Tahiti is among the most famous and iconic of French Polynesia’s 67 inhabited islands; the name alone conjures images of palm trees dancing in a warm island breeze, and mai tais being sipped in the moonlight.
If you’re not already familiar with travel in French Polynesia, it may surprise you to learn that most travelers see the island of Tahiti as nothing more than a jumping off point for exploring her sister islands, like Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Tahaa and Maupiti.
That’s because Pape’ete—the capital of French Polynesia, located on Tahiti—is the hub for international flights arriving to and departing from the islands. If you’re planning to visit French Polynesia, you will be stopping in Tahiti first.
The island of Tahiti has a population of roughly 189,000—approximately 68.7% of the total population of French Polynesia. It’s the economic, political and cultural hub of the islands…and yet, for travelers, that means it often doesn’t offer the secluded, remote atmosphere and pristine landscapes they want out of their trip……or rather, that’s what they think.
The truth is, Tahiti has so much to offer visitors, from the lively capital of Pape’ete to the black sand beaches and wild, untouched landscapes of Tahiti Iti.
If you’re in the process of mapping out your French Polynesia itinerary and are struggling with an unwanted stopover in Tahiti on your arrival or departure day, here’s my advice to you: stop fighting it! Go on and spend that one day in Tahiti discovering the island’s many charms and hidden gems.
Note that you will need to rent a car for this itinerary—an expense that is well worth it, as a car will allow you to get out of Pape’ete and explore the full beauty of Tahiti. Happy exploring!
One Day Tahiti Itinerary At-a-Glance
- Morning in Pape’ete: Notre Dame Cathedral, Pape’ete Town Hall, Pape’ete Market
- Circle Island Tour: Budget 5-6 hours to make stops at Taharuu black sand beach, Water Gardens of Vaipahi, Isthmus of Taravao, Tahiti Iti, Arahoho Blowhole and Point Venus Lighthouse
- Dinner in Pape’ete: The roulottes (food trucks) at Place Vai’ete open after dark
One Day in Tahiti: The Perfect Stopover Itinerary
Morning in Pape’ete
Pape’ete was the first city we visited in French Polynesia that actually felt like a city. Although just 25,000 people call Pape’ete home, you’ll find traffic lights, multi-storied buildings and fast food—all characteristics that were completely nonexistent on the other islands we visited.
Plan to spend around two hours exploring Downtown Pape’ete, where highlights include the charming, distinctly Polynesian Notre Dame Cathedral and the colorful Pape’ete Town Hall.
No visit to Pape’ete would be complete without strolling through the bustling Pape’ete Market! This vibrant local market is one of the best places in all of French Polynesia to shop for souvenirs such as wooden carvings, decorative shells, woven purses and fragrant soaps.
You can also grab a bite to eat in the market if you’re hungry; I snacked on a cookie cup filled with chocolate pudding and topped with whipped cream (yes, it was exactly as delicious as it sounds) and Derek ordered a tasty blend of tropical juices.
Fair warning: Pape’ete is definitely what I would describe as “gritty.” It’s not that we ever felt unsafe, but compared to the pristine, paradisal islands we had spent the past 9 days exploring, it did feel a bit dirty…and well, crowded. And ugly. Oof, I’m sorry Pape’ete!
However, the fact remains that Pape’ete is one of French Polynesia’s most important cities. While it may not be the quaint, picturesque village that so many travelers associate with French Polynesia, the reality is that much of the population does live here.
As a traveler, I like to discover ALL aspects of the local culture—not just the postcard-perfect sights, but the daily realities of local life, too. And for that reason, I do still recommend dedicating at least 2 hours to properly exploring Pape’eete…if only for the sights I listed above, which is totally fine!
Circle Island Tour of Tahiti Nui + Tahiti Iti
Once you’ve had your fill of Pape’ete, hop in your rental car and get ready for a mini road-trip around Tahiti! We opted to drive counter-clockwise around the island, but it really doesn’t matter either way.
The total driving distance of our route was just over 96 miles (155km), which would take around 3.5 hours without any stops. With stops, I would budget for around 5-6 hours.
Our first stop of the day was lunch at the Blue Banana, a seaside restaurant just 15 minutes outside of downtown Pape’ete. The pan-fried sole was very good!
Keep in mind that even though Tahiti is the most populated island in French Polynesia, it still becomes a bit sparse as you travel further from Pape’ete. If you’re not ready for lunch by the time you reach the Blue Banana, it would be wise to plan ahead and pick out a different restaurant further along your route, to ensure you don’t wind up hungry in the middle of nowhere. Taravao would be a good spot!
Heading south from the Blue Banana, we passed several quaint churches, surfing beaches, and small-but-bustling towns. To our left, the mountainous heart of the island remained utterly wild, rugged and impenetrable.
Our first true sightseeing stop of the day was Taharuu Beach, which is renowned for its volcanic black sands. This was actually my first ever black sand beach, and to say that I was blown away would be a serious understatement.
