Papeete, Perfected: A Gateway to Tahitian Luxury

My number-one recommendation is to rent a car and drive around the island. You can rent an automatic, you drive on the right, and the roads are wide and safe. The only trouble you may get in is being distracted by the landscape!

Papeete Pier

Beaches

Taharuu Beach is the most magnificent black-sand beach. It is about 45 minutes west of Papeete. The road sits slightly above parts of the beach, and, depending on where you parked, you often walk down a noticeable slope to reach the sand. This creates a very dramatic landscape upon arrival! This is one of Tahiti’s main surf beaches with powerful waves. The wide, dramatic black sand goes on for a long stretch, and it's very open and raw-feeling—less “polished” than other beaches. It is definitely more local and rugged. Wild and windy, with a strong surf, it is not ideal for casual swimming. Bring water shoes or you will get burns on the bottoms of your feet! The mountain views in the distance make for an extremely dramatic landscape.

Taharuu Beach

Vaiava Beach is one of the only true white sand beaches, and has the calmest water I’ve ever seen. Absolutely perfect for little kids, elders, and people wanting to completely relax. Great for snorkeling or floating on a raft!

Teahupoʻo Beach is the Olympic surfing beach. Do not swim, but bring a picnic and watch the surfers. The waves are breathtaking!

Activities

There are multiple flea and trading markets, including Papeete Market and pop-up stalls in town. Go see the freshest catch, chat with the local artisans, and watch the history of flower crown making.

Papeete Market

Go see the ori tamure, or fire dance. Both the Hilton and the Intercontinental hotels have dinners with these dances.

Hilton Tahiti

Sites

Faarumai Waterfalls is an easy rainforest walk to waterfalls. It feels like you’re wandering through a jurassic park jungle to get there. It is a simple walk, and kids would be fine—however, it's not suitable for people with mobility issues.

Faarumai Waterfalls

The Mara'a Grottoes (Grottes de Mara’a) are natural freshwater caves located on the west coast. Known for their crystal-clear turquoise pools and lush tropical setting, they are a popular roadside stop offering a tranquil glimpse into the island’s geological and cultural landscape. There is a little lagoon—legend says it has magical healing properties. Wear water shoes, as there are rocks and marine life!

The Mara'a Grottoes (Grottes de Mara’a)

Places to eat & drink

Since you’re in French Polynesia, the cuisine is an incredible blend of refined French influence, ultra-fresh seafood, and vibrant island flavors that come together in a uniquely Polynesian way.

Stop at food trucks! Literally stop at every single food truck and roadside stand that you can. Some of the best meals I’ve ever had were from the food trucks on this island. Fresh-caught tuna brought off the beach hours before, fresh-cooked burgers, insane sushi and poke bowls—they were endless and each one was better than the last! There is also a food truck night market, Les Roulottes Food Trucks—a very local gathering spot.

Food trucks

Eat the fruit, eat the açaí bowls, get the smoothies and all of the juices.

We ate from the amazing Carrefour grocery store so many nights—the sushi there was better than any other fish we had!

Rent a car at the airport, as it is less expensive—taxis are very expensive. Food and beverages are very expensive here, too—everything is obviously imported. We stocked our hotel room with provisions from the grocery store. There is not an ultra-luxury hotel in Papeete. But the service and the staff are the most wonderful people wherever you go. Bring water shoes for the beaches! There are dangerous rocks and wildlife in the water, and the black-sand beach will give you third-degree burns.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Tahiti page.