Oceania · Polynesia
Samoa
Independent State of Samoa
🏛️ Capital
Apia
👥 Population
205,557
📐 Area
2,842 km²
💱 Currency
Samoan tālā (T)
🗣️ Languages
English, Samoan
📞 Calling Code
+685
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+13:00
🌐 Region
Oceania / Polynesia
About Samoa
Samoa is a place where the ancient Polynesian world feels not like a historical artifact but a living, breathing reality. Arriving in Apia, the laid-back capital on the island of Upolu, you sense immediately that this is a nation that has found its own pace — one shaped by the ocean, the land, and a system of communal values known as fa'a Samoa, the Samoan Way. Lush volcanic peaks rise steeply from the coast, their flanks draped in rainforest, while villages of open-sided fales (traditional houses) line the coastline, open to sea breezes and community in equal measure.
The two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i offer profoundly different experiences. Upolu is home to most of the population, the international airport, the famous To Sua Ocean Trench — a natural swimming hole of extraordinary beauty — and the preserved home of author Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent his final years on this island and is buried here on a hilltop he called Vailima. Savai'i, larger and far less visited, is a wilderness of ancient lava fields, soaring waterfalls, blowholes on black lava coasts, and villages where life continues at a pace that feels timeless.
You will find Samoa profoundly different from its American neighbor to the east. This is a proudly independent nation that cherishes tradition, where Sunday is genuinely sacred, where entire villages gather for church services in their finest clothes, and where the concept of individualism yields to something far older and more communal. It is one of the Pacific's most rewarding and genuine travel experiences.
The two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i offer profoundly different experiences. Upolu is home to most of the population, the international airport, the famous To Sua Ocean Trench — a natural swimming hole of extraordinary beauty — and the preserved home of author Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent his final years on this island and is buried here on a hilltop he called Vailima. Savai'i, larger and far less visited, is a wilderness of ancient lava fields, soaring waterfalls, blowholes on black lava coasts, and villages where life continues at a pace that feels timeless.
You will find Samoa profoundly different from its American neighbor to the east. This is a proudly independent nation that cherishes tradition, where Sunday is genuinely sacred, where entire villages gather for church services in their finest clothes, and where the concept of individualism yields to something far older and more communal. It is one of the Pacific's most rewarding and genuine travel experiences.
History & Background
Samoa has been inhabited by Polynesian peoples for approximately three thousand years, making it one of the cradles of Polynesian culture from which the great Pacific migration voyages to Hawaii, New Zealand, and beyond originated. European contact began in 1722 when Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen sighted the islands. Missionary activity from the London Missionary Society arrived in the 1830s and, in an unusual pattern for the Pacific, was rapidly and voluntarily embraced by most Samoans, a conversion that deeply shaped the culture that followed.
The late 19th century brought intense competition between Germany, Britain, and the United States for control of the strategically located islands, resulting in the 1899 Tripartite Convention that divided the archipelago — the western islands becoming German Samoa and the eastern islands American Samoa. German colonial rule was interrupted by New Zealand occupation at the start of World War I, and New Zealand administered Western Samoa under a League of Nations mandate until independence was achieved on January 1, 1962 — making Samoa the first Pacific Island nation to gain independence in the 20th century. The country officially dropped "Western" from its name in 1997.
The late 19th century brought intense competition between Germany, Britain, and the United States for control of the strategically located islands, resulting in the 1899 Tripartite Convention that divided the archipelago — the western islands becoming German Samoa and the eastern islands American Samoa. German colonial rule was interrupted by New Zealand occupation at the start of World War I, and New Zealand administered Western Samoa under a League of Nations mandate until independence was achieved on January 1, 1962 — making Samoa the first Pacific Island nation to gain independence in the 20th century. The country officially dropped "Western" from its name in 1997.
