Papeete weather by month & the best time to visit
French Polynesia · beach resort · tropical — wet & dry seasons climate
The best time to visit Papeete is September — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 88/100), with August and July close behind. Papeete averages about 2,742 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 26°C / 79°F and roughly 40 mm of rain in September.
When is the best time to visit Papeete?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Papeete is September, then August and July. The dullest month is January (68/100, 190 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Papeete?
Papeete gets a lot of sun: around 2,742 hours a year. September (88/100) is noticeably better than January (68). It ranks #23 of 25 destinations in French Polynesia for annual sunshine, below the national median of 3,026 hours. Rain has a clear season: the wettest stretch, around January, carries about 44% of the annual 1,331 mm.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 190 mm | 12 | 29° / 84°F |
| February | 68 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 175 mm | 12 | 29° / 84°F |
| March | 71 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 134 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| April | 74 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 116 mm | 10 | 29° / 84°F |
| May | 79 | 28° / 82°F | 26° / 79°F | 90 mm | 8 | 29° / 84°F |
| June | 82 | 27° / 81°F | 26° / 79°F | 69 mm | 7 | 28° / 82°F |
| July | 86 | 26° / 79°F | 25° / 77°F | 52 mm | 7 | 27° / 81°F |
| August | 87 | 26° / 79°F | 25° / 77°F | 47 mm | 9 | 27° / 81°F |
| September | 88 | 26° / 79°F | 25° / 77°F | 40 mm | 10 | 27° / 81°F |
| October | 80 | 27° / 81°F | 25° / 77°F | 84 mm | 11 | 28° / 82°F |
| November | 74 | 27° / 81°F | 26° / 79°F | 113 mm | 12 | 28° / 82°F |
| December | 68 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 221 mm | 12 | 29° / 84°F |
Sea temperature in Papeete by month
The sea off Papeete is warmest in March at around 30°C / 86°F, and coolest in July at 27°C / 81°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
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Head-to-head
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Papeete: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Papeete?
Papeete is a beach resort in French Polynesia with a tropical — wet & dry seasons climate — the sea reaches 30°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does Papeete get a year?
Papeete gets about 2,742 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around September.
When is the best time to visit Papeete?
The sunniest time to visit Papeete is September, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 88/100 (with August and July close behind). Expect daytime highs around 26°C / 79°F.
What is the least sunny month in Papeete?
January is the least sunny month in Papeete, scoring 68/100 with about 190 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Papeete?
The sea in Papeete ranges from about 27°C (July) to 30°C (March). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Papeete?
The typical midday UV index in Papeete peaks around 12 (extreme) in January, easing to about 7 (high) in June. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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