The Market (Le Marché)
At the Papeete open-air market,
you will find the works! On the downstairs level there is meat,
produce, the freshest in fish, pineapples, flowers, plants, pastries
and over a dozen banana varieties. Upstairs are pareos in every
color of the rainbow, post cards, a restaurant and various gift
shops filled with souvenirs. On both levels there are shells, straw
bags, Tahitian soaps, Monoi oil, wood carvings, ukuleles, and local
vanilla beans. Around the outside perimeter of The Market, you will
find local textiles hand crafted into table cloths, quilts (called
tifaifai) and pillows. Here, you will also see Tahitians making
fragrant fresh leis (flower necklaces) and heis (flower crowns).
If you need a mid-day refreshment buy a coconut and they will cut
the top open for you and drop a straw into it. Now you know you
are in Tahiti!
The Market is open everyday from 5am to 6pm.
 Le
Marche History
In 1850, the
Papeete Market originally started by selling fish, fruits, vegetables
and poultry. In 1869 it moved to its current location. In 1927,
The Market was replaced by a metal structure and by 1960 grew to
over half and acre. Then in 1987, The Market space was tripled to
meet the needs of over 500,000 local and international visitors
it attracts annually.
The Market is open Monday - Saturday from 5am to 6pm and Sunday
from 5am to 9am.
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