Culture & People
Fa'a Samoa — the Samoan Way — is not simply a cultural concept but the operating system of daily life. It governs relationships between family (aiga), chiefs (matai), and community, and it shapes everything from how land is owned (communally, never individually) to how decisions are made (by consensus among titled elders) to how hospitality is expressed (with extraordinary generosity). Visitors who spend time in villages, particularly on Savai'i, discover a culture of profound warmth and formality operating simultaneously.
The arts are inseparable from cultural identity. The pe'a — the traditional full-body tattoo worn by Samoan men — is among the most elaborate tattoo traditions in the world and represents an endurance of both physical pain and cultural commitment. Siapo (tapa cloth) making, fine mat weaving, and traditional dance forms such as the slit-drum-accompanied fa'ataupati (slap dance) remain active arts practiced for community celebrations, not merely tourist performances. Christianity arrived in the 19th century and merged deeply with Samoan tradition; the harmonies of village choir singing heard on Sunday mornings are among the most moving sounds in the Pacific.
The arts are inseparable from cultural identity. The pe'a — the traditional full-body tattoo worn by Samoan men — is among the most elaborate tattoo traditions in the world and represents an endurance of both physical pain and cultural commitment. Siapo (tapa cloth) making, fine mat weaving, and traditional dance forms such as the slit-drum-accompanied fa'ataupati (slap dance) remain active arts practiced for community celebrations, not merely tourist performances. Christianity arrived in the 19th century and merged deeply with Samoan tradition; the harmonies of village choir singing heard on Sunday mornings are among the most moving sounds in the Pacific.
Food & Cuisine
Samoan food is hearty, generous, and deeply tied to the earth and sea. The umu — an earth oven in which food is slow-cooked on heated rocks — remains central to Sunday feasts and community celebrations. A traditional umu spread includes palusami (young taro leaves baked in coconut cream), lu'au (taro leaves with pork and coconut milk), whole roasted pig, fresh fish wrapped in banana leaves, and fa'alifu fa'i (banana in coconut sauce). These meals are communal affairs, laid out on woven mats and shared by extended family, and visitors fortunate enough to be invited to a village feast will encounter food of extraordinary flavour.
Seafood is abundantly available and simply prepared. Freshly caught oka — raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream — is Samoa's most beloved traditional dish, a Polynesian ceviche of clean, bright flavour. Cocoa Samoa, a rich, slightly grainy drinking chocolate made from local cacao beans, is consumed daily and is far more complex and satisfying than commercial alternatives. The local produce markets in Apia overflow with breadfruit, taro, papaya, coconut, and soursop. Eating well in Samoa means following local rhythms — seeking out village bakeries for fresh coconut bread in the mornings and roadside stalls for barbecued fish in the evenings.
Seafood is abundantly available and simply prepared. Freshly caught oka — raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream — is Samoa's most beloved traditional dish, a Polynesian ceviche of clean, bright flavour. Cocoa Samoa, a rich, slightly grainy drinking chocolate made from local cacao beans, is consumed daily and is far more complex and satisfying than commercial alternatives. The local produce markets in Apia overflow with breadfruit, taro, papaya, coconut, and soursop. Eating well in Samoa means following local rhythms — seeking out village bakeries for fresh coconut bread in the mornings and roadside stalls for barbecued fish in the evenings.
Top Attractions
- To Sua Ocean Trench — A spectacular natural swimming hole on Upolu's south coast, accessible by ladder through a lush garden setting, with turquoise water connected to the sea through underground tunnels.
- Alofaaga Blowholes, Savai'i — Dramatic coastal formations on Savai'i's southwestern tip where ocean swells force seawater skyward through lava tubes, creating jets that can reach over 20 metres.
- Vailima / Stevenson Museum — The beautifully restored home of Robert Louis Stevenson on a forested hillside above Apia, now a museum chronicling the author's extraordinary final years in Samoa.
- Falealupo Rainforest Reserve — One of Savai'i's most precious ecosystems, featuring ancient lava tube caves, a canopy walkway, and a village-run conservation project that protects lowland rainforest.
