French Polynesia
Oceania · Papeete · PF
French Polynesia is the ocean-wide collectivity of the South Pacific, a constellation of the islands and the atolls that includes the famous Society islands of the Tahiti and the Bora Bora, where the coral lagoons and the volcanic peaks make some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The islands of the country, spread across an ocean area the size of Europe, reach from the dramatic basalt spires of the Marquesas to the pearl-farming atolls of the Tuamotu, and their lagoon waters hold the reefs, the rays, the sharks and the fish of the clearest seas on earth. The culture of the country, the Polynesian dance, the tattoos, the carvings and the sacred marae ceremonial sites, is the deep heart of the experience, and the French-inflected life of the islands runs on the beaches, the boats and the outdoor market life. Expensive but extraordinary, the country is the ultimate long-haul dream of the Pacific.
Overview
French Polynesia is a country in Oceania. Its capital is Papeete and the international dialling code is +689. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include French and Tahitian. Local currency is the CFP Franc (XPF). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Faa'a International Airport. We also list 1 city in French Polynesia: Papeete.
The Lagoons of the Bora Bora and the Mountain of the Peak
The island of the Bora Bora, the famous lagoon jewel of the Society islands, rises in its spectacular green peaks above the turquoise waters of the reef, and the lagoon of the island, ringed by the motu islets and the coral garden of the great blue, is the classic image of the South Pacific at its most perfect. The overwater bungalows of the island, built on the lagoons of the grand resorts, are the most celebrated accommodation of the world, and the excursions of the island take the visitors to the coral gardens, the ray feeding stations and the shark paths of the clear water. The climb of the mountain of the Otemanu and the drive of the whole island frame the volcanic drama, and the sunsets over the lagoon are the essential evenings.
The Islands of the Marquesas and the Spires of the Stone
The Marquesas, the remote group to the north-east of the country, are the wildest and the most dramatically beautiful of the Polynesian islands, rising in the dark basalt spires, the deep valleys and the towering cliffs that shelter the villages of the bay. The islands, the home of the artists that the painter and the singer of the country made known to the world, preserve the most intact of the Polynesian culture, with the dense tattooing, the carving and the dance of the ancient traditions alive in the everyday. The valley of the Taipivai, the sites of the ancient villages and the marae, and the hikes of the waterfalls and the heights of the islands reward the most adventurous travellers, and the isolation of the group, far from the resorts, is its greatest gift.
The Atolls of the Tuamotu and the Pearls of the Lagoon
The Tuamotu, the enormous chain of the coral atolls that the archipelago spreads across the eastern ocean, are the pearl country of the world, and their shallow lagoons, the clear aquamarine interiors of the ringed reefs, hold the black-lipped oysters of the famous Tahitian pearls. The atolls, among the most remote inhabited places on earth, run the small, slow life of the pearl farms and the fishing villages, and the passes of the atolls, the deep channels that open to the ocean, are among the great diving sites of the planet with their sharks, their mantas and their walls. The atolls, reached by the inter-island air service and the supply ships, bring the divers and the pearl buyers to the heart of the empty ocean.
The Tahiti of the Coast and the Culture of the Dance
The main island of the society group, the Tahiti at the heart of the country, holds the capital of the Papeete, the bustling port city of the markets, the food trucks and the painted facades of the small-town south, and the mountains and the waterfalls of the island rise immediately behind it. The island, the seat of the political and the cultural life of the country, anchors the dance, the music and the festivals of the Polynesian renaissance, and the museum of the Tahiti and the islands tells the story of the settlement and the culture of the whole region. The island tours, the surf of the passes and the traditional life of the coastal villages frame the essential introduction to the country.
The Beaches of the Moorea and the Snorkel of the Reef
The island of the Moorea, the green heart of the society group visible from the Tahiti across the channel, pairs the jagged peaks of its interior with the lagoon ring and the white-sand beaches of its coast. The island is the great natural playground of the country, with the coral gardens and the ray stations of its lagoon, the hikes to the viewpoints of its spine and the dolphins of its whale-watching season, and the cycle rondes around the coast run the classic easy day of the region. The snorkels, the kayaks and the boats of the island give the visitor the full palette of the lagoon life, and the sunsets of the Moorea over the turquoise water are among the finest of the whole Pacific.
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- Capital
- Papeete
- Currency
- CFP Franc (XPF)
- Languages
- French, Tahitian
- Calling code
- +689
- Internet TLD
- pf
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter French Polynesia.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of French Polynesia?
Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia, and the country sits in Oceania.
What currency is used in French Polynesia?
You pay with CFP Franc (XPF) in French Polynesia. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in French Polynesia?
The languages we list for French Polynesia are French and Tahitian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for French Polynesia?
The dialling code for French Polynesia is +689 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve French Polynesia?
Faa'a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete is the airport we cover for French Polynesia.
Which cities in French Polynesia do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for French Polynesia: Papeete (capital).