Making the most of Papeete Tahiti
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships dock at Quai D'Honneur in the town centre. The Farmers & Craft market and a Casino Supermarket are only a block away, while a visitor centre is on the pier.
A lively Tahitian drum band provides a welcome.
Bring a printable map.
Papeete cruise schedule.
Papeete is French Polynesia's most visited cruise port, followed closely by Bora Bora; Moorea is nr3.
Papeete is French Polynesia's capital, on its largest island, Tahiti. It is the territory's key hub, with a waterfront and South Seas port often filled by waves of cruise ships, ferries, yachts, luxury liners and cargo vessels.
Gardens of Paofai. Papeete's waterfront and port may be its heart, with rows of boats and a walk-able promenade that hosts many city festivals. At night it often becomes the setting for roulottes, Tahitian dinners with festival-like Polynesian performances. As elsewhere in French Polynesia, enjoy swimming, sunbathing, surfing, sailing, snorkeling and diving; Bain Lot is a particularly popular Papeete beach. The city is also an excellent base for excursions into the…
Getting around
Apart from shopping, the port area offers little to do in daytime.
Public buses are the cheapest and most common transport. Large white RTC coaches run about every 20 minutes during the day from official stops.
Many taxi drivers wait at the pier and offer flexible tours, allowing you to go where you wish and stay as long as you like. A 4-5 hour tour for 4 people is around US$20 each.
Hiring a car costs around $120 per day.
Moorea may honestly be better than Papeete. It is only 12 miles away, reached by a 30-minute ferry from the terminal beside the cruise pier, and feels more Polynesian.
Food and shopping
Papeete has many pavement cafés and multicultural restaurants, ranging from Tahitian and French to Asian cuisines. Beyond fine dining are luxury resorts, spas, bars, clubs, chic shops, flea markets and boutique French stores. Le Marché, the Municipal Market, is perhaps its best-known shopping place, with hundreds of stalls selling fruits, flowers, jewelry, shell necklaces, souvenirs, Tahitian crafts and oils. It is a lively focal point of the city.
Imported products can be very expensive here.
Black Pearls are popular, but familiarise yourself before buying. A good-quality 10 mm pearl costs around $320.
Enough shops open on Sundays to make a visit worthwhile.
Money
1000 CFP francs is about 8.38 euros.
US dollars and Euros are usually accepted.
Staying connected
French and Tahitian are the official languages, while locals in tourist areas and shops speak some English.
Vaima Center has an Internet café directly opposite the cruise pier, and some open WiFi is available near the dock.