Papeete

Papeete is situated on Tahiti Island and the country’s capital city. Papeete has only a few old structures surviving after a fire in 1884, but there are many other sights and highlights to see on your Tahiti holiday besides the Robert Wan Pearl Museum.

The market halls are open from 7:00 a.m. The church of Notre Dame de Papeete is just a few meters from the market on Rue du Général de Gaulle. The church was built in 1875 and is Tahiti’s oldest Catholic church. The beautiful colonial structure, complete with a two-story white portico, houses historical exhibitions and antique furnishings.

Roulottes is the place to go for a real ma’a tahiti (traditional Tahitian meals like poisson cru or ahi tartare). When the sun goes down, the iconic trucks travel to the waterfront promenade on Place Vaiete and set up shop.

Papeete is not only Tahiti’s capital, but also the country’s. As the capital of French Polynesia, the city is the country’s most important commercial center. Furthermore, Papeete is home to the country’s only international airport, Faa’a, which is located a few kilometers outside of town.

Papeete has a very active ambiance that portrays a big-city sense, thanks to the cruise ships that arrive almost daily and bring hundreds of tourists to the city. Papeete, on the other hand, has a population of little under 26,000 people who dwell in the city’s 22 neighborhoods.

Papeete has only a few old structures surviving after a fire in 1884, but there are many other sights and highlights to see on your Tahiti holiday besides the Robert Wan Pearl Museum.

The densely populated capital Papeete is easy to explore on a stroll.

• Stroll from the harbor through Bougainville Park onto the larger Jardins de Paofai with the pink Temple de Paofai and the Pearl Museum.
• On the way back, take Rue du General de Gaulle to see the Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the pretty City Hall.
• Finish the tour at the covered market, where you can buy handicrafts and souvenirs such as the deliciously fragrant Monoi oil.

Market in Papeete

The weekly market in Papeete is located near the Tahiti Tourist Office on Rue Colette and Rue du 22nd September. The market halls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. In addition to fish, meat, and a plethora of never-before-seen veggies and fruits, the upper level is home to a number of long-established artisan stores selling local products at reasonable prices. Souvenirs include shell necklaces, sarongs, liquors, and other items.