How to get to French Polynesia: airports, flights and border crossings

Use this as a planning grid, not a booking tool. Fares move with season and how early you book; the numbers below are 2026 estimates for a return economy ticket, and every one should be re-checked against the airline before you commit.

Step 1: pick your gateway. Papeete Faa'a (PPT) is where long-haul aircraft land. If you are heading straight to Bora Bora, you can sometimes book an international flight that continues there, but most travellers clear immigration on Tahiti first and then take a domestic hop. Check the current schedule before you plan a same-day connection.

Step 2: choose a routing. From North America the shortest option is a nonstop from Los Angeles, with San Francisco, Seattle and Honolulu also used. From Europe, Paris has the most direct service; London and Dublin travellers usually connect through Paris or a US hub. From Australia and New Zealand, Auckland and Sydney have nonstop service. Tokyo is a useful Asian gateway.

Step 3: book the domestic leg. Air Tahiti covers the island network — Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Rangiroa, Fakarava and the Marquesas. Fares are separate from your international ticket, and inter-island seats on popular routes sell out in high season, so book the onward flight at the same time as the long-haul one.

Step 4: sort the ferry if you are going to Moorea. Ferries from Papeete to Moorea take about 40 minutes and are far cheaper than flying; they run several times a day. This is the one island where you may not need a domestic flight at all.

Step 5: check entry rules for your passport. French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, so the rules follow French practice, with some local variation. Passport validity, visa requirements and any transit rules depend on your nationality — confirm with the French embassy or consulate and the airline before booking.

Step 6: arrange arrival logistics. PPT is about 5 km from central Papeete, so a taxi or a hotel shuttle is quick. Many travellers spend one night on Tahiti before an early domestic flight, which avoids a stressful same-day connection.

There is no land entry. French Polynesia is a set of islands in the South Pacific, so you cannot drive or take a train in from anywhere. The only realistic routes are by air or by sea.

Arriving by sea is possible but needs planning. Yachts and some cargo or passenger ships call at Papeete and other ports; clearance and passenger rules vary, so contact the port or your carrier well ahead. This is not a casual option for a normal holiday.

Baggage on domestic flights is tighter than on long-haul. Air Tahiti limits are lower than most international allowances, and excess is charged, so pack for the smallest leg of the trip, not the biggest.

Season affects both price and comfort. The dry season roughly May to October is the busiest and most expensive; the wet season is cheaper but hotter and wetter. Fares track that pattern closely.

One night on Tahiti is the standard buffer. If your international flight lands in the evening and your island flight leaves early, staying near Papeete removes the risk of a missed connection.