This active port town on Samoa's coast has colonial buildings, a large produce market, and traditional Samoan restaurants. Mountains rise behind streets that lead to clear Pacific beaches.
Apia, the capital of Samoa, sits on the north coast of Upolu island where Samoan culture remains strong in daily life. You can learn traditional tattooing techniques in the Cultural Village, snorkel among parrotfish at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, or take a 45-minute hike up Mount Vaea to Robert Louis Stevenson's grave. Each morning at the city's markets, local vendors sell fresh tuna and mahi-mahi, mangoes, papayas, and hand-printed textiles.
Getting Around Apia
The central area of Apia extends along Beach Road where you can walk between most attractions. Plan your walks for morning hours, as temperatures often reach 30°C (86°F) in the afternoon. Local buses, painted in bright colors, run between the main areas without fixed schedules. Taxi drivers can take you on guided tours of the city - ask at your accommodation for recommended drivers. Since 2009, all traffic moves on the left side of the road.
Markets and Local Life
At Fugalei Market, farmers set up their stalls by 6:00 AM with fresh taro, coconuts, and seasonal fruits like soursop and rambutan. The fish market buzzes with activity on Sunday mornings as families select fresh seafood for traditional Sunday to'onai (lunch feast). Near the clock tower, vendors at the flea market sell woven pandanus baskets, printed sarongs, and tapa cloth made from mulberry bark.
Mount Vaea and Vailima Museum
Vailima, where Robert Louis Stevenson spent his final years, sits 5 kilometers south of central Apia. The white two-story house contains the author's library, his original desk, and family photographs. A steep trail leads from the house to his grave on Mount Vaea, marked with his self-written epitaph. The museum opens Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 16:00, and Saturday mornings until noon.
Swimming and Marine Life
At Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, a five-minute walk from central Apia, you can swim in a natural pool connected to the sea. During high tide, the water reaches about 3 meters deep, allowing you to swim out to the reef edge where angelfish and butterfly fish dart among the coral. The site includes changing rooms and fresh water showers.
Cultural Experiences
In the Samoa Cultural Village next to the Tourist Information Fale, you can watch craftspeople at work throughout the day. Wood carvers create kava bowls and ceremonial staffs while others weave fine mats from pandanus leaves. The Royal Samoa Police Band performs a daily ceremony on Beach Road at 8:45 each weekday morning, playing the national anthem at the Government Building.
Weather and Visits
Temperatures in Apia typically range from 24-30°C (75-86°F) year-round. May to October brings average monthly rainfall of 200mm, while November through April sees around 400mm per month. Cyclones can occur between November and April, though direct hits happen approximately once every seven years.
