By air
Faa'a International (PPT), ~5 km to Papeete
Australia & New Zealand · French Polynesia
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Black-sand beaches, peaks and Papeete's markets
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — the drier season
Don't miss
The Papeete Market
Point Venus
Teahupo'o
Marae Arahurahu
Things to do
Surf watching at Teahupo'o
River-valley hikes
Eating at the Papeete food trucks
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Remi Jouan · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, rain jacket for the interior
A quieter corner
The Faarumai waterfalls on the wet east coast
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tahiti?
May to October — the drier season. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, rain jacket for the interior.
How do I get to Tahiti?
Fly into Faa'a International (PPT), ~5 km to Papeete.
What is there to do in Tahiti?
Surf watching at Teahupo'o, river-valley hikes, eating at the Papeete food trucks. A quieter find: The Faarumai waterfalls on the wet east coast.
What should I eat in Tahiti?
Poisson cru in coconut milk, ma'a Tahiti feasts and the roulottes food trucks.
About Tahiti
- Island
- Mountains
Where it is
Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia, a high volcanic island in the South Pacific whose north-west coast holds the capital, Papeete.
History
Polynesian navigators settled Tahiti many centuries ago. Samuel Wallis arrived in 1767, followed by Bougainville and then James Cook, who observed the transit of Venus from Point Venus in 1769. The island became a French protectorate in 1842 and later a colony, and Paul Gauguin painted here in the 1890s.
People
Tahitians speak Tahitian and French, and Polynesian traditions of dance, tattoo and outrigger canoe racing remain a strong part of island life.
Known for
- Black-sand beaches
- The big waves of Teahupo'o
- Paul Gauguin's paintings
- Polynesian dance and music
Did you know?
The surfing events of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were held at Teahupo'o, on the far side of the world from the host city.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.