Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Papeete pulses with rhythm—market stalls piled high with vanilla pods and papayas, voices rising over the scent of monoi oil and freshly baked baguettes. It’s easy to find the quieter stories that unfold as well, among the local artists carving Polynesian folklore into wood and inking them as tattoos, or with the musicians tuning ukuleles beneath towering flame trees. As the capital, Papeete balances city life with its beautiful nature and postcard-perfect beaches, from the iconic black sands of Pointe Vénus in the northeast to the soft white sands of Vaiava on the west coast. As the sun sets over nearby Moorea, stroll downtown Papeete’s waterfront promenade, shaded by palms and lined with roulottes serving freshly caught poisson cru and grilled mahi-mahi.