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French Polynesia✨ 10 best things to do in French Polynesia

Things to do in French Polynesia

1. Snorkel Bora Bora's lagoonSwim with rays and blacktip reef sharks in water of impossible blues beneath Mount Otemanu.
2. Drift-dive Rangiroa's passesRide the current through Tiputa Pass alongside dolphins and grey reef sharks.
3. Watch the HeivaFeel the drums and see hundreds of dancers compete in Papeete's July festival of Polynesian culture.
4. Hike Moorea's ridgesClimb to the Belvedere lookout for views over Cook's and Opunohu bays.
5. Visit Taputapuātea maraeStand at the ancient sacred site on Raiatea that was the heart of Polynesian voyaging.
6. Watch the wave at Teahupo'oTake a boat out to see surfers ride one of the heaviest waves on the planet off Tahiti Iti.
7. Explore the MarquesasSail to remote, jagged islands with stone tiki statues, deep valleys and wild horses.
8. Taste vanilla on Taha'aTour a vanilla plantation and a black pearl farm on the 'vanilla island'.
9. Eat at Papeete's roulottesJoin locals at evening food trucks for poisson cru, chow mein and grilled fish.
10. Swim with humpback whalesSee humpbacks arrive to calve between roughly August and October, with licensed operators.

French Polynesia🗺️ Where to visit in French Polynesia

Where to go in French Polynesia

• 📍
  TahitiSociety Islands · main islandHome to Papeete's market, black-sand beaches, waterfalls and the surf of Tahiti Iti.
• 
  MooreaSociety Islands · mountains & lagoonA short ferry from Tahiti, with dramatic peaks, pineapple fields and lagoon snorkelling.
• 
  Bora BoraLeeward Islands · lagoonThe iconic lagoon island, ringed by motu and crowned by a volcanic peak.
• 📍
  Raiatea & Taha'aLeeward Islands · culture & sailingThe sacred island of Taputapuātea paired with vanilla and pearl farms, perfect for sailing.
• 
  HuahineLeeward Islands · traditional lifeA quiet, authentic island with ancient marae, sacred blue-eyed eels and village life.
• 
  RangiroaTuamotus · atoll & divingOne of the largest atolls in the world, famous for world-class drift dives.
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  FakaravaTuamotus · biosphere reserveA UNESCO biosphere atoll known for its 'wall of sharks' in the south pass.
• 📍
  Nuku Hiva & Hiva OaMarquesas · remote islandsRugged, cloud-wrapped islands of archaeological sites, tiki and Gauguin's grave.

French Polynesia🌦️ Weather & best time to visit French Polynesia

Best time to visit French Polynesia

French Polynesia is tropical and warm all year, with a wetter, humid season from November to April and a drier season from May to October. The Marquesas are drier, and the southern Austral Islands are noticeably cooler.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Papeete (approximate averages).

French Polynesia🎉 Festivals & events in French Polynesia

• July
  Heiva i TahitiThe largest cultural festival, with dance and singing competitions, stone-lifting and canoe races.
• October-November
  Hawaiki Nui Va'aA demanding three-day outrigger canoe race between the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora.
• December (every few years)
  Marquesas Arts FestivalIslanders gather for traditional dance, drumming, tattoo and carving.
• 29 June
  Autonomy DayA public holiday celebrating the islands' self-government with events in Papeete.

French Polynesia🧭 French Polynesia itinerary ideas

How many days in French Polynesia?

French Polynesia🎒 Backpacking French Polynesia – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $100–150 a day

• Stay in family-run pensions and guesthouses rather than resorts – they are cheaper and often include meals with local families.
• Look for air passes on the domestic airline, which can make island-hopping much more affordable.
• Eat at roulottes (food trucks) and snack bars; supermarkets sell cheap baguettes subsidised under local rules.
• Use the ferry between Tahiti and Moorea and local buses on Tahiti instead of taxis.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear and a reusable water bottle to save money on rentals.

French Polynesia🛡️ Safety & money in French Polynesia

Emergency: 17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance

French Polynesia🛬 Getting to French Polynesia

Almost all visitors arrive at Faa'a International Airport on Tahiti, with direct flights from France, the US, New Zealand, Japan and Chile. From there, domestic flights and ferries connect the islands.

✈️ Cheap flights to French Polynesia: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

French Polynesia💡 Did you know? 5 facts about French Polynesia

• French Polynesia covers an ocean area roughly the size of Western Europe, yet its land area is tiny.
• The word 'tattoo' is thought to come from the Tahitian word 'tatau'.
• Tahiti's Teahupo'o hosted the surfing events of the 2024 Paris Olympics, more than 15,000 km from Paris.
• Tahitian black pearls are cultivated mainly in the lagoons of the Tuamotu and Gambier islands.
• Polynesian voyagers navigated thousands of kilometres of open ocean without instruments.

French Polynesia❓ French Polynesia travel FAQ

French Polynesia travel questions