Aerial view of Bora Bora with Mount Otemanu, Mount Pahia , and the surrounding motus, taken from a helicopter in September 2012.

French Polynesia

Sculpted by sky-piercing, moss-green peaks and lined with vivid turquoise lagoons, sultry French Polynesia is a place to take it slow and experience warm, laid-back island culture.

Best Places to Visit

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Cooks Bay in Moorea

    Cook’s Bay

    Mo'orea

    The spectacular Cook’s Bay is something of a misnomer because Cook actually anchored in Opunohu Bay. With Mt Rotui as a backdrop, Cook’s Bay is a lovely…

  • Sailing ship, Opunohu bay, Moorea, Society Islands, French Polynesia (May, 2009)

    Opunohu Bay

    Mo'orea

    Magnificent Opunohu Bay feels wonderfully fresh and isolated. The coastal road rounds Mt Rotui, and at about PK14 turns inland along the eastern side of…

  • Kamuihei, Tahakia & Teiipoka

    Kamuihei, Tahakia & Teiipoka

    Nuku Hiva

    About 300m towards Taipivai from the Hikokua site, these three connecting sites make up the largest excavated archaeological area of Nuku Hiva. A team led…

  • Tohua Koueva

    Tohua Koueva

    Nuku Hiva

    It’s believed that this extensive communal site, with its paved esplanade, belonged to the war chief Pakoko, who was killed by the French in 1845. Today…

  • Hanahevane Bay

    Hanahevane Bay

    The Marquesas

    This glorious bay is caressed by jade-green waters and is studded with a broad strand of golden sand. It’s a good picnic spot (despite a number of pesky…

  • Beach at Tuherahera (Tikehau atoll)

    Tuherahera

    The Tuamotus

    Most islanders live in Tuherahera, in the southwest of the atoll. Find peace in this pretty village, bursting with uru (breadfruit), coconut trees,…

  • marae Papiro (archaelogical site)

    Marae Papiro

    The Tuamotus

    Marae Papiro is a well-kept marae (traditional temple) on the edge of a hoa, about 14km from the village. In the centre of this marae you can see the…

  • French Polynesia, Society Islands, Windward Islands, Tahiti Island, Papenoo

    Papenoo

    Around Tahiti Nui

    There’s a popular surf break just before the headland that signals the start of the small village of Papenoo. A long bridge crosses the Papenoo River at…

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Articles

Latest stories from French Polynesia

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© Caitlin Riddell / Lonely Planet

Luxury

Checking In: Sofitel Kia Ora Mo’orea, kick back and relax in the luxe overwater bungalows

Aug 3, 2022 • 10 min read

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French Polynesia and beyond

Beyond French Polynesia
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