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Papeete Market
Tahiti | Papeete | Market | Historical Place | Free
Papeete Market – Le Marché de Papeete
Le Marché, a 155-year-old public market, is the best way to shop for just about anything from all the islands. The market is in the middle of Papeete, two blocks from the water. You find many shops on both levels selling everything from vegetables, fruits, fish, pearls, carvings, and clothing to the usual tourist mementos.
Address: Papeete Market, Papeete 98713, French Polynesia
Entry: Free
Opening hours: Monday – Friyday 5:30 am to 4 pm, Saturday 5:30am–1pm, Sunday 4:30am–10am
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Sunday is the best day to visit
We recommend visiting the market on an early Sunday morning as the atmosphere is like no other when all the families living in the suburbs of Papeete come to get their supplies.
All the local products are here, lined up, and presented on panels explaining the history, the cooking, and the Tahitian names of vanilla, coconut, etc. Coconuts are offered in several ways: you can drink them with a straw, or you can get bottled coconut milk, coconut flesh, and all sorts of coconut cakes.
Fruits and vegetables
The range of fruits at the Papeete market is enormous, avocado, bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapple, star fruit, and guava, but also breadfruits, tamarinds, ginger, carambola, soursops
Freshly caught fish
You’ll find freshly caught fish like tuna, mahi mahi, parrot fish, and red snapper. Seafood lovers will find lobster, crab, sea urchins, and also clams. They are fished in the lagoon or off the coast in the five archipelagos and sent by plane to Papeete.
Flowers and oil
Flowers of all kinds are sold all the time, whether you need a tiare for the ear or a big crown. They all make up a fascinating patchwork of scents. Monoi, vanilla, jams, and pastries are also on offer.
Crafts and snacks
On the second floor, you’ll find snacks and souvenir vendors of all kinds. Also, local handicrafts are offered which are great as souvenirs: various pareos, flowered shirts, carved objects, basketry, tikis of all sizes made of mother-of-pearl, stone, or precious carved wooden canoes, hairpins, bracelets, necklaces, etc. Everything is handmade and engraved with traditional patterns.
Black Pearls
Some of the best black pearl shops are here. They aren’t as high-end as Robert Wan pearls, but the pearls are very good quality and the prices are reasonable.
Most of the products on the market are authentic, and the work is of high quality. Some of the crafts are made to order in Indonesia and are almost indistinguishable. Look at the origin, the quality of the work, and the material used, and always ask before buying.
History Papeete Market
The British built Papeete in 1818, and in 1827 it became the home of the local royal family. In 1843, France took over the island and took care of it.
The city became the capital of Tahiti right away. Until a French-style government was set up, it was run by order of the Governor of Oceania.
- 1847
In April 1847, Governor Armand Bruat made a law that made two separate markets official. This was the beginning of the market’s history. The first one, which sold food like vegetables, fruits, and poultry, was set up somewhere in the middle of town. The second one, which sold fish, made sense to put on the docks of the port. - 1869
In 1869, the main market moved to its current location in the middle of town, along the Rue du 22 September, which is not far from the current town hall and the water. - 1890
In 1890, France made districts and municipalities out of Tahiti. So, Papeete became a municipality, and in January 1891, voters chose a mayor and a council for the municipality.One of the very first decisions made by the city council was to bring the two markets back together in one place. Other early decisions included setting sales rules and putting in place good hygiene standards.
- 1891
In 1891, the fish market moved into the city center and joined the main market. For vegetables and meat, the first building was made of wood and covered with pandanus. The fish and fruit shops were still there in the open. - 1927
In 1927, a steel structure was built. In the 1960s, three more similar structures were added, bringing the area under cover to about 2,500 m2.
The current market opened in 1987, and the latest covered building has three times as much space as the old one. The most important change was the addition of craft stands on the mezzanine, which is the level above the stalls.
The current building is 2 stories tall and has a total surface of more than 7,000 m2. The handicrafts are all on the first floor, which is set up like a mezzanine and looks down on the food on the ground floor. Just outside of the building, there are many shops that sell a wide range of goods.
Frequently asked Questions
What can you buy souvenirs at Papeete market?
Locals were selling everything from fresh fish to pearls to scented oils to carvings to flowers and everything in between at the market. There’s no doubt that this is a good place to buy souvenirs and pearls. Some shops take credit cards, but you should always bring cash.
What is a well-known market in Papeete called?
In every way, the public market in Papeete is the heart of the city. The municipal market is called “Le Marché,” and it is the best place to find local Tahitian goods and produce when you are shopping in Tahiti. It is just one block from the water.
When should you go to the Papeete market?
Go in the morning, when most people in Tahiti are busy. The market seems to be busiest between 8 and 9 a.m. during the week. Even if it’s open longer, you should go close to the start because the best things sell out quickly. You can also eat lunch for breakfast if you want to.
What kinds of handmade items can you buy at the Papeete market?
You can find hand-woven straw hats, baskets, bags, wallets, and purses, floral wreaths for women’s hair, colorful sarongs, lots of hand-made sea shell and oyster shell jewelry, key chains, and decorative items, different grades of Manoi oil, refrigerator magnets, Tahitian pearl jewelry, wood carvings, and much more.
People also sell flowers, Tahitian pearls, sarongs, artwork, and other things on the covered walkway outside the market.
Guided Sightseeing Tahiti
There are more attractions to discover, continue reading: Papeete Town Hall