What to do in Papeete

Activities, attractions and tours
Papeete Town Hall showing a garden and heritage architecture

Papeete Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Papeete has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Papeete, 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 to Papeete 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.

Places of interest in Papeete

Papeete is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Papeete, and make it a breeze to explore Papeete and 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 holiday 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 to Papeete, 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 in Papeete.

Papeete attractions

Papeete 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 in Papeete to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Papeete.

Looking for things to do in Papeete 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 of Papeete or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Papeete attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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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 markets and food

2. 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 showing fashion

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 which includes an administrative building

4. 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 featuring a park and a river or creek

5. 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 which includes general coastal views and a park

6. 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

7. 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 showing a garden

Popular places to visit

Image for Papeete Market

Papeete Market

3.5/5(3 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
Image for Robert Wan Pearl Museum

Robert Wan Pearl Museum

4/5(1 review)

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

Robert Wan Pearl Museum
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Papeete Town Hall

5/5(1 review)

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

Papeete Town Hall
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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
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Place Jacques Chirac

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
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Notre Dame Cathedral

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
Image for Parc Bougainville

Parc Bougainville

4/5(1 review)

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
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Port de Papeete

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

Port de Papeete
Image for Papeete Ferry Terminal

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

 

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Day trip destinations from Papeete

Photo by Marixa Schroeder

Pirae

Photo by Life Outside the Box

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