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Where to Stay in Moorea —
Overwater Bungalows,
Hotels & Lodges, Guesthouses
Where to Stay in Moorea: Our Picks by Type of Stay
Moorea is 30 to 45 minutes from Papeete by ferry, and it is the island in French Polynesia with the widest choice of places to stay: three resorts with overwater bungalows, and above all a wealth of lodges, small hotels and independent bungalows (fare) right by the sea. We live here: this guide does not list every place on the island, it gives you the addresses we genuinely recommend, grouped into three ways of travelling, and helps you pick the right coast.
Budget, best time to go, islands, itineraries, packing list.
Everything you need to know about overwater bungalows in French Polynesia
Our Best Hotels in Moorea at a Glance
| Accommodation | Category | Budget | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofitel Kia Ora | Overwater · 5★ | from ~€2,100 | East coast · Temae | Romance, beach, renovated 2026 |
| Hilton Moorea Lagoon | Overwater · 5★ | from ~€1,700 | North coast · Papetoai | Spa, beautiful lagoon, Hilton Honors |
| Manava Suite Resort | Overwater · 4★ | from ~€1,000 | North coast · Maharepa | First overwater, families |
| Moorea Beach Villas | Hotel & lodge | €€€ | West coast · Haapiti | Private villa, families, friends |
| Moorea Beach Lodge | Hotel & lodge | €€€ | North-west · Hauru | Couples, boutique hotel |
| Cook's Bay Hotel & Suites | Hotel & lodge | €€ | Cook's Bay · Paopao | Spectacular setting, restaurant |
| Niu Beach Hotel | Hotel & lodge | €€ | North-west · Tiahura | Families, kitchenette |
| Moorea Island Beach Hotel | Hotel & lodge | €€ | West coast · Haapiti | Sunsets, restaurants on foot |
| Linareva Beach Resort | Hotel & lodge | €€ | West coast · Haapiti | Private beach, family welcome |
| Moorea Sunset Beach | Hotel & lodge | € | West coast · near Tiahura | Small budget, quiet |
| Fare Edith | Family guesthouse | € | Moorea | Private beach, stay with locals |
Indicative overwater prices (per night, overwater bungalow), varying with the season: add 20 to 30% in July–August. € = most affordable, €€€ = most upscale.
👉 Click on a hotel name to see the exact price for your dates on Booking.com.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations remain independent.
Where to Stay in Moorea: Which Coast to Choose?
You can drive around Moorea in an hour, but the atmosphere changes a lot from one coast to another. The right location depends on how you want to spend your days.
The best beaches, the sunsets, and the most restaurants within walking distance. Our favourite area for a first stay.
For: couples, families, beach and snorkelling lovers.
Between Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay: the island's most spectacular scenery at the foot of the mountains, and a central base for excursions.
For: hikers, photographers, active stays.
Temae beach, sunrise over Tahiti and easy access to the ferry. Quieter in the evening, with fewer restaurants nearby.
For: short stays, late arrivals, romance at the Sofitel.
Overwater Bungalows in Moorea: Sofitel, Hilton, Manava
Three resorts offer overwater bungalows in Moorea. Unlike Bora Bora, they are not on isolated motus: you are on the main island and can head out on foot, by scooter or by car. At five-star level, expect to pay 20 to 40% less than in Bora Bora.
Within the same resort, the price gap between an overwater bungalow and a garden bungalow is huge: up to three times more to sleep above the water. At the Sofitel, expect around €2,100 a night overwater versus €700 for a garden bungalow; at the Hilton, €1,700 versus €600; at the Manava, €1,000 versus €400.
Our advice: book one or two nights overwater for the experience, then the rest of your stay in a garden bungalow at the same resort. You enjoy the same beach, pools and restaurants for a fraction of the price.
The Sofitel Kia Ora is Moorea's most intimate and romantic resort, and it was renovated in 2026: you enjoy freshly updated facilities. Its signature assets: a beautiful white-sand beach on the east coast, and an orientation that gives the overwater bungalows a spectacular sunrise over Tahiti. The atmosphere is hushed, the staff warm, and the bungalows well designed, with generous decks and direct lagoon access.
It is also one of the best snorkelling spots in Moorea: in front of the resort, the coral is still well preserved, and you simply climb down your bungalow's ladder to swim among the reef fish.
Our first choice for a romantic stay or a honeymoon in Moorea. Freshly renovated, with its beach, intimate atmosphere, preserved coral and sunrise from the deck: hard to beat on the island.
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea — renovated in 2026, overwater bungalows above still well-preserved coral, with sunrise over Tahiti.
The Hilton Moorea sits on the north coast, facing Opunohu Bay. The lagoon is very beautiful, with spectacular turquoise water seen from the overwater decks. To be honest, though, the coral under the bungalows has bleached, and the snorkelling is less rich than at the Sofitel. The spa is the best in Moorea, the atmosphere more international, and Hilton Honors points go a long way here.
Our first choice for spa lovers and Hilton Honors members who want a very photogenic lagoon setting. If snorkelling from your bungalow is your priority, choose the Sofitel.
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa — aerial view of the overwater bungalows above a very beautiful lagoon, facing Opunohu Bay.
The Manava is Moorea's most affordable overwater resort: from around €1,000 per night, well below the Hilton and about half the Sofitel. It is not a five-star (simpler finishes, smaller bungalows), but the overwater experience is real, close to Cook's Bay, and the resort is professionally run. Snorkelling in front of the bungalows is of little interest: to see rays, sharks and turtles, plan a lagoon excursion instead.
