Find places in Samoa

Must-Haves

• Robert Louis Stevenson Museum (Vailima)
  The restored hillside mansion where the author of Treasure Island spent his last years, set in tropical gardens.
• Samoa Cultural Village (Beach Road, Apia)
  Watch tattooing, tapa making, weaving and an umu earth oven, then share the food, all explained by Samoan hosts.
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Beach Road, Apia)
  Apia's landmark white cathedral on the waterfront, rebuilt after earthquake damage and full on Sunday mornings.

Fun for Everyone

• Museum of Samoa (Malifa, Apia)
  A small, clear museum of Samoan and Pacific history, tools, tattooing and the independence story.

Off the Beaten Path

• Baha'i House of Worship (Tiapapata)
  A striking domed temple in quiet hillside gardens, open to visitors of every faith for reflection.

Must-Haves

• Mount Vaea Trail (Vailima)
  A steep forest climb from the Stevenson museum to the author's tomb, with views over Apia and the sea.
• Piula Cave Pool (Lufilufi, north coast)
  Swim in a clear freshwater pool that runs into a cave beneath a Methodist college on the sea.

Fun for Everyone

• Palolo Deep Marine Reserve (Matautu, Apia)
  Snorkel straight off the beach to a deep blue hole in the reef full of coral and fish.
• Papase'ea Sliding Rocks (Se'ese'e, inland from Apia)
  Slide down smooth natural rock chutes into freshwater pools, a favourite with local families.

Off the Beaten Path

• Papapapaitai Falls Lookout (Cross Island Road)
  A roadside viewpoint over a tall waterfall plunging into a forested gorge on the way to the south coast.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fugalei Market (Fugalei, Apia)
  The main produce market, piled with taro, breadfruit, bananas and cheap snacks, and busiest on Saturday mornings.
• Apia Fish Market (Matautu, Apia)
  Arrive early to see the day's catch landed and to try fresh oka, raw fish in coconut cream.

Must-Haves

• Apia Flea Market (Savalalo, Apia)
  Lavalava, carvings, siapo cloth and souvenirs beside the main bus station, with food stalls out the back.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mulinu'u Peninsula (Mulinu'u, Apia)
  A quiet walk past Parliament, royal tombs, the independence memorial and mangroves at the tip of the harbour.
• Le Mafa Pass viewpoint (Le Mafa Pass)
  A mountain pass with sweeping views of the east of Upolu, on the road to the south coast.

Fun for Everyone

• Apia seawall walk (Beach Road, Apia)
  Stroll the harbour front at dawn or sunset among joggers, fishermen and church choirs practising.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bus ride from the Apia bus station (Savalalo, Apia)
  Ride a brightly painted wooden bus with loud music, a cheap and joyful way to reach villages.

Must-Haves

• Teuila Festival (Apia waterfront)
  Samoa's biggest festival each September, with fire knife dancing, long boat races, choirs and food stalls.
• Independence Day celebrations (Mulinu'u and Apia)
  Parades, marching bands and village groups mark independence in early June.

Fun for Everyone

• White Sunday (Churches across Samoa)
  Children lead church services in white clothes on the second Sunday of October, followed by family feasts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Palolo Rising (Reefs around Upolu and Savai'i)
  Villagers gather before dawn once or twice a year to scoop up palolo reef worms, a prized delicacy.

Great for Date Night

• Paddles Restaurant (Beach Road, Apia)
  A family run Italian and Samoan restaurant on the waterfront, known for pasta and warm service.

Fun for Everyone

• Giordano's Pizzeria (Apia)
  A long running pizza garden that has fed visitors and locals for decades.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Flea market food stalls (Savalalo, Apia)
  Cheap plates of chop suey, sapasui, oka and pani popo cooked for shoppers and bus passengers.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Koko Samoa at the market (Fugalei Market, Apia)
  Try koko Samoa, a rich drink of local roasted cocoa, with fresh pani popo buns.

Must-Haves

• Fiafia night at Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's (Beach Road, Apia)
  A buffet dinner and show of Samoan song, siva dancing and fire knives in a famous old hotel.

Must-Haves

• Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel and Bungalows (Beach Road, Apia)
  The modern rebuild of Apia's most famous waterfront hotel, with a pool and fiafia nights.

Great for Date Night

• Taumeasina Island Resort (Taumeasina, Apia)
  A resort on its own small island a few minutes from town, with a lagoon pool and water villas.

Fun for Everyone

• Tanoa Tusitala Hotel (Mulinu'u, Apia)
  A large hotel with fale style buildings, a pool and gardens near the harbour.
• Amanaki Hotel (Beach Road, Apia)
  A mid-range waterfront hotel with a restaurant and easy walking to the centre.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pasefika Inn (Matautu, Apia)
  A friendly budget hotel within walking distance of the waterfront and Palolo Deep.

Must-Haves

• To Sua Ocean Trench (Lotofaga)
  Climb down a tall wooden ladder to swim in a deep turquoise pool linked to the sea, set in lush gardens.
• Lalomanu Beach (Lalomanu)
  White sand, a bright lagoon and a row of open beach fales at the eastern tip of Upolu.
• Togitogiga Waterfall (O Le Pupu-Pu'e National Park)
  Tiered falls with swimming pools at the edge of Samoa's oldest national park.

