France
PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is a group of 118 islands in the South Pacific, halfway between California and Australia. It is a French overseas territory known for blue lagoons, green peaks and Polynesian culture. Travel, food and accommodation are very expensive.
Why go
Blue lagoons, coral reefs and green volcanic peaks.
Diving and snorkelling around Bora Bora and Moorea.
Museums about Polynesian history, art and pearls on Tahiti.
Fresh fish, tropical fruit drinks and traditional Tahitian feasts.
Overwater bungalows and family-run accommodation.
Best time to go: May to October is slightly cooler and drier. November to April is warmer and more humid, with occasional cyclonic storms in January.
Getting there
By air
- Flying is the main way to reach these remote islands. Faa'a International Airport is about 5 km west of Papeete on Tahiti.
- Air Tahiti Nui serves Tokyo, Los Angeles, Auckland and Paris. Its Paris route stops in Los Angeles for fuel.
- Other airlines provide connections from Honolulu, San Francisco, Fiji and New Caledonia, as well as Los Angeles and Auckland.
By sea
- Cruise ships arrive on irregular schedules. Cargo ships have regular services from Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia and Panamá.
- The islands are a stop for sailing boats travelling between the Americas and Australasia. Finding a place on a yacht is possible but difficult.
Customs
- After an international flight, collect your baggage and go through customs. For a connecting domestic flight, check your bags in again at the domestic counters, about 50 m to the right of international arrivals.
Getting around
Domestic flights
Air Tahiti flies between islands. Air Moana also serves destinations including Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Raiatea, Moorea, Huahine, Nuku Hiva and Fakarava. Charter flights and helicopters are other options. Air Tahiti offers passes covering several islands. All flights must be booked and confirmed, and the whole journey must take no more than 28 days. Passes usually start and end on Tahiti or Moorea, and have rules about stops and island order. Reservations cannot be changed after a pass is issued. Airport check-in opens one hour before departure and closes 20 minutes before departure. For Rarotonga flights, it opens two hours before and closes 45 minutes before.
Ferries and cargo boats
Ferries and combined passenger and cargo boats travel between most islands. Ferries and catamarans cross between Tahiti and Moorea several times a day. Cargo boats serve all inhabited islands from Papeete. Services range from three times a week to the Society Islands to once a month to Mangareva.
Cruises and yacht charters
Cruises offer trips around several island groups, but are expensive. Some boats combine cargo transport with passenger travel, including the Aranui. Yacht charters range from boats you sail yourself to luxury yachts.
Road travel
Tahiti and Moorea have road networks and public transport. Driving is on the right.
What to see and do
Pointe Vénus
A shaded black-sand beach with a lighthouse. Captain Cook used this site to observe Venus crossing the sun.
Gauguin Museum
About 50 km from Papeete, this museum has objects from Gauguin's time in Tahiti and reproductions of his paintings. Its grounds are beside the ocean, with botanical gardens next door.
Museum of Tahiti and her Islands
About 15 km from Papeete, this museum explores Polynesian history, culture and people.
Robert Wan Pearl Museum
A museum on Tahiti for visitors interested in pearls.
Dive or snorkel
The islands offer coral and underwater canyons with many fish and other sea animals. Diving centres operate on 11 islands.
Shark diving on Moorea
Moorea is known for dives with reef sharks and lemon sharks.
Food and drink
Poisson cru
Raw fish prepared in the Tahitian style with lemon juice and coconut milk.
Ma'a tinito
A popular Chinese-influenced dish with pork, kidney beans, Chinese cabbage and macaroni.
Fresh fish
Tuna, bonito, mahi-mahi and lagoon fish are served roasted, boiled or raw.
Tamara'a Tahiti
A traditional feast with suckling pig, fish, breadfruit, yams and fe'i bananas. Food is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over hot rocks in an earth oven.
Snacks and roulottes
Snacks are small restaurants, and roulottes are food trucks where local people eat. They serve dishes such as burgers, chow mein, grilled fish and poisson cru, usually for less than tourist restaurants.
Bottled water
Readily available and the safest drinking-water choice.
Money
CFP franc (XPF), usually called the franc and written F. CFP stands for French Communities of the Pacific.
- The currency has a fixed exchange rate of 119.33 francs to €1.
- Euros offer the best exchange rates according to the source. Australian and US dollars can also be changed easily.
- International credit and debit cards, banknotes and traveller's cheques are accepted.
- Banks charge a fee each time you exchange money. International hotels also offer currency exchange.
Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Tahiti or the nearby islands.
Typical costs
- Accommodation, food and even groceries are expensive, including budget options.
- Tourist restaurants listed hamburgers and pizzas from 1,400 F, and other main dishes from 2,000 F.
- Small restaurants and food trucks listed burgers at 700–800 F and steak or chow mein at 1,000 F in January 2019.
- Small restaurants and food trucks listed grilled fish and poisson cru at 1,200–1,400 F in January 2019.
Language
- French and Tahitian are official languages. French is used in business and government, while Tahitian is used in everyday conversation.
- English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
- Other local languages include Tuamotuan, Marquesan and Mangarevan. Speakers from different islands may not understand each other's languages.