Combine a few nights overwater (~€1,000) with other nights in a garden suite (~€400), or at one of our hotels and lodges on the west coast.
Manava Suite Resort Moorea — the most affordable option for a first overwater experience on the island.
Beachfront Hotels & Lodges in Moorea
This is Moorea's great strength: the island has a wealth of lodges, small hotels and independent bungalows (fare), with views of the lagoon or the mountains. Comfortable and often right on the water, they offer privacy and the freedom to live at your own pace, for a fraction of the price of a resort. Here are the ones we have tested and recommend, from the most upscale to the most affordable.
Bungalows and villas facing the lagoon, some with a private pool, full kitchen and washing machine. The privacy of a villa right on the water, with the freedom to live at your own pace.
Best for: couples, families, groups of friends
A charming small lodge of around a dozen rooms and bungalows, on one of Moorea's most beautiful beaches. Beachfront bungalows and a large shared lounge opening onto the lagoon: a calm, elegant boutique atmosphere.
Best for: couples, honeymoon on a budget
A modern, well-designed hotel on Cook's Bay, facing the mountains. Pool, suites with kitchenette and an excellent restaurant looking onto the bay. For those who prefer the spectacular setting of the bays to a beach.
Best for: hikers, photographers, active stays
16 bungalows on a lovely palm-fringed beach, all with a fully equipped kitchenette. Kayaks, paddleboards and bikes available, restaurants within walking distance.
Best for: families
Simple, air-conditioned bungalows on the beach, with a large shared lounge facing the sunset and a guest kitchen. Free kayaks and bikes, snorkelling right in front, and around ten restaurants within walking distance.
Best for: couples, independent travellers
Bungalows in a tropical garden with a private beach and a pontoon for swimming or watching the sunset. Kayaks and bikes available, units equipped for self-catering, and a much-appreciated family welcome.
Best for: couples, families
Garden-view or sea-view bungalows on the sunset coast, a few minutes' walk from Tiahura beach. A simple, quiet address to enjoy the lagoon without breaking the bank.
Best for: small budgets
Cook's Bay Hotel & Suites — on Cook's Bay, one of the most spectacular settings in Moorea.
Family Guesthouses in Moorea
Moorea has a wealth of lodges, small bungalows and independent fare with sea or mountain views, but in the end there are few true family guesthouses where you stay with a local family, with shared meals and daily life with your hosts. You will find this kind of stay much more on the other islands: Huahine, Maupiti, Taha'a, Rangiroa… But there is one exception we love.
An incredible spot with its own private beach, and a lovely family who welcomes you as if you were at home. This is the address we recommend to experience Moorea with locals, with all the warmth of a true Polynesian guesthouse.
Most family guesthouses in French Polynesia are not listed on Booking: you will find them on Facebook or Google Maps instead, and book directly by message or phone. Don't hesitate to contact them: replies are often quick and warm.
Taahiamanu beach in Moorea — the lagoon is just as enjoyable from a guesthouse or a small fare as from a resort.
Which Stay in Moorea Suits You?
Overwater: Sofitel Kia Ora, freshly renovated, with its beach and sunrise over Tahiti. Without overwater: Moorea Beach Lodge, intimate and on the beach.
Sofitel Kia Ora: one of the best snorkelling spots in Moorea, with coral still well preserved under the bungalows. Smaller budget: the west coast, with snorkelling right in front of your hotel.
Niu Beach Hotel (kitchenette, beach) or Moorea Beach Villas for the space of a villa. Overwater: the Manava.
Hilton Moorea: the best spa on the island and a very beautiful lagoon, also ideal for Hilton Honors members.
Moorea Beach Villas: a villa with a private pool often works out cheaper per person than a hotel.
Moorea Sunset Beach or Linareva; to stay with locals, with a private beach, the Fare Edith. First overwater on a budget: the Manava.
Two or three nights overwater at the Sofitel, Hilton or Manava for the experience, then the rest of your stay at a lodge on the west coast or at the Fare Edith: you live the overwater dream, and enjoy the beaches, sunsets and Polynesian hospitality for a fraction of the price.
Overwater in Moorea or Bora Bora?
| Moorea | Bora Bora | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level overwater | ~€1,000/night (Manava) | ~€800/night (Maitai) |
| Five-star overwater | €1,700 – 2,100 | €2,300 – 3,700 |
| Access from Tahiti | 30–45 min ferry, no flight | 45 min flight + boat |
| Freedom to explore | Excellent — main island | Limited — most resorts on motus |
| Choice beyond overwater | Very wide: lodges, hotels, fare | More limited and pricier |
| Iconic view | Volcanic bays · Tahiti | Mount Otemanu |
First trip on a mid-range budget: Moorea is the best choice. Bora Bora is on your bucket list: it is worth every extra euro. Two weeks ahead of you: do both, the experiences complement each other.
Practical Tips for Booking in Moorea
Ferry or flight from Papeete?
The Terevau and Aremiti ferries (30 to 45 minutes, around €15 one way) are comfortable and frequent, and drop you at Vaiare on the east coast. The Air Tahiti flight (10 minutes) is only worth it if you have a lot of luggage or tight timings.
Plan how you will get around
Apart from the resorts, which offer shuttles from the ferry, most lodges, hotels and guesthouses assume you will get around on your own. A rental car is the most practical option; on the west coast, a bike or scooter is often enough to reach beaches and restaurants.
Book early in high season
July–August and the French school holidays are in high demand, especially for lodges, small hotels and guesthouses that only have a few rooms. May, June, September and October offer the same weather at lower prices.
FAQ — Where to Stay in Moorea
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