Things to Do in French Polynesia

Recognizable for its sunny yellow façade, Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame) is one of the oldest and largest churches in Papeete. The Gothic structure was originally built between 1844 and 1875 but has been destroyed and restored several times, most recently in 1987.

This small park with a tranquil stream, benches, lush vegetation, and an enormous banyan tree providing shade to visitors was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French explorer who believed he had discovered Tahiti and claimed it for France, unaware that less than a year prior it had been discovered by Samuel Wallis.

The Vaima Shopping Centre is the largest shopping mall in Tahiti, French Polynesia's main island. This multilevel mall opened in 1977 and is located in the capital city of Papeete. At the Vaima Shopping Centre, visitors can shop at high end stores for clothing, jewelry, shoes, electronics, art, and much more. Some worldwide brands include Nike, Billabong, and Bose, but there are also many other local stores at the mall. It's a great place to buy souvenirs and island themed clothing. The mall is well known for its French bookstores that sell books in both English and French in many different genres and maps of the French Polynesian islands. A popular item to shop for in Tahiti is the Tahitian black pearl, and there are several shops in the Vaima Shopping Centre that specialize in black pearls.

The mall has restaurants and cafes, so you can take a break from shopping to get something to eat. There are also a few travel agents, airline offices, a locksmith and shoe repair shop, salons and a bank.

Established by local entrepreneur Robert Wan, Robert Wan Pearl Museum (Musee de la Perle Robert Wan) explores the role of the pearl in art, history, and literature. Exhibits reveal how pearls get from the sea to the display case and how ocean jewels were associated with religious rites and coveted as status symbols.

Tahiti is not overflowing with historic monuments, which makes Papaeari stand out even more. It is the island’s oldest village, settled somewhere between 400 and 500 AD. It is also known by art lovers for its association with Paul Gauguin, who lived in the area. The nearby museum dedicated to his life is one of the area’s major draws.

But this is also a great place to relax and enjoy island life – watch fishers bringing in the daily catch which may well end up on your plate. Hike in the hinterlands, stroll black sand beaches or travel west along the south coast to reach Atimaono, where you'll find Tahiti’s only golf course.

For a crash course in Polynesian culture, Tiki Village Theatre is the place to go. In a stunning lagoon-side location on the island of Moorea you’ll experience traditional weaving with natural fibers, the art of flower garlands, and intricate woodcarving. The village also celebrates two very different forms of adornment: tattoos, which came to the West via Polynesia, and a model pearl farm which produces rare black pearls.

Music and dance are also of course integral to Polynesian culture. Grass-skirted performers enliven a lunchtime presentation, while the evening spectacular offers fire dancers to the sound of ukuleles and drums. Both shows are served up with authentic Tahitian cuisine.

The Museum of Tahiti and the Islands (or Musée de Tahiti et des Îles) represents one of the world’s most important repositories of cultural and natural studies concerning the Polynesian archipelago. It is divided into 4 sections covering nature and anthropology, habitations and artifacts, social and religious life and finally the history of French Polynesia.

Costumes, customs, handcrafts and rituals of the island-dwellers are all thoughtfully presented, along with etchings and drawings capturing Europeans’ first impressions of the South Pacific.

Natural wonders on show include stuffed birds, preserved plants and a display of seashells, some particularly large. The museum’s own natural surrounds are free to visit, and abound with native species.

Overlooking the unspoiled landscape of Povai Bay, Bloody Mary’s is Bora Bora’s most famous restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a must-visit spot for vacationers on the island.

A small community on the east coast of Bora Bora, Anau is known as a dive and snorkel site. Come here to spot majestic manta rays and revel in the quiet pace of life.

Vaitape is the biggest—and only—real town on the island of Bora Bora. It’s where most people start their vacation on the island and is home to all the essential services.

Faanui Bay on Bora Bora island draws visitors from all over the world, who come to enjoy its unspoiled beauty, beautiful beach and historic church.

Motu Tapu is a private castaway island off the coast of Bora Bora. Accessible only to guests at the Conrad Bora Bora resort, it’s an unspoiled and beautiful spot.

Farepiti Point—also known as Farepiti Quay and Farepiti Wharf—and is the main deep-water dock on the island of Bora Bora, and the docking point for ships to other islands in French Polynesia including Tahiti.

Surrounded by rugged mountain landscape that seems to reach up from the water, Cook's Bay is one of the main tourist areas in Moorea (it's here that cruise ships come to moor their boats). The area is home to restaurants, shops, and hotels, but it’s still relatively sleepy and laid-back—this is Moorea, after all!