Location: Papeete
Top Things to do in Papeete
What to do and see in Papeete, Society Islands: The Best Cultural Tours
Papeete is a great base for exploring Tahiti’s lagoons, black- and white-sand beaches and volcanoes. You’ll find a lively nightlife scene centered around the ferry dock. For an authentic island experience, visit Mapuru a Paraita market or Musee de la Perle to find local black pearls.
Restaurants in Papeete
1. Private Island Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
5. Take part of a wonderful island tour steeped in history. Discover the gorgeous fauna, flora and lovely waterfalls of Tahiti, archaelogical site, grottoes and also take in the landmarks and monuments to Captain Cook and Captain Bligh at Venus point. discover the lighthouse designed by Robert Louis Stevenson's father.plenty of time given at each stop then time to explore the lovely beach of black sand as well. Private tour (up to 6 people ) -Half day tour includes 6 sights to visit: - Marae arahurahu - Grottos of Maraa - Vaipahi garden - Waterfall of Faarumai - blow hole - Venus point & the light house
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, fresh water included
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By L4402QFchrisd
This tour was a lot of fun and the only reason I'm rating it a 3 was due to the fact it wasn't quite what my wife and I had in mind. We were looking for a little more adventure and going deep into the jungles on a safari vehicle and doing some hiking etc... however, our guide Fabricio was really nice and extremely informative about the history and culture of Tahiti and the Polynesians. You do visit some really awesome waterfalls, botanical garden and other attractions around the island. All in all we were pleased with all the sights we saw and it made for a good half day afternoon excursion.
2. private Tahiti island discovery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Our private half day tour is the best experience to discover the different aspects of the island of Tahiti. You will have the opportunity to go all around the island and visit the main natural, historical and cultural sites. Our professional driver guide can adapt the itinerary to your expectations.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By chuntclements
Booking Reference # 765556604 My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on the Regatta Ship with Oceania Cruises from New Zealand to Tahiti. After disembarking on March 5th, we stayed over-night at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and spent that afternoon on a fabulous private tour of Tahiti with tour guide Baudouin Bertrand. Bertrand not only took us to all the highlights featured in the Viator itinerary listing, he walked with us at our pace, thoroughly explaining each site while answering our many questions. Bertrand is a superb professional, very knowledgeable about Polynesian & European history/culture and environmental science. He made our afternoon most informative, entertaining, and one to cherish always with treasured memories. We highly recommend Bertrand as a tour guide.
3. Private TAHITI Half-day 5h Circle Island Tour (Departs 8am or 1pm)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Yota provides a unique insight into the Polynesian way of life. He creates privileged relations with all the Polynesians to guarantee a meaningful tour for you. Through his in-depth knowledge of Tahiti and Her Islands (he has traveled to 23 out of the 40 available by plane) Yota weaves a tale for his listeners. Yota's Japanese background and sensitivity provides for you a highly personalized service and attention to detail that surpasses other experiences.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Free WiFi on board
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Gail M
We had a wonderful day with Yota. He was so informative and friendly. He picked a lovely restaurant and helped us order a vegan option. We would highly recommend his tour.
4. Private TAHITI Full-day 8 hour Circle Island Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Yota provides a unique insight into the Polynesian way of life. He creates privileged relations with all the Polynesians to guarantee a meaningful tour for you. Through his in-depth knowledge of Tahiti and Her Islands (he has traveled to 23 out of the 40 available by plane) Yota weaves a tale for his listeners. Yota's Japanese background and sensitivity provides for you a highly personalized service and attention to detail that surpasses other experiences.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Free WiFi on board
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Travel599287
My husband and I had a 12 hour layover in Tahiti and enjoyed an incredible half day full island tour with the delightful Yota. We saw both the main tourist interest spots as well as beautiful locals only sights in an immaculate vehicle with all the safety precautions. Yota's incredibly knowledgeable about history and culture and tells great stories. Be sure to ask him about traditional Tahitian dancing! Due to COVID, we had some very challenging logistics that he completely handled for us, going well above and beyond what most tour guides would do to make our 12 hour stay perfect. He recommended an extraordinary "locals" restaurant for dinner before our flight and most importantly hooked me up with a fantastic jeweler (Kermei) where I bought my black tahitian pearls. Thank you Yota!