- Palolo Deep Marine Reserve — A protected lagoon marine reserve within swimming distance of Apia's waterfront, offering excellent reef snorkeling and a genuine community-managed conservation success story.
- Saleaula Lava Fields — The haunting remnants of Savai'i's last major volcanic eruption (1905–1911), where solidified lava flows swallowed an entire village — church walls still visible above the black rock.
Practical Travel Tips
- Respect fa'a Samoa village customs — cover your shoulders and knees when entering villages, remove shoes before entering a fale, and avoid walking through villages during the evening prayer hour (sa), typically around 6–7 pm, when the entire village observes a brief period of quiet.
- Sunday is a near-total rest day in Samoa — most shops, restaurants, and activities close, and visitors should plan accordingly by stocking up on supplies on Saturday and maintaining a respectful low profile.
- The inter-island ferry between Upolu and Savai'i runs multiple times daily from Mulifanua Wharf and is an affordable, scenic crossing; booking ahead is advisable during school holidays.
- Tala (Samoan currency) is the local tender — carry cash for village beach fees, beach fale accommodation, and rural market purchases as card facilities are limited outside Apia.
- Many of the best beaches on Upolu, including the To Sua Ocean Trench, charge a small entry fee payable to the local village — these fees support community conservation efforts and are entirely reasonable.
- Mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially during the wet season — bring effective repellent and consult a travel health clinic about dengue fever precautions before departure.
Visa Overview
Citizens of most countries can obtain a free visitor permit on arrival in Samoa, valid for 60 days, provided they hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, a return or onward ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds. Citizens of certain countries may need to apply for a visa in advance through a Samoan High Commission or Embassy. An airport departure tax is typically included in airline ticket prices. Extensions beyond 60 days are processed through the Samoa Immigration Division in Apia.
Getting Around
Faleolo International Airport, approximately 35 kilometres west of Apia, is served by Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand, and Virgin Australia among others. Within Upolu, aiga buses — colorfully painted wooden buses with open sides — are the cheapest and most culturally authentic way to travel, running irregular routes that converge on the Apia market. Taxis are available in Apia but should be negotiated on price before boarding. Car rental is available from agencies near the airport and in Apia and is strongly recommended for exploring Savai'i independently.
Safety Notes
Samoa is a generally safe travel destination with low rates of violent crime toward visitors. Petty theft can occur in Apia, particularly around the market and wharf areas after dark, so take standard precautions with valuables. Rip currents can be dangerous at ocean-facing beaches, particularly on Savai'i's south coast — heed local advice and swim only in designated safe areas. The risk of tropical cyclones is real between November and April; monitor weather advisories from the Samoa Meteorology Division and register with your country's embassy if visiting during this period.
Live Exchange Rates
Current exchange rates for currencies used in Samoa.