Fun for Everyone

• Sopo'aga Falls (Lotofaga)
  A deep, misty waterfall with a garden lookout and displays on old Samoan village tools.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fuipisia Falls (Mafa Pass road)
  A short walk through a plantation to the edge of a tall, narrow waterfall.

Must-Haves

• Taufua Beach Fales (Lalomanu)
  The classic family run beach fale stay, with meals included and the lagoon steps away.

Fun for Everyone

• Litia Sini's Beach Resort (Lalomanu)
  Beach fales and simple bungalows on Lalomanu Beach, rebuilt after the 2009 tsunami.

Off the Beaten Path

• Namua Island Beach Fales (Namu'a Island, off Mutiatele)
  A tiny island reached by small boat, with simple fales, turtles and a hill walk at sunrise.

Great for Date Night

• Saletoga Sands Resort (Lotofaga)
  A relaxed resort with a pool near To Sua Ocean Trench and the south coast beaches.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Faofao Beach Fales (Saleapaga)
  Simple open fales on a long beach just west of Lalomanu, run by a local family.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sunday to'ona'i at a beach fale (Lalomanu)
  Many fale stays serve a Sunday lunch from the umu: palusami, taro, pork and fish.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Roadside fruit stalls (South coast road)
  Village stalls sell coconuts, bananas and pawpaw, often on an honesty basis.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lotofaga to Lalomanu coast walk (South coast Upolu)
  Walk stretches of the coast road past churches, fale and lagoons for a slow look at village life.

Must-Haves

• Return to Paradise Beach (Lefaga)
  The dramatic beach of black rocks and white sand where the 1953 Gary Cooper film was shot.

Fun for Everyone

• Matareva Beach (Lefaga)
  A calm, sheltered lagoon with picnic fales, good for swimming and snorkelling.

Fun for Everyone

• Return to Paradise Resort (Lefaga)
  A large resort with pools beside the famous beach, easy with children.

Great for Date Night

• Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa (Siumu)
  A long established boutique resort on the south coast with a spa and over-water dining.

Off the Beaten Path

• Surfing the south coast reef passes (Salamumu and Siumu)
  Powerful reef breaks for experienced surfers in the cooler months, best with a local guide.

Fun for Everyone

• Mulifanua Wharf (Mulifanua)
  The ferry wharf for Savai'i, a busy, cheerful place to watch island life.

Must-Haves

• Tanu Beach Fales (Manase)
  Long running family beach fales with communal meals on one of Savai'i's best lagoons.

Fun for Everyone

• Jane's Beach Fales (Manase)
  Friendly family fales on the white sand beach, with simple Samoan meals.
• Savaii Lagoon Resort (Fagamalo)
  Simple, friendly bungalows on a calm lagoon on the north coast.

Great for Date Night

• Stevensons at Manase (Manase)
  A resort on the beach at Manase with villas, a pool and a restaurant.
• Le Lagoto Resort and Spa (Fagamalo)
  Seafront bungalows on the north coast with a lagoon for snorkelling at the door.

Must-Haves

• Saleaula Lava Fields (Saleaula)
  Walk across black lava from the 1905 to 1911 eruptions to a church it surrounded and the Virgin's Grave.
• Alofaaga Blowholes (Taga, south Savai'i)
  Seawater shoots high into the air through lava tubes, and locals throw in coconuts to fly.
• Afu Aau Waterfall (Vailoa, Palauli)
  A jungle waterfall with a deep, cool swimming pool, one of Savai'i's favourite swims.

Fun for Everyone

• Satoalepai turtle pool (Satoalepai)
  Swim with green turtles in a village pool, paying a small fee to the family who cares for them.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dwarf's Cave (Paia)
  Wade and scramble through a long lava tube with a village guide and a torch.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cape Mulinu'u (Falealupo)
  The westernmost point of Samoa, where legend says spirits leave for the underworld.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Safotu churches (Safotu)
  Three large churches stand side by side in one village, a vivid sign of faith on Savai'i.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Salelologa Market (Salelologa)
  Savai'i's main market by the ferry wharf, for fruit, snacks and lavalava.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Savai'i bus ride (Salelologa)
  Ride the colourful buses around the island road from the market terminal.

Fun for Everyone

• Mulifanua to Salelologa ferry (Apolima Strait)
  The crossing between the two islands, with views of Manono and Apolima on the way.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fale meals at Manase (Manase)
  Most fales include dinner and breakfast, so you eat simple Samoan home cooking with other guests.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sunday service on Savai'i (Villages across Savai'i)
  Hear rich harmonies in a village church, welcome to respectful visitors.

Must-Haves

• Manono Island walk (Manono)
  A gentle walk around the car-free island on a coastal path through four villages.

Fun for Everyone

• Boat from Manono-uta (Manono-uta, Upolu)
  Small open boats leave from the shore near the Upolu ferry wharf for the short ride over.

Off the Beaten Path

• Grave of 99 Stones (Lepuia'i, Manono)
  A chief's grave marked with one stone for each of his wives, as island legend tells.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Manono village life (Manono)
  Watch weaving, fishing and church choirs in villages where life moves at walking pace.

Fun for Everyone

• Manono lagoon snorkelling (Manono)
  Clear shallow water around the island with small reef fish.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fale meals on Manono (Manono)
  Fresh fish, taro and palusami cooked by your host family.