One of the best ways to get a feel for the city is to take a walking tour, or for the more adventurous, a cycling or Segway tour. Check out the Municipal Market, the Black Pearl Museum, tropical parks and gardens, and more.

Soak up some sun and play in the sand and sea. Convenient if you’re staying in town, the beach closest to Papeete is the black-sand Bain Lot, whose waves, curiously, break in both directions.

Sample a range of affordable local cuisine at the food trucks that set up along Papeete’s waterfront every evening from about 6pm. There’s live music on weekends, too.

Hire a car or join a guided tour of the island, then head out to see some of Tahiti’s other treasures: the Arahurahu Marae, the old Point Venus lighthouse, the Vaipahi Gardens, the Arahoho Blowhole, and the Maraa Grotto.

Get out onto the water and spot marine life while taking in sea and coastal views of Tahiti. Dolphin-watching cruises are a fun family-friendly activity, and often include time for swimming and snorkeling. Alternatively, wait until early evening and set out on a sunset cruise.

Splurge on an upmarket meal in Papeete on your last night in Tahiti. Fresh seafood and French-style meats feature prominently on the menus of Tahiti’s finest restaurants. Wash it down with some locally made wine, produced with grapes from the neighboring atoll of Rangiroa.