Downtown Papeete Self - Guided Tour

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Downtown Papeete Self - Guided Tour When tourists think of Tahiti, they imagine beautiful islands with a dreamy blue sea and miles of white sandy beaches, but Papeete is in reality part of a modern-day bustling city. Though a fairly young city, Papeete has several beautiful places which are a must visit including City Hall, the museum and the gorgeous waterfront. Take the walking tour below to explore the most exciting tourist hotspots of downtown Papeete. Guide Location: Tahiti» Papeete # of Attractions: 10 Tour Duration: 1 hour(s) Travel Distance: 1.8 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" downloadable on itunes App Store and Google Play. The app provides turn-by-turn GPS navigation to guide you from one tour sight to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Papeete. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit https://www.gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Presidential Palace B) Territorial Assembly C) Waterfront D) Le Musee de la Perle E) Sibani Joallier F) Notre Dame Cathedral G) Marche Municipale H) Tahiti Pearl Market I) City Hall J) Place Vaiete Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - A) Presidential Palace (must see) Newly built, the edifice is both the working area and the living quarters of the president. Since Mr.Temaru came into this building as President of the Government of French Polynesia in May, 2004, taking his position from Mr. Gaston Flosse, it has created the opportunity for all to visit inside the former President's Palace. Gaston Flosse's presidential palace is situated near the chic shopping district Center Vaima. Address: Avenue Pouvanaa, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and FRED B) Territorial Assembly (must see) Built in 1960, the building is the main part of the Polynesian government and includes the Territorial Assembly edifice, the High Commissioner's residence and a once popular clubhouse of Paul Gauguin. The edifice is built in a traditional style and replaces the former building that was suffering from termite damage. It was also the royal residence and palace of Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti, who ruled from 1827 to 1877. Address: Rue du Docteur Cassiau, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and Scott OIiver C) Waterfront Stretching from the Place To'Ata to the Place Vaiete, the waterfront is the perfect place for a romantic evening. The waterfront has a holiday atmosphere and is always buzzing with activity. The great flavours of caramel popcorn and candies fill the air. Along the waterfront you can also see a park with a wonderful landscape and admire the Moorea Island which is a very scenic view from the promenade. You'll find various shops selling local food and a very festive atmosphere. Address: Waterfront, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and giddyuphorsey Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - D) Le Musee de la Perle (must see) Built in 1998 by Robert Wan, a very famous black pearl specialist, the Pearl Museum not only covers the history of pearl cultivation, but also cultivation techniques and the business aspect of pearl trading. Enter the amazing world of pearls and jewels. It showcases a great number of special pearl elements on its display, the highlight being the world s largest Tahitian pearl. Art, history, mythology, philosophy and religion are presented as well as technical explanations. Address: Rue Jeanne D'arc, Centre Vaima, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and Михал Орела E) Sibani Joallier (must see) Papeete has few famous shops that sell the most unique pearls and it is always hard to decide from which one to buy. Sibani Joallier is famous for its pearl creations with one of the most fine pearl jewelry and also for its original gifts, watches and more souvenirs. The designer watch range, adorned with pearls should also be included in your list. You can trust this shop for their best quality and competitive prices. Address: Vaima Center, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and The ChainMaille Lady's buddy icon The ChainMaille Lady F) Notre Dame Cathedral (must see) Started in 1856 and opened in 1875, the cathedral is one of the oldest and largest churches in this town. Situated in the centre of town, it was set up with stones brought from Australia and granite from the Gambier Archipelago in 1875. After hitting a financial crisis, the project was shut down. The official opening took place in 1869 and the final product is what you see today. When the church is opened, go inside where it is quiet and cool, and look at the paintings of the Crucifixion. Address: Rue du Generale de Gaulle, Papeete, 98713, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and C r u s a d e r Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - G) Marche Municipale (must see) Situated right in the centre of the town, this market is part of a highly economical shopping area and is considered to be the heart of all local activities. It is a two-storey, contemporary building with an escalator where the first floor is filled with fresh food, while on the second floor you will find crafts, pearls, unique souvenirs and local arts. The perfect time to visit here is Sunday mornings, when residents from all over the island come to shop. Address: Rue du 22 Septembre, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and FRED H) Tahiti Pearl Market Situated not far from the Papeete Market, this pearl shop is a newly opened store and offers Tahitian cultured pearls like none other. Here you will be treated to some of the finest jewelry in town. The shop is popular for its wonderful pearl creations and the prices quoted are highly competitive. The designs are a unique mix of local craftsmanship with a touch of modernistic style. The clients are given a free hand in picking pearls of their choice and are also involved in the design process. Address: Rue Colette, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and Milica Sekulic I) City Hall (must see) Inaugurated in 1990, the town hall is one of the most beautiful structures that is a re-creation of the original palace and royal residence of Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti. The city hall architecture is of Neoclassical style and the pink exterior catches the eye. When you enter inside the building you will see beautiful sculpted glass, Roco lifts and other pieces of historical significance. City Hall is surrounded by a beautiful garden which has several sculptures and artifacts. Address: Rue Paul Gauguin, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and C r u s a d e r Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -

Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 - J) Place Vaiete (must see) The place is an exciting, modern square with benches, a waterfall and public toilets that are very clean and open all day; there is even a security guard. In the evening, the space for food stalls and musical events of all kinds is put to goo duse. Here you can enjoy a lovely day until about 3 am, where you can have a cheap meal at one of the roulottes (mobile dining vans). Address: Place Vaiete, Papeete, Tahiti Image Courtesy of Flickr and drip&ju Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 -