5. TAHITI Full-day Shared 8h Circle Island Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 30 reviews
Yota provides a unique insight into the Polynesian way of life. He creates privileged relations with all the Polynesians to guarantee a meaningful tour for you. Through his in-depth knowledge of Tahiti and Her Islands (he has traveled to 23 out of the 40 available by plane) Yota weaves a tale for his listeners. Yota's Japanese background and sensitivity provides for you a highly personalized service and attention to detail that surpasses other experiences.
Inclusions: Driver/English speaking tour guide, Free WiFi on board
Exclusions: Food and drinks
Reviewed By Gail M
We had a wonderful day with Yota. He was so informative and friendly. He picked a lovely restaurant and helped us order a vegan option. We would highly recommend his tour.
6. Unique Tahiti Tours - private, personalised tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 26 reviews
Up close, personalised and totally authentic island tours for discerning travellers. Our small group (if you require a private tour please contact us directly) off the beaten track, Unique Tahiti Tours creates opportunities for you to meet the wonderful Polynesians as they live their daily lives We have thought about everything from content, pace and company (only the best english speaking guides) We will share the breath taking scenery and classic sites (waterfalls, black sandy beaches, gardens etc ) but be prepared for spontaneous stops to meet fishermen, dancers, surfers, farmers, school kids - the locals! All from the luxury and comfort of new, air conditioned, 9 seater Red Mercedes. Your local, english speaking, knowledgable, fun loving guide will share their island home with creating life time memories to exceed your expectations Tahiti is beautiful island and its our pleasure to share it with you. Our website lists all the tours and services we offer
Inclusions: Cool fresh water is supplied as well as a taste of local fruits brought from street vendors, Private transportation
Exclusions: Luggage - unless organised and agreed upon while booking
Reviewed By JerNatLee
My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Tahiti and stayed in an Airbnb in the heart of Papeete. Although staying in the city was quite the experience and a good immersion into what city life was like, it was nothing compared to the YouTube videos and internet searches that led us to travel to French Polynesia to begin with, so we were actually left a little bummed on our first day there. Then came Tracy in her signature Red Mercedes to save us. She was nice enough to come pick us up from just outside our Airbnb and we could immediately sense how warm and friendly she was. She took the time to get to know us and get a feel for what our likes and dislikes were and what we were looking to see and was able to adjust to our preferences on the fly. The entire day felt to me as if we were just hanging out with an old friend who was really just looking out for us and making sure that we had the most fun and got the most out of our stay. Definitely ask to check out Dominic's food stand while you're there! He is a local who set up a nice little beachfront eatery where you can get awesome crepes and smoothies as you take a break during your tour. All of his food is locally sourced and a lot of it he grows himself. He is a big advocate for producing food locally, ethically and organically and is more than willing to share his knowledge on what he does. Speaking of producing local and organic foods, I would also suggest to ask about checking out Jean Claude's garden during your tour as well. He is a local who works on acres of land overlooking the beautiful Tahitian mountainside growing every type of fruit, vegetable and produce you can think of. He is also extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what he does and you will be sure to learn a great deal about what it's like to live off of the land while you're there. ***Another random side note*** If you're looking to buy pearls for yourself or your loved ones during your stay, ask for Charles (a pearl wholesaler who lives in Papeete) and Tracy will get you in contact with him. I guarantee that his shop has the best quality products that a fraction of the cost - we checked! (I was not paid to write any of this I promise) I highly recommend this tour if you are interested in experiencing the natural beauty of the island of Tahiti and meet some awesome locals. Tracy, Dominic, his family, Jean Claude and even Charles and his wife were some of the warmest, kindest and friendliest people we've ever met and were all eager to share about their culture and passions with us. My wife and I couldn't have asked for a better experience during our time in Tahiti and we will definitely be back for more in the future. The friends, knowledge and experience we have gained as a result are something that we will never forget.
