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A tropical idyll of white sand beaches and turquoise seas, in French Polynesia you could wake in an overwater bungalow, breakfast looking out over crystalline seas, then spend your day swimming and snorkeling over pristine coral reefs teeming with kaleidoscopic fish. It’s an ideal destination for dedicated downtime but with a backdrop of volcanic peaks and lush rainforest, adventure awaits inland too.

You could visit pearl farms and vanilla plantations, hike to waterfalls and cool off in their plunge pools, visit royal villages and sacred temples, or explore the tropical forest and ragged peaks as you tour Moorea’s interior by 4x4. With a rich tradition of music, dance and folklore, you can learn about Polynesia’s ancient culture on a sunset cruise aboard a catamaran, meet local artists and craftspeople, or possibly charter a yacht and set sail.

French Polynesia has some of the most memorable places to stay in the South Pacific from five-star resorts and intimate private islands to simple thatched lodges looking out over endless seas. Stay in an overwater bungalow, where breakfast is brought by outrigger canoe or bed down in a small lodge where the views from your terrace are divine.

You can expect impeccable service, infinity pools and a choice of restaurants at the islands’ five-star resorts, a choice of overwater bungalows and waterfront villas in most destinations, and a range of local guesthouses set in tropical gardens where facilities may be simpler but the welcome is just as warm. Most hotels offer water sports with kayaks and snorkels for exploring local reefs, or diving options on site or a short boat ride away. To get some ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in French Polynesia.

French Polynesia is an ideal place to stay on a private island. You’ll enjoy peace and serenity, blissful views, and personal service. One of our preferred private island stays in French Polynesia is Vahine Island Resort, an idyllic tropical escape.

French Polynesia stretches across an area roughly the size of Western Europe and its five archipelagos offer the visitor a wide choice of places to go. Each island has its own draws, from the tranquil lagoons and chic art galleries of Bora Bora to the fruit plantations and lush forests of Huahine, or thick jungle and network of hiking trails in Tahiti.

Tahiti is the main island, and where you’ll find the capital and the international airport of Pape’ete. It’s a good base for a short stopover, but with more time, it’s worth venturing further afield or planning a trip that takes in more than one archipelago. A ferry ride from Tahiti is Moorea where white-sand beaches sit between rugged peaks blanketed in lush forest, but if you’d like to get off the beaten track, the Marquesas Islands are more rustic and a great place to delve into Polynesian history and culture.

From the west coast of the US, it takes about nine hours to fly to French Polynesia. There are no direct flights from the east coast, so the journey usually includes a layover in Los Angeles and takes between 15 and 18 hours.

French Polynesia has three different time zones. The time zone in the Gambier Islands is UTC-9 hours, in the Marquesas it’s UTC-9.5 hours, while Tahiti time is UTC-10 hours.

Flying is the fastest and easiest way to get between archipelagos in French Polynesia, but if you want to travel between islands on the same archipelago, you can take a ferry or speedboat. On larger islands such as Tahiti you can rent a car to get around, book a car with a driver, or arrange private transfers between destinations. The local bus service is a great way to meet people and visit local communities, but services can be infrequent, especially on Saturdays, and there’s no Sunday service.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for French Polynesia. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Your doctor is best placed to provide you with up-to-date immunization advice for French Polynesia. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the  but you should also ensure you’re up to date with all the recommended vaccinations for your home country before you travel.