City centre
Market and waterfrontThe market, harbour and shops.
Samoa city guide
Apia Travel Guide
Apia is Samoa's small, easy-going capital on the north coast of Upolu. Eat a cheap plate at the market, snorkel Palolo Deep from the shore, climb to Robert Louis Stevenson's grave above town, and use it as a base for waterfalls, cave pools and the beach fales of the south coast.
About 40 km
From Faleolo airport
About 1 hour
To the south coast
September
Teuila Festival
Apia at a glance
Apia is Samoa's capital and only real town, spread along a harbour on the north coast of Upolu. It's home to the government, the main market, the churches with the biggest choirs, and most of the country's shops, banks and ATMs.
It's not a big city: the centre is a waterfront road, a clock tower, a cathedral, the market and a few blocks of shops and cafés. Life is relaxed, and Sunday is quiet.
Most travellers spend a day or two here, on arrival, before the ferry to Savai'i, or to stock up on cash before the beaches. It's also the best base for the sights of northern Upolu: Robert Louis Stevenson's house at Vailima, the Papase'ea Sliding Rocks and Piula Cave Pool.
The south coast beach fales are about an hour away across the island.
Where to stay in Apia
Stay in the centre for the market and waterfront, or in the hills towards Vailima for cooler nights. Hostelworld has no listings in Apia right now.
Vailima
Stevenson's houseHills above Apia, with Mount Vaea.
Palolo Deep
SnorkellingMarine reserve near the centre.
Piula
Cave poolFreshwater cave pool east of Apia.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Markets, Stevenson and cave pools
The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima is the Scottish writer's restored colonial house in the hills above Apia, where he spent his last years.
Climb Mount Vaea behind the house to his grave, a steep walk through rainforest with views over Apia.
Browse the main market, Maketi Fou, for fruit, cheap cooked food and crafts, and the fish market early in the morning.
Snorkel Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, a deep blue hole in the reef that you can swim to from the shore near the centre, at high tide.
Slide down the Papase'ea Sliding Rocks, natural rock slides into pools, a short drive inland.
Swim in Piula Cave Pool, a clear freshwater pool in a cave below a church, on the coast east of Apia.
Visit the Samoa Cultural Village in the centre to see tattooing, carving and cooking demonstrations.
Go to church on Sunday morning to hear the singing; dress modestly.
Free things
Apia for free (or nearly)
The market and the waterfront are free.
Mount Vaea is free to climb.
Sunday church is free and the singing is excellent.
Palolo Deep, the Sliding Rocks and Piula Cave Pool charge small entry fees.
Food and drink
Market plates and palusami
The market is the cheapest place to eat, with full plates of fish, chicken, taro and palusami (taro leaves in coconut cream) for a few tala.
The fish market is busiest early in the morning.
Apia also has cafés and restaurants with international food, the best range in Samoa.
Vailima, the local beer, costs WS$6 to WS$10.
Nightlife
Friday nights and fiafia
Apia has a handful of bars and clubs, busiest on Friday nights. It's the only nightlife in Samoa.
Fiafia nights, with Samoan dancing and fire knife performances, are held weekly at some hotels.
Drinking in public is illegal outside bars and restaurants, and the drinking age is 21.
Getting around
Getting to and around Apia
Faleolo International Airport is on the west of Upolu, about 40 km from Apia. Airport buses and taxis meet flights; agree taxi fares first.
Local buses, painted and loud, leave from the bus stations near the markets for villages all over Upolu. They're very cheap, but they leave when full and there are few on Sundays.
Taxis are cheap and unmetered. Agree the fare first.
To explore, hire a car with a temporary Samoan licence. Drive on the left, and avoid driving at night.
The ferry to Savai'i leaves from Mulifanua, near the airport.
Costs
What Apia costs
Apia is affordable. Hostelworld has no listings right now, so budget travellers use guesthouses and budget hotels.
Market plates cost a few tala.
Buses are very cheap, and taxis are cheap if you agree the fare.
Apia has most of the country's ATMs, so get cash here before the beaches.
Allow around WS$120 to WS$200 a day.
Safety
Staying safe in Apia
Apia is safe, with low crime. Petty theft is uncommon, but keep valuables in your room's safe.
Stray dogs are common. Keep your distance, especially walking at night.
Dress modestly away from the beach. Swimwear is for beaches, streams and waterfalls.
Drinking in public is illegal outside bars and restaurants. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal.
Roads are poorly lit, so avoid driving at night.
In an emergency, call 994 for an ambulance and 995 for the police.
Day trips from Apia
From Apia, you can reach waterfalls, cave pools and the south coast beaches.
Papase'ea Sliding Rocks
Natural rock slides into pools.
Piula Cave Pool
Freshwater pool in a cave.
South coast
Beach fales and To Sua. Covered in the Upolu South Coast hub.
Savai'i
The bigger, quieter island. Covered in the Savai'i hub.
What's on
What's on in Apia
The Teuila Festival in September is the biggest week of the year.
September
Teuila Festival
Apia
Dance, fire knife competitions, choirs and flower shows.
June
Independence Day
Apia
Marking independence in 1962.
October
White Sunday
Nationwide
Children dress in white and lead church services.
When to go to Apia
Apia is hot all year, with highs from 29°C to 30°C. May to October is the drier season and the best time, with the Teuila Festival in September. November to April is wetter, with cyclone risk.
Jan
Wet; cyclone risk
Feb
Wettest
Mar
Wet and humid
Apr
Improving
May
Drier season begins
Jun
Independence Day
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Dry and clear
Sep
Teuila Festival
Oct
White Sunday
Nov
Wet season returns
Dec
Hot, wet and busy at Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Apia climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Apia cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in Samoan tala.
Estimates, based on guesthouse prices. Car hire sits outside these figures.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Apia FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
Is Apia worth visiting?
For a day or two, yes, for the market, Stevenson's house and nearby cave pools and waterfalls.
How do I get from the airport to Apia?
By airport bus or taxi, about 40 km. Agree taxi fares first.
Are there hostels in Apia?
Not on Hostelworld right now. Guesthouses and budget hotels are the option.
Can I drink in public in Samoa?
No. Drinking in public is illegal outside bars and restaurants, and the drinking age is 21.
What happens on Sunday in Apia?
Most businesses close, buses are few and families go to church.
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