A name synonymous with tropical relaxation, Tahiti is the busy hub of French Polynesia, located 160 mi/260 km southeast of Bora Bora. Most of the activity is centered around the city of Papeete (pronounced pah-pay-EH-tay). It's the part of the island most visitors see, if only in passing.
Stick around in Papeete for at least a one-night stay. This city has many flashy boutiques, a colorful local market, a black pearl museum and active nightlife. As the only real city in French Polynesia, Papeete can teach you a lot about life in the South Pacific. And although you will experience some traffic jams and noise, it's relatively clean, safe and efficient for a tropical city.
Must See or Do
Sights—Papeete Municipal Market.
Museums—The Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands in Punaauia on Tahiti; the Gauguin Museum on the south coast of Tahiti; the James Norman Hall Home in the Papeete suburb of Arue; lessons in pearling at the Robert Wan Pearl Museum in Papeete.
Late Night—Cut loose with the locals on a dance floor on Papeete's waterfront.
Walks—A tour of the Harrison W. Smith Botanical Gardens; a guided hike through the mountains and valleys of Tahiti.
Geography
Tahiti has something of an hourglass shape with a larger portion (Tahiti Nui—where Papeete is located) and a smaller one (Tahiti Iti). Mountains soar to 7,352 ft/2,241 m in central Tahiti Nui and to 4,430 ft/1,323 m on Tahiti Iti.