I found Taharuu Beach to be pure magic.
Black sand, bright blue water, leafy green jungle, and misty mountains in the distance…even in the sweltering heat and humidity, this scenery managed to give me chills.
Yet another reminder of the endless beauty of this planet, which we’re all so lucky to call home!
There were quite a few talented (and brave!) surfers at Taharuu Beach, who were incredibly entertaining to watch. On that note, I consider myself to be a strong swimmer and I would absolutely not swim at this beach—I’ve truly never seen such rough, violent waves so close to the shore in my life.
Much to Derek’s delight, there’s a small shop right on the beach where you can purchase ice cream and other refreshments. He paid $2 for a hefty scoop of flavorful, albeit slightly icy taro ice cream.
After soaking in the views (and devouring the ice cream) at Taharuu, we piled back in the car and continued on our way down the road. Just 15 minutes later, we stumbled across yet another of the day’s highlights: the Water Gardens of Vaipahi.
The gardens are free to enter, and are overflowing with all sorts of tropical plants and exotic blooms. We strolled amidst the lush, dense vegetation and enjoyed the refuge from Tahiti’s stifling heat. The waterfall and small lagoon were surprisingly impressive!
From the water gardens, we continued on until we reached the Isthmus of Taravao—a narrow strip of land that connects the larger Tahiti Nui to the smaller Tahiti Iti.
On that note: If you thought the southern coast of Tahiti Nui was quiet and rural, just wait until you follow the road south onto Tahiti Iti! I’ll just say this: although Tahiti has a reputation for being the most developed French Polynesian island, Tahiti Iti was among the least touristic spots we visited.
There actually isn’t a single road that circles all of Tahiti Iti; you can choose to follow the southern coast towards Teahupo’o, or the northern coast towards Tautira. Either way, the road will eventually come to a dead end, and you’ll have no choice but to turn around and head back the same way.
We opted to follow the road to Tautira, a laid-back surfing community at the end of the paved road. Despite its small size and remote location, Tautira has hosted a number of famed explorers, including Captain James Cook and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson.
There’s not a whole lot to see on Tahiti Iti…unless you count the incredible mountain peaks, untamed valleys and meandering rivers. Which I certainly do!
In the end, driving around Tahiti Iti ended up being a definite highlight from the day. Actually, I would have loved the opportunity to spend a few nights somewhere down near Tautira.
I can just picture it: mornings spent riding bikes along the quiet paved roads, snapping photos of the black sand beaches and thin waterfalls streaming down the cliff faces, and afternoons spent snoozing in a colorful hammock. Ahhhh.
From Tahiti Iti, we made our way back north towards Pape’ete, along the western coast of Tahiti Nui. Just before reaching Pape’ete you’ll pass the Arahoho Blowhole and the famous Point Venus Lighthouse.
Half an hour later, and you’re back in bustling Pape’ete!
Dinner in Pape’ete
Depending on your plans for the remainder of the day (spending the night at your hotel vs. catching an evening flight) you may have time for dinner in Pape’ete. One of the best places to grab dinner is the roulottes (food trucks) at Place Vai’ete, which open after dark.
Our flight was a smidge too early to catch the food trucks, so we grabbed a quick dinner at one of the local restaurants before heading to the airport two hours before our flight home.
One full, adventurous day in Tahiti, done and dusted. Māuruuru for the the good times, Tahiti!
Where to Stay in Tahiti
We stayed at the Tiki Hotel during our one night in Tahiti. The location was excellent, located less than 10 minutes from Fa’a’ā International Airport. The room was comfortable enough, although the hotel was very bare-bones overall.
If you’re looking accommodation that is as close to the airport as possible, check out the Tahiti Airport Motel. You could walk to the airport from this spot!
For a luxury option, you can’t go wrong with the InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa. It’s located just five minutes from the airport by car, and has a gorgeous pool—perfect for recovering from a long flight.
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How would you spend one day in Tahiti? Is this an island you would like to visit one day?
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Thanks for this helpful post. Is it too ambitious to spend a few hours in Papeete and do a self-drive tour of the island in one day? We’ll be landing in Tahiti around 6:30 in the morning, then have until 5 pm to drop off our car and catch the last ferry to Moorea. Not sure how long it usually takes to clear customs and get out of the airport, but I’m hoping we can pack it all in if we don’t linger in any one place too long. It looks like there’s a lot to see on Tahiti. We would love to get to Teahupo’o and/or Tautira as well. Thanks for any tips!
I think that would be totally fine! We essentially did the opposite – morning ferry over from Moorea, spent around two hours in Papeete, drove around the island, and then had an evening flight home. Just make sure you budget enough extra time for dropping off the car and catching the ferry 🙂
Omg THANK YOU! We’re doing a stopover in Tahiti (not quite one day, more like 10 hours) and I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to do with that time. This is perfect!
Thanks Chelsea! You will love French Polynesia, happy travels!
This is appreciable, The itinerary is great.
Love this post, Appreciation.