French Polynesia
The best time to visit
When to go to French Polynesia
Go in the dry season, May to October, for mild trade winds, low rain and the lagoons at their clearest, with July and August the driest months. The wet season, November to April, is hotter, stickier and much wetter, wettest around December.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Papeete. Higher is better. Some links on this page are affiliate links, at no cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Jul.
Either side of peak, with thinner crowds and better rates.
Rainy season.
In short
The year at a glance
French Polynesia scatters 118 islands across an area the size of Europe: Tahiti's green peaks, Bora Bora's lagoon and overwater bungalows, and the diving atolls of the Tuamotus. It is warm year round, with a drier southern-winter half and a hot, wet summer. We rate on Papeete, Tahiti's capital.
May to October is the season to aim for: rainfall drops to a third of the summer's, humidity eases and the trade winds blow. It is also peak season, so the famous resorts book out early. November to April is greener and cheaper, with rain in heavy bursts and only a rare brush with cyclones.
Month by month
French Polynesia month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Papeete.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rating | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 260 mm | Fair 40 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| February | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 240 mm | Fair 43 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
| March | 32°C / 90°F | 23°C / 73°F | 200 mm | Good 48 | Hot and wet. |
| April | 32°C / 90°F | 23°C / 73°F | 140 mm | Great 59 | Hot and wet. |
| May | 31°C / 88°F | 22°C / 72°F | 100 mm | Ideal 76 | Hot with a little rain. |
| June | 30°C / 86°F | 22°C / 72°F | 75 mm | Ideal 86 | Hot with a little rain. |
| July | 30°C / 86°F | 21°C / 70°F | 55 mm | Ideal 93 | Hot with a little rain. Papeete hotels in July |
| August | 30°C / 86°F | 21°C / 70°F | 55 mm | Ideal 93 | Hot with a little rain. Papeete hotels in August |
| September | 30°C / 86°F | 21°C / 70°F | 65 mm | Ideal 90 | Hot with a little rain. Papeete hotels in September |
| October | 31°C / 88°F | 22°C / 72°F | 95 mm | Ideal 78 | Hot with a little rain. |
| November | 31°C / 88°F | 22°C / 72°F | 160 mm | Good 55 | Hot and wet. |
| December | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 300 mm | Fair 35 | Hot and very wet, monsoon rains. |
By region
Where you go changes when you go
Tahiti and Moorea
The gateway islands: peaks, black-sand beaches and ferry-close Moorea. Driest May to October, with the Heiva festival in July.
Bora Bora and the Society Islands
The overwater-bungalow lagoons of Bora Bora, Taha'a and Huahine, at their sunniest in the dry season.
The Tuamotus
Rangiroa and Fakarava, world-class pass diving on drier, lower atolls that shrug off much of Tahiti's rain.
Go for
Best time to visit French Polynesia for
Overwater-bungalow trips
May to October for the surest sun. Book far ahead for July and August.
Diving and snorkelling
Year round in 26 to 29 degree water; the dry season has the calmest seas, and humpbacks pass August to October.
Surfing
The big southern swells hit Teahupo'o May to October; gentler reef breaks run all year.
Best value
November to April, when resort rates ease and the islands turn green, accepting bursts of heavy rain.
On the calendar
What is on, and when
Heiva i Tahiti, July
A month of dance, drumming and outrigger racing, the biggest festival in the South Pacific.
Whale season, Aug to Oct
Humpbacks cruise past Tahiti and Moorea, with regulated swim encounters on offer.
Rainy season
Nov to Apr.
Where to stay
Where to stay in French Polynesia
Compare hotels and rentals around Papeete, then book the month you want.
Ready to book?
Rates climb in peak season, so the best-weather months pay to book early. Shoulder and low months are the value windows.
Prefer to sort flights first? Compare flights
Questions
Good to know
What is the best time to visit Bora Bora and Tahiti?
Does French Polynesia get cyclones?
Is the wet season worth it for the lower prices?
Where else, and when
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