Apia
Travelers come to Apia for Samoa's main markets, a working harbor and Robert Louis Stevenson's former estate in Samoa's small capital.
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Apia is the capital of Samoa, an independent country in the South Pacific, and its largest town. It sits on the north coast of Upolu, the second-largest of Samoa's islands, and is the main port and seat of government. Parliament meets on the Mulinu'u Peninsula, just west of the center, close to the harbor and the markets.
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish writer, lived at Vailima on the hillside above Apia in the 1890s and died there in 1894. His house is now a museum, and his grave lies on the slope of Mount Vaea nearby. In town, the Apia Central Market sells fish, fresh produce and woven crafts, and Fugalei Market is another place to watch daily life. Apia suits a few days of city sightseeing before you explore the beaches elsewhere on Upolu. The dry season, roughly May to October, has less rain than the wet season from November to April.
Apia in five
- Get a Digicel or Bluesky SIMDigicel and Bluesky both sell prepaid SIMs with data bundles. Load data before you leave Apia, since signal can drop on coastal and village roads.
- Price the taxi before you rideTaxis in Samoa do not run meters, so agree the fare with the driver before you get in. Ask the price to your stop, not to downtown Apia, to avoid a dispute at the end of the ride.
- Carry tala in cashMany small shops, market stalls and village stops take only cash in Samoan tala (WST). Withdraw cash at an Apia bank or ATM before you head out of town.
- Check visa-free entry for your passportMany passports enter Samoa visa-free, and others need a visa. Check the official list for your passport before you book flights.Visas and entry
- Book the transfer from Faleolo airportInternational flights land at Faleolo, outside Apia, so the first ride into town is a transfer you need to arrange. Confirm the pickup or the taxi price before you land.Upolu travel guide
Need to know
- Currency
- Samoan tala (WST)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the list for yours
- Emergency
- Ask your hotel or host for the police and ambulance numbers before you travel
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+13 all year
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryWet, cyclone season
- FebruaryWet, cyclone season
- MarchHot, humid, wet
- AprilRain easing
- MayDrier, warm
- JuneDry, cooler
- JulyDry season
- AugustDry, breezy
- SeptemberDry, warm
- OctoberWarm, drier
- NovemberRain returns
- DecemberWet, holiday rush
Right now in Apia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 23%
Apia
08:52 PM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°22°23%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Wed29°22°99%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Thu29°23°93%Thursday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Fri29°21°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sat28°21°72%Saturday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Sun28°22°83%Sunday: Rain. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Mon28°23°59%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 59%.
Updated 08:10 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.738 WST
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Savai'iby car to Mulifanua, then the ferrySamoa's largest island, reached by ferry from Mulifanua on Upolu's west coast.Read the guide
- Piula Caveby car from ApiaA freshwater pool in a cave by the sea, near the village of Lufilufi.
- Lalomanuby car along the coastal road from ApiaBeach fales on the south-east coast of Upolu, reached by the coastal road.
Before you go to Apia
Rules for Apia, checked
- Check entry rules for your passport with your government's travel advice before you book, since visa rules depend on nationality.Source
- Declare food, plants and animal products on arrival. Samoa's biosecurity checks are strict, and some items are taken at the airport.
- Sunday is a quiet day in Apia, and many shops and restaurants close. Buy groceries and cash on Saturday.
- Cover shoulders and knees in villages and churches, and ask permission before you enter a village or a family's fale.
Plan around Apia
Apia, the south coast beaches and the day trips from town
Read the guideSamoa travel guideThe islands, the trip as a whole and how to combine them
Read the guideGetting around UpoluBuses, taxis and car hire, with the cash and fare rules
Read the guideVisas and entryWho enters visa-free and what to check before you fly
Read the guideMoney and costsTala, cash, cards and typical prices for a day in Apia
Read the guideCulture and customsVillage visits, dress and Sunday rules in Samoa
Read the guideApia FAQ
Is Apia worth visiting?
Yes, as a base for Upolu. The waterfront, the markets and the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima are in or near town, and several day trips start from here.
How many days do you need in Apia?
Two to three days covers the town, Vailima and one day trip. Add more days if you want the south coast beaches or a ferry to Savai'i.
What is the best time to visit Apia?
June to September is the driest stretch and the best time to visit. November to April is the wet and cyclone season, with more rain and some storms.
Do you need a car in Apia?
Not for the town itself, where you can walk and take taxis. A car helps for the south coast and the villages.
What happens on Sundays in Apia?
Sunday is a quiet day, and many shops and restaurants close. Buy supplies on Saturday and plan your Sunday around church and rest.