The best areas to stay in Tahiti
Choose your island first, then your area. Most trips mix a night or two on Tahiti with a few nights on Moorea or Bora Bora, so we cover all three.
Papeete
Best for a short, practical stayThe capital and the only real town in French Polynesia, with the market, the waterfront roulottes (food trucks), the ferry quay for Moorea and most of the shops and services. Not a beach destination, but handy for a night or two around flights and the easiest place to stay without a car.
Punaauia and the west coast
Best for resorts and sunsets over MooreaThe stretch of coast south-west of Papeete, past the airport, where most of Tahiti's resorts, beach hotels and hillside guesthouses sit. Calmer than town, with lagoon beaches, views across to Moorea at sunset and the museum of Tahiti nearby, and still 15 to 30 minutes from the airport.
Tahiti Iti and Teahupo'o
Best for surf and getting away from it allThe smaller peninsula at the far end of the island, around 90 minutes' drive from Papeete. Teahupo'o, home of the famous wave, is where the road ends; beyond it is boat-only coast. Small lodges and family pensions rather than hotels, with surfing, snorkelling and a very slow pace.
Moorea
Best for a first island hopTahiti's sister island is 30 to 40 minutes away by ferry, with jagged green peaks, two deep bays and a lagoon you can snorkel straight off the beach. The north-west corner around Papetoai and Hauru Point has the best beaches and most of the guesthouses, plus a handful of resorts. Easy to add for a few nights without flying.
Bora Bora
Best for the once in a lifetime lagoonA 50 minute flight from Papeete, and the island everyone pictures: a turquoise lagoon ringed by small islets, with Mount Otemanu in the middle. Famous for overwater bungalows, but Matira Point in the south has the island's best public beach and a few mid-range resorts that make it reachable on a normal budget.
Our 6 recommended places to stay in Tahiti
Accommodation in French Polynesia runs from family pensions to some of the most expensive resorts on earth. These are the six we would look at first, chosen across budgets and islands, with a surf lodge, two guesthouses, a city studio and two resorts.
Budget pickHostel · Teahupo'o, Tahiti Iti
Hava'e Lodge Teahupoo
A small lodge right on the water at the end of the road on Tahiti Iti, with a terrace that looks straight out at the Teahupo'o surf break and snorkelling a few steps from the door. The hosts get glowing reviews, breakfast is a highlight, and the WiFi scores a perfect 10 from guests.
- Terrace over the water facing the Teahupo'o break
- Kitchen access, free parking and bike, canoe and snorkelling tours
- Best for surfers and remote workers who want a quiet, affordable base
Budget pickBungalow · Punaauia
Bungalow Miwa
A hilltop bungalow above Punaauia with sweeping sea views across to Moorea, a private hot tub, an open-air bath and a terrace for sunset. Guests love the hosts and the breakfast, and there are culture and cooking classes on offer if you want more than a view.
- Sea views towards Moorea, private hot tub and open-air bath
- Warm hosts, good breakfast and cooking classes
- Best for couples who want a peaceful, scenic stay with local hospitality
Mid-range pickApartment · Papeete
Studio Kaoha Nui
A private 49 square metre studio in a safe, quiet building, with a kitchenette, balcony, terrace and free parking. The centre of Papeete, the market, shops and restaurants are about a 15 minute walk away, and the WiFi is rated 10 by guests.
- Self-contained studio with kitchenette, balcony and terrace
- WiFi rated 10, cleanliness and facilities at 9.8
- Best for remote workers and solo travellers who want a clean base in the city
Mid-range pickBeach resort · Matira Point, Bora Bora
Maitai Bora Bora
A beachfront resort on Matira Point with a private beach, a restaurant that hosts Polynesian shows, and a choice of rooms, beach bungalows and overwater villas. Kayaks, snorkelling and fishing gear are free to use, and Matira Beach, the best public beach on the island, is right there.
- Private beach on Matira Point with free kayaks and snorkelling gear
- Rooms, beach bungalows and overwater villas at different price points
- Best for couples who want Bora Bora without ultra-luxury prices
Mid-range pickGuesthouse · Papetoai, Moorea
Fare Temanea
A traditional Polynesian-style fare in a quiet residential corner of Moorea, with a pool, an open-air kitchen, free kayaks and free parking. The host gets some of the warmest reviews we have seen, Tipaniers beach is close by, and the WiFi is solid at 9.4.
- Pool, open-air kitchen and free kayaks
- Quiet residential setting near Tipaniers beach
- Best for couples and remote workers who want an affordable, authentic Moorea stay
Premium pickResort · Punaauia
Tahiti Lagoon Resort
A beachfront resort on Tahiti's west coast with a private beach, a lagoon-style pool, a restaurant and beach bar, and overwater and garden bungalows looking across to Moorea. Snorkelling, canoeing and diving are on site, the breakfast is highly rated and the airport is about 10 kilometres away.
- Private beach, lagoon pool and overwater bungalows facing Moorea
- WiFi rated 9.3 and the airport about 10 kilometres away
- Best for couples and remote workers who want an easy resort stay at the start or end of a trip
Ratings are from Booking.com guest reviews at the time of writing and can change. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Getting to and around Tahiti
International flights land at Faa'a airport, a few kilometres west of Papeete, with direct services from Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Auckland and Tokyo among others. Most arrivals land in the evening or very early morning, which is why a first night on the west coast near the airport makes sense. From the airport, Papeete is a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride and Punaauia about the same in the other direction.
On Tahiti a hire car is the easiest way to get around, since the buses are infrequent and the best beaches, viewpoints and Teahupo'o are strung along the coast road. Moorea is reached by ferry from the quay in central Papeete, 30 to 40 minutes each way with several sailings a day, and you can take a hire car across. Bora Bora and the other islands are served by Air Tahiti flights from Faa'a, and Bora Bora's airport sits on an islet, so resorts collect guests by boat.
Staying connected is worth planning, because data is pricey here. Our guides to the best eSIMs for Tahiti and the best eSIMs for French Polynesia cover the options, and if you are already on the road without cover, see our guide to buying travel insurance when you are already abroad.
Still deciding?
Good-value places in French Polynesia book out early, especially from May to October. Check availability for our top budget pick, Hava'e Lodge Teahupoo, on Booking.com.
Check availability on Booking.com
