Shopping · Tahiti · French Polynesia
Shopping in Tahiti
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Musée de Tahiti et des Îles, Tahiti · Photo: Wmpearl, CC0
Quick answer
Papeete is French Polynesia's shopping centre, best for Tahitian pearls, pareos, monoi oil and vanilla. Buy pearls from established jewellers who provide certificates. Best souvenirs: Tahitian black pearls, Monoi oil and Vanilla pods.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Tahitian black pearls
Plan a trip to Tahiti
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Where to shop
Rue Jeanne d'Arc and the waterfront
Pearl jewellers and boutiques in central Papeete near the cathedral.
Marché de Papeete upstairs
Handicraft stalls with pareos, carvings, woven goods and jewellery.
Punaauia and Faa'a shopping centres
Supermarkets and malls for everyday goods and souvenirs at local prices.
Markets
Marché de Papeete
The central covered market for fruit, fish, flowers, vanilla and crafts.
What to buy
Tahitian black pearls
Cultured pearls from the Tuamotu and Gambier lagoons in shades from silver to peacock green.
Monoi oil
Coconut oil infused with tiare flowers, used on skin and hair, with a protected designation of origin.
Vanilla pods
Fragrant Tahitian vanilla, sold by weight at the market and specialist shops.
Pareo
Hand-printed sarongs worn as skirts, dresses or beach wraps.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Papeete
Marché de Papeete
The two-level covered market in central Papeete sells tropical fruit, fish, flower crowns made of tiare blossoms, vanilla and monoi oil downstairs, with pareos, carvings and pearls upstairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Po'e, Casse-croûte, Coconut bread and Hinano beer. Market stalls and snack bars, often alongside ma'a Tahiti. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Papeete | $$ | The capital's waterfront, market and ferry terminal |
| Faa'a | $$$ | The airport district on the west coast, with lagoon-view resorts |
| Punaauia | $$$ | West-coast suburbs with white-sand beaches and the island museum |
| Papara and the south coast | $$ | Surf beaches, gardens and quiet villages between Paea and Taravao |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in XPF. Tipping is not customary in French Polynesia and is never expected, though leaving a little for exceptional service is appreciated.
- Dress modestly away from the beach; swimwear is not worn in shops or towns.
- Shop at supermarkets for breakfast and picnic supplies; baguettes are price-regulated and inexpensive.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February–March; the busiest months are July–August.
- July: Heiva i Tahiti — dance, song and traditional sports festival (usually July)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, food lovers and shopping
Papeete
The capital's waterfront, market and ferry terminal
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Tahiti?
Tahitian black pearls, Monoi oil, Vanilla pods and Pareo.
+Where is the best shopping in Tahiti?
Rue Jeanne d'Arc and the waterfront: Pearl jewellers and boutiques in central Papeete near the cathedral.
+What are the best markets in Tahiti?
Marché de Papeete.