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Samoa travel guide
Waterfalls, ocean trenches and traditional Polynesian life.
Samoa has two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, with lush rainforests, waterfalls, lava fields and white-sand beaches. Fa'a Samoa, the traditional way of life, is still strong, with village councils and open-sided fale houses.
Travel tools
Getting there
Faleolo International Airport on Upolu has flights from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Hawaii. Small planes and ferries connect Samoa with American Samoa.
Best time to visit: May–Oct – dry season with sunny days and cooler nights.
Tougher months: December to March – the wet season, hotter and more humid, with a risk of cyclones.
Weather by month in Apia
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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Pacific/Apia. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 198 of 198 other passports can enter Samoa without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Samoa (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-07). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Samoa travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Samoa are based around Apia, Lalomanu Beach or To Sua Ocean Trench. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$50–80 for a backpacker and US$120–200 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Samoa page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: I. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +685.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Apia (Upolu · capital): The small, friendly capital with markets, a seafront promenade and the Stevenson museum nearby.
- Lalomanu Beach (Upolu · beach): A stunning stretch of white sand with clear lagoon water and beach fales.
- To Sua Ocean Trench (Upolu · natural pool): Samoa's most photographed natural attraction.
- Savai'i (Island · nature & villages): The larger, quieter island, full of lava fields, waterfalls and traditional villages.
- Lano Beach (Savai'i · beach): A peaceful beach on Savai'i's east coast ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
- Manono Island (Small island · village life): A car-free island where you can walk around villages and beaches.
- Papase'ea Sliding Rocks (Upolu · natural slides): Natural rock slides in the forest near Apia.
Things to do
- Swim in To Sua Ocean Trench. Climb down a long wooden ladder into a giant natural swimming hole surrounded by tropical gardens.
- Sleep in a beach fale. Fall asleep to the sound of waves in a traditional open-sided hut right on the sand.
- Watch the Alofaaga Blowholes. See seawater erupt dozens of metres into the air through lava tubes on Savai'i.
- Visit Robert Louis Stevenson's home. Tour the writer's grand villa near Apia and hike up to his hilltop grave.
- Slide at Papase'ea Sliding Rocks. Whoosh down smooth, natural rock slides into cool freshwater pools.
- Explore Savai'i's lava fields. Walk across the black lava flows that swallowed villages a century ago, leaving a church in ruins.
- Snorkel with turtles. Swim with sea turtles in protected lagoons and marine areas around the islands.
- Attend a fiafia night. Enjoy a feast and a show of Samoan dance, including the thrilling fire knife dance.
Source: full Samoa guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Oka – raw fish in coconut cream and lime
- Palusami – taro leaves baked in coconut cream
- Umu – feast cooked in a hot stone oven
- Panipopo – sweet coconut buns
Source: RoamSun Samoa guide
Money and safety
Currency: Samoan tālā (WST). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not customary..
Emergency numbers: 999.
- The currency is the Samoan tālā (WST); ATMs are found in Apia and larger towns on Upolu and Savai'i.
- Cards are accepted in hotels and larger businesses in Apia, but cash is needed for fales, buses and markets.
- Samoa is very safe, but keep an eye on belongings at beach fales.
- Respect village customs: dress modestly away from the beach and observe evening prayer curfews (sa) and quiet Sundays.
Source: RoamSun Samoa facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Samoa?
May–Oct – dry season with sunny days and cooler nights. Hot and humid all year, with a wetter cyclone season from November to April.
What time zone is Samoa in?
Samoa uses Pacific/Apia.
Do I need a visa for Samoa?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 198 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 0 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Samoa use?
Samoa uses plug type I at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Samoa?
The international calling code for Samoa is +685.
Do you tip in Samoa?
Not customary..
What is the emergency number in Samoa?
999.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Samoa?
Traffic drives on the left.