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Tahiti: hotels, sights and tours

The main island of French Polynesia, where all international flights land. Tahiti itself is mountains, waterfalls and black beaches; for turquoise lagoons people head to neighbouring Moorea (30 minutes by ferry) and Bora Bora (50 minutes by plane).

Photo: Matthew Dillon from Hollywood, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Where to stay on Tahiti

All 235 with filters and a map →

On Tahiti people usually spend 1–2 nights near the airport or in Punaauia, then 3–4 nights on Moorea and 3–4 on Bora Bora. Pensions — family guest houses with breakfast and dinner — help keep costs down.

Hotels 74Guest houses 85Apartments 16Gîtes and chalets 38Hostels 10Motels 5Campsites 6Mountain huts 1

Papeete and the north-west Papeete and the north-westThe capital, the market and food trucks on the waterfront 100 options1–2 nightsThe east of Tahiti Nui The east of Tahiti NuiPoint Venus, waterfalls and the Arahoho blowhole 7 options0–1 nightsTahiti Iti Tahiti ItiThe wild peninsula and the Teahupoo wave 21 options1–2 nightsMoorea MooreaCathedral-like peaks, a lagoon with rays, and whales 77 options3–4 nightsBora Bora Bora BoraThe world's most famous lagoon and overwater bungalows 30 options3–4 nights

Most complete listings

The whole directory →

Accommodation collections

Tahiti Beachfront hotels and guest houses on Tahiti52 places to stayTahiti 4- and 5-star hotels on Tahiti8 places to stayTahiti Hotels near the airport on Tahiti95 places to stayTahiti Guest houses on Tahiti85 places to stayTahiti Apartments on Tahiti16 places to stayTahiti Gîtes and chalets on Tahiti38 places to stayTahiti Hostels on Tahiti10 places to stayTahiti Campsites on Tahiti6 places to stay

Things to see

All 13 sights →
Papeete market History Papeete market A covered market of flowers, fruit and black pearlsThe roulottes of Place Vaiete History The roulottes of Place Vaiete Dinner at the food trucks — the cheapest way to eat on TahitiArahoho blowhole Nature Arahoho blowhole A sea geyser beside the road on the east coastFaarumai waterfalls Nature Faarumai waterfalls Three waterfalls in a green valley, ten minutes from the roadBora Bora lagoon tour Nature Bora Bora lagoon tour By boat around the island: rays, sharks, coral gardensMatira beach Beach Matira beach Bora Bora's public beach, with a shallow lagoonTemae beach Beach Temae beach Moorea's white beach, looking across to TahitiTiahura lagoon Beach Tiahura lagoon A coral garden and motu in the north-west of Moorea

Tours and activities

All 8 tours →
Moorea lagoon: rays and reef sharks Sea and lagoon Moorea lagoon: rays and reef sharksA swim with stingrays on a sandbank and a picnic on a motu Half a day to a full dayAll yearHumpback whales of Moorea and Tahiti Whales, dolphins, turtles Humpback whales of Moorea and TahitiOne of the few places where you may be in the water with whales 3–4 hAugust — OctoberBora Bora lagoon tour Sea and lagoon Bora Bora lagoon tourManta rays, sharks, a coral garden and lunch on a motu beneath Mount Otemanu Half a day to a full dayAll year; drier May — OctoberBy 4×4 into the Papenoo valley Canyons and thrills By 4×4 into the Papenoo valleyInto the crater of an ancient volcano: waterfalls, fords and marae A full dayMay — OctoberMoorea safari: the Belvedere and pineapples Canyons and thrills Moorea safari: the Belvedere and pineapplesViewpoints over two bays, plantations and a juice tasting Half a dayAll yearBy boat to the Teahupoo wave Sea and lagoon By boat to the Teahupoo waveOne of the heaviest waves in the world, from a few dozen metres away 1–2 hBig swells May — October

The island on the map

Green dots: sights; blue: beaches; purple: tour departure points. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coordinates are approximate.

Getting there by air: fares from Paris

One-way from Paris from €695: the cheapest ticket found for each month.

MonthFromFlight dateAirportAirline
October 2026818 €Oct 30 PPTFrench bee, 1 stop see flights
November 2026708 €Nov 25 PPTFrench bee, 1 stop see flights
December 2026695 €Dec 2 PPTFrench bee, 1 stop see flights
January 2027983 €Jan 25 PPTWestJet, 3 stops see flights
February 20271003 €Feb 13 PPTChina Eastern, 2 stops see flights
July 20271074 €Jul 5 PPTTAP Air Portugal, 2 stops see flights

Fares recorded on October 12, 2026 from recent searches on Aviasales: one way, one adult, checked baggage not always included. They are indicative: the actual fare is shown when you search and changes daily. Months with no data are left out of the table.

Rent a car

A car is the easiest way to reach beaches, trails and villages: public transport is scarce outside the towns. Book ahead in high season.

QEEQrental comparison site:Tahiti

Mobile data and eSIM

The island is outside the European Union roaming zone: with a French or EU plan, calls and data are billed out of bundle, often at very high rates. Check your operator's prices before you leave; a prepaid eSIM or a local SIM card is generally much cheaper.

An eSIM is bought online, installed before you leave and activated on arrival; your phone must be eSIM-compatible and unlocked. Compare the data allowance and validity period before buying.

YesimeSIM plans for the island Drimsimtravel SIM and eSIM

The island at a glance

Status
French Polynesia — an overseas country of France with broad autonomy
Currency
CFP franc, XPF (pegged to the euro: ≈ 119 XPF to €1)
Time
UTC−10 — 11 hours behind Paris in winter, 12 in summer
Flight
Paris → Papeete ≈ 22 h with a stop in the United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)
Best season
May — October (dry and cooler)
Cyclones
November — April, rare (more frequent in El Niño years)
Languages
French, Tahitian
Area / population
Tahiti ≈ 1,045 km², ≈ 190,000 people
Sockets
220 V, types C/E; some hotels have American sockets

Right for you if

  • A honeymoon or the trip of a lifetime
  • Snorkelling and diving in lagoons
  • You want to see whales

Not for you if

  • You are on a tight budget
  • A flight of almost 24 hours via the United States puts you off