- Ia ora na
- Hello or good morning.
- Mauruuru
- Thank you.
- Nana
- Goodbye or see you later.
- E
- Yes.
- Aita
- No.
- Pape
- Water.
- Maita'i?
- How are you?
- Ma'a
- Food.
Staying safe
- Tahiti has a low crime rate compared with other French territories, but pickpocketing and bag snatching occur.
- Wear jelly sandals or old trainers in the water and on beaches. Coral can cut your feet, and stonefish are another hazard.
- Keep your fingers away from moray eels hiding in coral. They can give a painful bite.
- Occasional cyclonic storms occur in January.
Local customs
Do
- Respect the land and its variety of plants, animals and landscapes.
- Respect sea life.
- Try a few words in a local language; people appreciate the effort.
- Follow the rules for approaching whales and other marine mammals. Permission from environmental authorities is required.
Staying healthy
- Medical treatment is generally good. Two major hospitals and several private clinics provide care 24 hours a day.
- Take precautions against mosquito bites. Outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Zika occurred in the 2010s.
- Tap-water safety varies by location. Bottled water is the safest choice.
- The climate is warm and very humid, with an average air temperature of 27°C.
Phone and internet
- Mobile service is provided by Vodafone and Vini.
- In January 2019, Vini listed a 6,000 F Travel Card with 30 minutes of calls and 2 gigabytes of data, valid for 28 days.
- In January 2019, Vini also listed a 2,050 F card with no call minutes and 500 megabytes of data, valid for 28 days.
- Most hotels and some small hotels and guest houses provide internet access.
Where to stay
- Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora account for more than 80% of hotel capacity. International-standard hotels also operate on other islands.
- Overwater bungalows often use Polynesian materials such as bamboo and pandanus leaves. Some have glass-bottomed tables for watching fish.
- Bed and breakfast accommodation offers furnished bungalows with private or shared bathrooms.
- Holiday family homes offer furnished bungalows with bathrooms and small kitchens.
Outdoor adventures in French Polynesia
French Polynesia has tropical islands, green peaks, coral reefs and warm lagoons. Diving and snorkelling are highlights, with sharks around Moorea and manta rays in Bora Bora’s lagoon. Tahiti’s Pointe Vénus offers a shaded black-sand beach.
Bora Bora lagoon snorkelling
SnorkellingSociety Islands
Snorkel in Bora Bora’s lagoon. Booking arrangements and starting points are not specified.
- Keep your fingers away from moray eels hiding in the coral.
Bora Bora lagoon diving
Scuba divingSociety Islands
Explore Bora Bora’s lagoon and coral wall by scuba diving. No specific dive centre or departure point is listed.
- Keep your fingers away from moray eels hiding in the coral.
Moorea shark diving
Scuba divingSociety Islands
Take a shark dive around Moorea. No specific operator or departure point is listed.
- Keep your fingers away from moray eels hiding in the coral.
Pointe Vénus black-sand beach
BeacheTahiti, Society Islands
Visit Pointe Vénus on Tahiti for its beach. Transport details are not specified.
- Wear jelly-type sandals or old sneakers where there is coral, to protect against cuts and stepping on stonefish.
Airports, metros and trains in French Polynesia
Airports with scheduled flights
- PPTFa'a'ā International AirportPapeeteMain international airport
People and safety in French Polynesia
Religion
Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.
- Christian94%
- No religion5%
- Folk religions<1%
LGBT+ travellers
Legal and protected
- Same-sex couples can marry.
- Laws protect against discrimination.
Who can visit without a visa
Travellers from 36 of 100 countries can visit French Polynesia easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.
- Visa not required36
- Visa required64
Who can visit easily, by part of the world
For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.
- Oceania14 of 14 countries
- Americas16 of 19 countries
- Europe3 of 4 countries
- Asia1 of 9 countries
- Africa2 of 54 countries
Questions
Is French Polynesia part of France?
French Polynesia is a territory linked to France, with its own entry rules. Check them separately even if you can visit France.
Does a France visa let me visit French Polynesia?
Not automatically. Many territories set their own entry rules, so a visa or visa-free entry for France may not cover French Polynesia. Check the French Polynesia visa page for your passport.
When is the weather cooler and drier?
May to October is slightly cooler and drier. November to April is warmer and more humid.
Which airport will I arrive at?
The main airport is Faa'a International Airport on Tahiti, about 5 km west of Papeete.
What happens if I have a domestic flight after arriving?
Collect your bags, go through customs and check your bags in again. Domestic counters are about 50 m to the right of international arrivals.
How can I travel between islands?
Domestic flights, ferries and passenger-carrying cargo boats connect the islands. Ferries between Tahiti and Moorea run several times a day.
What money should I use?
The local currency is the CFP franc, written F or XPF. It has a fixed exchange rate of 119.33 francs to €1.
Can I get by with English?
English is widely spoken in tourist areas. French and Tahitian are the official languages.
Where can I find cheaper meals?
Try small restaurants called snacks and food trucks called roulottes. They serve local people and cost less than tourist-oriented restaurants.
Do I need to leave a tip?
Tipping is not customary in Tahiti or the nearby islands.
Reviewed by @snuck