7. Unique Tahiti Tour - East Coast
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 28 reviews
Up close, personalised and totally authentic island tours for discerning travellers. Visit our website for complete tour details and learn about other services We take you off the beaten track to be welcomed into local peoples homes, workshops and daily lives. Let us Introduce you to the wonderful Polynesians. Creating authentic encounters and sharing our island home with you what makes our tours unique. We have thought about everything from content, pace and company to our air conditioned new Mercedes vehicles Tahiti's East coast (our Jurassic coast) with its dramatic coastal scenery is in direct contrast to the west coast's classic lagoon and reef scenery. Including waterfalls and blowholes this comprehensive tour will interest anyone who likes history and natural beauty, Come walk in the footsteps of Captain Cook, the mutineers from HMS Bounty and Marlon Brando! Visiting a local sculptor at work, view points and local encounters are just a few of this tour's unique features.
Inclusions: Small groups to ensure a personalised intimate tour, Professional English speaking guide, Live commentary on board, Hotel/port/Papeete zone pickup and drop-off, Bottled water, Local encounters, Luxury air conditioned Mercedes minivan
Exclusions: Gratuities, Luggage transfer or storage is possible but must be specified and confirmed while booking
Reviewed By Pickleball_2020
If you want a tour that gets you up close to the local people, you need to do this tour. Tracey has lived here for many years and her love for the Tahitian people is evident. Tracey was recommended by the tourist center and we were so happy they suggested her. She was very easy to communicate with and offered to pick us up at our Airbnb! She was right on time in her red Mercedes van! Tracey showed us all around the island with much enthusiasm. She interacted with locals as we went around. We spent 7 hours touring all around the island. We stopped for lunch at a lovely place by the sea. She answered ALL our questions including how to use an ATM here and she even helped us book a taxi for our snorkeling trip the next day. Don’t just pass through Papeete to get somewhere else. Discover Nui and Iti in a personalized way. We highly suggest you use Tracey for a very personalized tour of Tahiti.
8. Discover Papeete by Segway
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 24 reviews
See more of Papeete on this comprehensive Segway tour. You’ll explore Papeete city center and over 20 of the top attractions in the area including the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral, the Papeete Market (Marché de Papeete), the bust of Pouvanaa a Oopa and the Territorial Assembly Gardens. We promote green tourism and eco-tourism in order to preserve our nature and our paradise islands.
Inclusions: Local taxes, Professional art historian guide, Use of helmet
Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to/from attractions
Reviewed By M9159BRjayg
Our tour was listed at 3 hours but at our guide said they usually only go out for 2 hours. I think we saw all the sites and went from one end of the city to the other. The e-bikes were great but it wasn't as much fun riding as I would like as it was in heavy city traffic with lots of vehicle fumes. To make up the time our guide took us to the market in one of their pedicycles and showed us around. If you want to see Pape'ete I would recommend this tour but we liked getting out of the city and seeing the island more.
9. Tahiti Island Tour Including Venus Point, Taharaa View Point and Vaipahi Gardens
Overall Ratings
3.9 based on 125 reviews
Discover the highlights of Tahiti on a 4-hour tour of the natural and cultural sites on the island. Your expert local guide shares informative commentary as you visit Venus Point, the Arahoho blowhole, Marae Arahurahu, Vaipahi Garden and Taharaa Lookout. Learn about the history of French Polynesia, soak up panoramic island views, and visit gorgeous temples and botanic gardens on this afternoon tour from Papeete.
Inclusions: Local guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By Roderic B
As a solo traveler, I had an amazing time. Friendly and informative guide, convivial group of fellow travelers, and getting to see a side of Tahiti that too many miss out on. What could be better?
10. Papeete Segway Night Tour
Overall Ratings
1.0 based on 1 reviews
Explore Papeete on a night time Segway tour. Glide along the Papeete waterfront on your Segway and take in the views of Papeete at night. On this 1.5 hour tour you’ll visit many of Papeete’s top attractions including Vaiete Square, New Marina, Paofai Park and the Monument of Independence. We promote green tourism and eco-tourism in order to preserve our nature and our paradise islands.
Inclusions: Local taxes, Professional guide, Use of helmet
Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks
Reviewed By M9159BRjayg
Our tour was listed at 3 hours but at our guide said they usually only go out for 2 hours. I think we saw all the sites and went from one end of the city to the other. The e-bikes were great but it wasn't as much fun riding as I would like as it was in heavy city traffic with lots of vehicle fumes. To make up the time our guide took us to the market in one of their pedicycles and showed us around. If you want to see Pape'ete I would recommend this tour but we liked getting out of the city and seeing the island more.
