Tahiti is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It comprises two parts, Tahiti Nui (the larger, northwestern part) and Tahiti Iti (the smaller, southeastern part).
Tahiti sits in the heart of French Polynesia – a vast expanse of 118 islands scattered over 2.5 million sq km of the South Pacific – located around 4000km (2485mi) northwest of Auckland, New Zealand, and 6120km (3802mi) northwest of Sydney, Australia.
Tahiti is an overseas collectivity (and sole overseas country) of the French Republic.
The most convenient route to Tahiti is by air to Tahiti International Airport (PPT), also called Fa'aa International Airport, located 5km (3mi) southwest of the capital, Papeete, on the northwest coast of Tahiti.
The following are the most convenient and quickest routes to Tahiti International Airport (PPT), Papeete, Tahiti.
Within Tahiti: Air Tahiti operates several interisland flights daily:
Raiatea to Papeete is 45 min, direct flight
Bora Bora to Papeete is 50 min, direct flight
Moorea to Papeete is 15 min, direct flight
Rangiroa to Papeete is 1 hr, direct flight
From New Zealand: Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui operate regular flights to Papeete.
Auckland to Papeete is 4 hrs 50 min, direct flight
From Japan: Air Tahiti Nui operate regular flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Tokyo to Papeete is 11 hrs 5 min, direct flight
From United States: Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air Tahiti Nui, American Airlines, United Airlines and Air France operate the most convenient daily flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Honolulu to Papeete is 5 hrs 55 min, direct flight
Los Angeles to Papeete is 8 hrs 5 min, direct flight
San Francisco to Papeete is 8 hrs 20 min, direct flight
Atlanta to Papeete is 14 hrs 15 min, connecting flightˆ
Boston to Papeete is 15 hrs 30 min, connecting flightˆ
Chicago to Papeete is 13 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
Dallas-Fort Worth to Papeete is 12 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
New York to Papeete is 15 hrs 45 min, connecting flightˆ
From Canada: Air Canada, United Airlines, WestJet, Air France and Air Tahiti Nui offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Toronto to Papeete is 15 hrs 19 min, connecting flightˆ
Montreal to Papeete is 15 hrs 50 min, connecting flightˆ
Vancouver to Papeete is 12 hrs 15 min, connecting flightˆ
From Australia: Air Tahiti Nui, Virgin Australia, Qantas and Air New Zealand offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Adelaide to Papeete is 12 hrs, connecting flightˆ
Brisbane to Papeete is 9 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
Melbourne to Papeete is 9 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
Sydney to Papeete is 9 hrs 5 min, connecting flightˆ
Perth to Papeete is 14 hrs, 45 min, connecting flightˆ
From China: Japan Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui and Air New Zealand offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Beijing to Papeete is 17 hrs, connecting flightˆ
Shanghai to Papeete is 15 hrs 55 min, connecting flightˆ
Hong Kong to Papeete is 17 hrs 5 min, connecting flightˆ
From Singapore: Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui and Singapore Airlines operate regular flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Singapore to Papeete is 15 hrs 25 min, connecting flightˆ
From United Kingdom: Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air Tahiti Nui and American Airlines offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
London to Papeete is 21 hrs 20 min, connecting flightˆ
From France: Air France, United Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Paris to Papeete is 21 hrs 35 min, connecting flightˆ
From Germany: Lufthansa and Air Tahiti Nui offer the most convenient flights to Papeete, Tahiti.
Berlin to Papeete is 23 hrs 45 min, connecting flightˆ
Dusseldorf to Papeete is 23 hrs 50 min, connecting flightˆ
Frankfurt to Papeete is 23 hrs 15 min, connecting flightˆ
Hamburg to Papeete is 24 hrs, connecting flightˆ
Munich to Papeete is 21 hrs 40 min, connecting flightˆ
(ˆincludes transfer time.)
Tahiti International Airport (PPT), also known as Fa'aa International Airport is located 5km (3mi) southwest of Papeete, the capital city of French Polynesia.
Hotels can arrange transport by prior arrangement. The public bus and taxis are available outside the terminal.
Tahiti is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It comprises two parts, Tahiti Nui (the larger, northwestern part) and Tahiti Iti (the smaller, southeastern part).
Hiring a car is the best way of seeing the sights and getting around Tahiti.
Buses, scooters and taxis (very expensive) are available. Some resorts offer bicycles for free or to rent. Traffic drives on the right.
Most islands in the Society group have one road that hugs the coast all the way around. Tahiti, Mo’orea, Bora Bora, Ra’iatea, Taha’a and Huahine have paved and reasonably well-maintained roads, as well as minor roads leading inland that are often rough, and almost always require a 4WD.
Air Tahiti offer daily flights from Tahiti to the neighbouring Society Islands of Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti, Moorea and Raiatea as well as the remote archipelagos, including Tuamotu East and North with Manihi, Rangiroa, Takapoto and Tikehau; Austral Islands of Rurutu and Tubuai; Marquesas Islands of Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva.
Fast inter-island catamarans and regular ferries exist between Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea, Papeete and Raiatea. The port of Papeete is the ferry link between the main island of Tahiti and the rest of French Polynesia.
More about how to get around Tahiti…
Latest update: How to get to Tahiti: 20 April, 2022
Advertising