City or town
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.
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 (15) · Diving (13) · Mountains (12) · Temples (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 OrohenaMountain on the island of Tahiti14 km
- Papeete CathedralCathedral located in Polynésie française, in France765 m
- Matavai BayBay on the north coast of Tahiti8.3 km
- Mont AoraiMountain in France12 km
- Papeete Tahiti TempleMormon temple located in Tahiti, in France1.2 km
- Pointe Vénus LighthouseLighthouse in French Polynesia, France8.8 km
- Pito HitiMountain in France14 km
- DiadèmeMountain in France12 km
- église de la Sainte-Trinité de PiraeChurch located in Polynésie française, in France2.4 km
- église Saint-Pierre-Chanel de TiareiChurch located in Polynésie française, in France24 km
- église Saint-Anne de PapenooChurch located in Polynésie française, in France15 km
- église Saint-Paul de MahinaChurch located in Polynésie française, in France9.9 km
- Le Pic RougeMountain in France3.2 km
- MamanuMountain in France7.0 km
- MauruMountain in France22 km
- Mont FaiereMountain in France2.0 km
- Maison James Norman HallMuseum in France5.0 km
- PapaihonaMountain in France4.6 km
- PariautaMountain in France30 km
- TahuotiraMountain in France24 km
- TeraiotupoSummit in France24 km
- Toa MapaReef in France9.0 km
- TotiniMountain in France30 km
- AquariumDive site7.4 km
And the other 16, by what you come to do:
- Food and drink: Brasserie Hoa, Brasserie Mātāvai
- Diving: Epave Catalina, Faille d'Arue, Faille St Etienne, La virgule, La zelée, Les Roses, Papa Whisky, Tombant St Etienne, Vallée aux Murènes, Vallée des requins
- Nature: Grottes du Tahara
- History: Marae
- Stargazing: Observatoire d'astronomie de la S.A.T., 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.
- JanBetter not12:56
- FebBetter not12:34
- MarPossible12:07
- AprPossible11:36
- MayBest time11:11
- JunBest time10:57
- JulBest time11:03
- AugBest time11:24
- SepBest time11:54
- OctBest time12:24
- NovPossible12:50
- DecBetter not13:03
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
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.
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, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
And all of French Polynesia, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Papeete?
The best known: Mont Orohena, Papeete Cathedral, Matavai Bay, Mont Aorai, 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 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.
Keep reading
- French PolynesiaBefore travelling to French Polynesia: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. It is French territory but it isn't in Schengen, and that has two consequence…
- Nature76 places for nature in French Polynesia, from Mont Orohena to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: May to October. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.