# Things to see in Papeete (French Polynesia): 40 places and when to go

> Papeete is a city in French Polynesia with around 132,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 40 places in and around it, mainly Nature (15), Diving (13), Mountains (12). The best known are Mont Orohena, Papeete Cathedral and Matavai Bay. The best time to come is May to October; also possible: March to April and November. In December there are 13 h 03 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 57. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-12
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** French Polynesia · -17.5334, -149.5667
- **Population:** About 132,000
- **Places:** 40 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/naturaleza/) (15) · [Diving](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/submarinismo/) (13) · [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/montana/) (12) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/espiritual/) (6) · Food and drink (2) · Stargazing (2)
- **Best time:** May to October.
- **Also possible:** March to April and November.
- **Nearest airport:** PPT Papeete, 4.8 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Mont Orohena, at 2,241 m.

## What to see in Papeete

The places in and around Papeete, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Mont Orohena](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-orohena/): Mountain on the island of Tahiti · 14 km
- [Papeete Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-papeete/): Cathedral located in Polynésie française, in France · 765 m
- [Matavai Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/baie-de-matavai/): Bay on the north coast of Tahiti · 8.3 km
- [Mont Aorai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/aora-i/): Mountain in France · 12 km
- [Papeete Tahiti Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete-tahiti-temple/): Mormon temple located in Tahiti, in France · 1.2 km
- [Pointe Vénus Lighthouse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/phare-de-la-pointe-venus/): Lighthouse in French Polynesia, France · 8.8 km
- [Pito Hiti](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pitohiti/): Mountain in France · 14 km
- [Diadème](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/diadem-mountain/): Mountain in France · 12 km
- [église de la Sainte-Trinité de Pirae](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/eglise-de-la-sainte-trinite/): Church located in Polynésie française, in France · 2.4 km
- [église Saint-Pierre-Chanel de Tiarei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/eglise-saint-pierre-chanel/): Church located in Polynésie française, in France · 24 km
- [église Saint-Anne de Papenoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/eglise-sainte-anne/): Church located in Polynésie française, in France · 15 km
- [église Saint-Paul de Mahina](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/eglise-st-paul/): Church located in Polynésie française, in France · 9.9 km
- [Le Pic Rouge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/le-pic-rouge/): Mountain in France · 3.2 km
- [Mamanu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/ma-manu/): Mountain in France · 7.0 km
- [Mauru](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mauru/): Mountain in France · 22 km
- [Mont Faiere](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-faiere/): Mountain in France · 2.0 km
- [Maison James Norman Hall](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/musee-james-norman-hall/): Museum in France · 5.0 km
- [Papaihona](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papaihona/): Mountain in France · 4.6 km
- [Pariauta](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/pariauta/): Mountain in France · 30 km
- [Tahuotira](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tahuotira/): Mountain in France · 24 km
- [Teraiotupo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/teraiotupo/): Summit in France · 24 km
- [Toa Mapa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/to-a-mapa/): Reef in France · 9.0 km
- [Totini](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/totini/): Mountain in France · 30 km
- [Aquarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/aquarium/): Dive site · 7.4 km

And the other 16, by what you come to do:

- **Food and drink**: [Brasserie Hoa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/brasserie-hoa/), [Brasserie Mātāvai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/brasserie-matavai/)
- **Diving**: [Epave Catalina](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/epave-catalina/), [Faille d'Arue](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/faille-d-arue/), [Faille St Etienne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/faille-st-etienne/), [La virgule](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/la-virgule/), [La zelée](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/la-zelee/), [Les Roses](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/les-roses/), [Papa Whisky](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papa-whisky/), [Tombant St Etienne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/tombant-st-etienne/), [Vallée aux Murènes](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/vallee-aux-murenes/), [Vallée des requins](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/vallee-des-requins/)
- **Nature**: [Grottes du Tahara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/grottes-du-tahara/)
- **History**: [Marae](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/marae/)
- **Stargazing**: [Observatoire d'astronomie de la S.A.T.](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/observatoire-d-astronomie-de-la-s-a-t/), [Southern Stars Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/southern-stars-observatory/)

## When to go to Papeete

The best time to visit Papeete is **May to October**; also possible: March to April and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 12 h 56 |
| February | Better not | 12 h 34 |
| March | Possible | 12 h 07 |
| April | Possible | 11 h 36 |
| May | Best time | 11 h 11 |
| June | Best time | 10 h 57 |
| July | Best time | 11 h 03 |
| August | Best time | 11 h 24 |
| September | Best time | 11 h 54 |
| October | Best time | 12 h 24 |
| November | Possible | 12 h 50 |
| December | Better not | 13 h 03 |

In December there are 13 h 03 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 57. In May, 38 of the 40 places are at their best.

When to go to French Polynesia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Papeete

The nearest main airport is Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT, Papeete), 4.8 km as the crow flies. How to get around French Polynesia (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-17.5334%2C-149.5667)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-17.5334%2C-149.5667)

## Other towns nearby

- [Paea](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/paea/): 5 places · 22 km
- [Quai Paul Gauguin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/quai-paul-gauguin/): 18 places · 33 km

And all of French Polynesia, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Papeete?

The best known: [Mont Orohena](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/mont-orohena/), [Papeete Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-papeete/), [Matavai Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/baie-de-matavai/), [Mont Aorai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/aora-i/), [Papeete Tahiti Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/polinesia-francesa/papeete-tahiti-temple/). In all, 40 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Papeete?

May to October; also possible: March to April and November. In December there are 13 h 03 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 57.

### How do you get to Papeete?

The nearest main airport is Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT), 4.8 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-17.5334%2C-149.5667) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Papeete as the destination and these 40 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).