Samoan tālā (WST) T
Updated: 2026-08-20
Samoan tālā (WST) T
Updated: 2026-08-20
| Currency Code | Rate |
|---|---|
| 1INCH | 4.290592 |
| AAVE | 0.003880 |
| ADA | 1.994545 |
| AED | 1.363639 |
| AFN | 24.302584 |
| AGIX | 6.525519 |
| AKT | 0.722275 |
| ALGO | 4.510464 |
| ALL | 29.461413 |
| AMD | 134.783872 |
| AMP | 967.934154 |
| ANG | 0.665099 |
| AOA | 341.006170 |
| APE | 2.887310 |
| APT | 0.663777 |
| AR | 0.199775 |
| ARB | 4.245289 |
| ARS | 555.882208 |
| ATOM | 0.248812 |
| ATS | 4.373925 |
| AUD | 0.522365 |
| AVAX | 0.054815 |
| AWG | 0.664647 |
| AXS | 0.411950 |
| AZM | 3,156.067889 |
| AZN | 0.631214 |
| BAKE | 533.797842 |
| BAM | 0.621691 |
| BAT | 5.938325 |
| BBD | 0.742622 |
| BCH | 0.001758 |
| BDT | 45.180053 |
| BEF | 12.822664 |
| BGN | 0.621691 |
| BHD | 0.139613 |
| BIF | 1,104.400030 |
| BMD | 0.371311 |
| BNB | 0.000594 |
| BND | 0.472134 |
| BOB | 4.264851 |
| BRL | 1.922821 |
| BSD | 0.371311 |
| BSV | 0.023191 |
| BSW | 1,024.562830 |
| BTC | 0.000005 |
| BTCB | 6.273224 |
| BTG | 0.846209 |
| BTN | 35.505260 |
| BTT | 1,364,798.262639 |
| BUSD | 0.371064 |
| BWP | 4.994428 |
| BYN | 1.122661 |
| BYR | 7,276.616086 |
| BZD | 0.745839 |
| CAD | 0.512506 |
| CAKE | 0.230410 |
| CDF | 851.196411 |
| CELO | 5.933194 |
| CFX | 8.477627 |
| CHF | 0.296561 |
| CHZ | 29.046503 |
| CLP | 342.192798 |
| CNH | 2.497222 |
| CNY | 2.497349 |
| COMP | 0.020149 |
| COP | 1,133.533064 |
| CRC | 167.168095 |
| CRO | 7.451732 |
| CRV | 1.423154 |
| CSPR | 139.026776 |
| CUC | 0.371256 |
| CUP | 9.838282 |
| CVE | 35.051033 |
| CVX | 0.229550 |
| CYP | 0.186038 |
| CZK | 7.682679 |
| DAI | 0.371265 |
| DASH | 0.011685 |
| DCR | 0.031429 |
| DEM | 0.621691 |
| DFI | 373.158119 |
| DJF | 65.949028 |
| DKK | 2.376293 |
| DOGE | 4.945779 |
| DOP | 21.685504 |
| DOT | 0.469137 |
| DYDX | 3.375448 |
| DZD | 49.278171 |
| EEK | 4.973528 |
| EGLD | 0.130702 |
| EGP | 18.807470 |
| ENJ | 14.673943 |
| EOS | 5.626038 |
| ERN | 5.569664 |
| ESP | 52.888376 |
| ETB | 60.343901 |
| ETC | 0.056281 |
| ETH | 0.000164 |
| EUR | 0.317866 |
| EURC | 0.320119 |
| FEI | 0.370841 |
| FIL | 0.551569 |
| FIM | 1.889943 |
| FJD | 0.817018 |
| FKP | 0.272890 |
| FLOW | 12.842415 |
| FLR | 57.749657 |
| FRAX | 0.374482 |
| FRF | 2.085061 |
| FTT | 1.788956 |
| GALA | 257.687226 |
| GBP | 0.272890 |
| GEL | 0.967416 |
| GGP | 0.272890 |
| GHC | 41,086.690078 |
| GHS | 4.108669 |
| GIP | 0.272890 |
| GMD | 27.515629 |
| GMX | 0.054573 |
| GNF | 3,258.509718 |
| GNO | 0.003063 |
| GRD | 108.312684 |
| GRT | 26.537422 |
| GT | 0.053353 |
| GTQ | 2.826243 |
| GUSD | 0.371922 |
| GYD | 77.234640 |
| HBAR | 5.239230 |
| HKD | 2.911843 |
