Summer
Dec → Feb27 to 28°
nights 24°
- 27 rainy days · 423 mm
- 10.2 h of sun
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit French Polynesia?
- Jan27°not recommended
- Feb28°not recommended
- Mar28°not recommended
- Apr28°fair
- May27°recommended
- Jun26°recommended
- Jul26°recommended
- Aug26°recommended
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct26°recommended
- Nov27°fair
- Dec28°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in French Polynesia, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 24° | 10 h | 463 mm | 28 d | 29° | |
| February | 28° | 24° | 10.1 h | 423 mm | 26 d | 29° | |
| March | 28° | 24° | 10.7 h | 256 mm | 27 d | 30° | |
| April | 28° | 24° | 10.5 h | 248 mm | 25 d | 29° | |
| May | 27° | 24° | 10.2 h | 134 mm | 21 d | 29° | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 23° | 9.9 h | 170 mm | 21 d | 28° | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 22° | 10.1 h | 156 mm | 20 d | 27° | ✓ |
| August | 26° | 22° | 10.4 h | 141 mm | 19 d | 27° | ✓ |
| September | 26° | 22° | 11.1 h | 161 mm | 22 d | 27° | ✓ |
| October | 26° | 23° | 11 h | 215 mm | 23 d | 27° | ✓ |
| November | 27° | 23° | 11 h | 286 mm | 25 d | 28° | |
| December | 28° | 24° | 10.5 h | 384 mm | 28 d | 28° |
The four seasons in French Polynesia, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Papeete (Tahiti)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May27 to 28°
nights 24°
- 24 rainy days · 213 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 29°
Winter
Jun → Aug26°
nights 22 to 23°
- 20 rainy days · 156 mm
- 10.1 h of sun
- sea 27°
Spring
Sep → Nov26 to 27°
nights 22 to 23°
- 23 rainy days · 221 mm
- 11 h of sun
- sea 27°
Book early for May to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in French Polynesia, month by month
EventsHeiva i TahitiJulyHumpback whalesJuly to NovemberHawaiki Nui Va'aOctober to NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in French Polynesia, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JulyHeiva i Tahiti big crowds
A month of dance, singing and traditional sports competitions in Papeete, on To'ata Square.
- July to NovemberHumpback whales
The females come to give birth in the warm waters of Moorea, Rurutu and Tahiti, from July to November.
- October to NovemberHawaiki Nui Va'a big crowds
Three stages of outrigger canoe racing between Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora, followed by the whole country.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit French Polynesia, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇫 Bora Bora | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇵🇫 Moorea | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended27°24° at night
- 463 mm · 28 d
- 10 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 423 mm · 26 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 256 mm · 27 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair28°24° at night
- 248 mm · 25 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended27°24° at night
- 134 mm · 21 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 29°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended26°23° at night
- 170 mm · 21 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended26°22° at night
- 156 mm · 20 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
August
Recommended26°22° at night
- 141 mm · 19 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
September
Recommended26°22° at night
- 161 mm · 22 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended26°23° at night
- 215 mm · 23 d
- 11 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
November
Fair27°23° at night
- 286 mm · 25 d
- 11 h
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
December
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 384 mm · 28 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 28°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 463 mm of rain over 28 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 423 mm of rain over 26 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 256 mm of rain over 27 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 248 mm over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 134 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 170 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 156 mm over 20 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 141 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 161 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 26 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 215 mm over 23 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
November. 27 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 286 mm over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 384 mm of rain over 28 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit French Polynesia?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 26 to 27 °C, with 21 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Papeete (Tahiti)).
Which month should you avoid in French Polynesia?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 463 mm over 28 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Papeete (Tahiti)).
What is the hottest month in French Polynesia?
February, with 28 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Papeete (Tahiti)).
What is the coldest month in French Polynesia?
June, with 26 °C at best during the day and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Papeete (Tahiti)).
What is the driest month in French Polynesia?
May: 134 mm over 21 days of rain, against 463 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in French Polynesia?
September, with 11.1 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in French Polynesia?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 27 to 30 °C depending on the month (warmest in March), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Bora Bora).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable French Polynesia guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Brenda Holland / Pexels · Adrien Daurenjou / Pexels · Relaxing Journeys / Pexels · Franco Solari / Pexels · SlimMars 13 / Pexels · Thomas balabaud / Pexels