in Papeete. With loads of activities available, there's something here for everyone to explore.
Are there free things to do in Papeete?
One of the simplest ways to discover free things to do in Papeete is to ask a local tour guide. You'll get insider advice on cool neighbourhoods, parks and other attractions you can enjoy without reaching into your pocket. Plage Lafayette is one sight that doesn't have an entrance fee.

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