| HNL | 9.926707 |
| HNT | 2.142230 |
| HOT | 1,099.539488 |
| HRK | 2.394958 |
| HT | 3.269516 |
| HTG | 48.293576 |
| HUF | 115.675134 |
| ICP | 0.160106 |
| IDR | 6,610.055124 |
| IEP | 0.250339 |
| ILS | 1.105913 |
| IMP | 0.272890 |
| IMX | 3.549224 |
| INJ | 0.079940 |
| INR | 35.505260 |
| IQD | 483.611122 |
| IRR | 510,328.391377 |
| ISK | 45.203901 |
| ITL | 615.473515 |
| JEP | 0.272890 |
| JMD | 58.330438 |
| JOD | 0.263259 |
| JPY | 58.799342 |
| KAS | 13.924931 |
| KAVA | 9.021004 |
| KCS | 0.050903 |
| KDA | 79.077273 |
| KES | 48.063265 |
| KGS | 32.506133 |
| KHR | 1,495.413065 |
| KLAY | 15.106281 |
| KMF | 156.379596 |
| KNC | 3.508740 |
| KPW | 334.130440 |
| KRW | 517.460857 |
| KSM | 0.120594 |
| KWD | 0.114454 |
| KYD | 0.308446 |
| KZT | 171.275547 |
| LAK | 8,324.493344 |
| LBP | 33,189.043905 |
| LDO | 1.095822 |
| LEO | 0.039934 |
| LINK | 0.035427 |
| LKR | 122.177200 |
| LRC | 46.673281 |
| LRD | 67.230117 |
| LSL | 5.978374 |
| LTC | 0.007904 |
| LTL | 1.097526 |
| LUF | 12.822664 |
| LUNA | 8.397817 |
| LUNC | 7,349.522475 |
| LVL | 0.223396 |
| LYD | 2.349563 |
| MAD | 3.436353 |
| MANA | 5.538611 |
| MBX | 17.955413 |
| MDL | 6.365008 |
| MGA | 1,590.390358 |
| MGF | 7,951.951792 |
| MINA | 8.688797 |
| MKD | 19.604194 |
| MKR | 0.000256 |
| MMK | 779.550414 |
| MNT | 1,335.760415 |
| MOP | 2.999199 |
| MRO | 147.886356 |
| MRU | 14.788636 |
| MTL | 0.136460 |
| MUR | 17.440465 |
| MVR | 5.739987 |
| MWK | 640.902198 |
| MXN | 6.292831 |
| MXV | 0.718327 |
| MYR | 1.501127 |
| MZM | 23,694.957932 |
| MZN | 23.694958 |
| NAD | 5.978374 |
| NEAR | 0.212984 |
| NEO | 0.203999 |
| NEXO | 0.497226 |
| NFT | 1,318,413.873884 |
| NGN | 500.044577 |
| NIO | 13.624176 |
| NLG | 0.700483 |
| NOK | 3.463597 |
| NPR | 56.835045 |
| NZD | 0.624661 |
| OKB | 0.003627 |
| OMR | 0.142915 |
| ONE | 514.658101 |
| OP | 4.180618 |
| ORDI | 0.100859 |
| PAB | 0.371311 |
| PAXG | 0.000083 |
| PEN | 1.244173 |
| PEPE | 128,180.445863 |
| PGK | 1.666998 |
| PHP | 22.879703 |
| PI | 4.131844 |
| PKR | 102.647878 |
| PLN | 1.372817 |
| POL | 4.548750 |
| PTE | 63.726320 |
| PYG | 2,221.780264 |
| QAR | 1.351572 |
| QNT | 0.006284 |
| QTUM | 0.514408 |
| ROL | 16,676.436545 |
| RON | 1.667644 |
| RPL | 0.238770 |
| RSD | 37.300777 |
| RUB | 31.186578 |
| RUNE | 0.870575 |
| RVN | 142.435615 |
| RWF | 544.478222 |
| SAND | 8.989603 |
| SAR | 1.392416 |
| SBD | 2.970623 |
| SCR | 5.386110 |
| SDD | 22,284.690236 |
| SDG | 222.846902 |
| SEK | 3.504189 |
| SGD | 0.472134 |
| SHIB | 78,365.390982 |
| SHP | 0.272890 |
| SIT | 76.173299 |
| SKK | 9.576017 |
| SLE | 8.507637 |
| SLL | 8,507.636712 |
| SNX | 1.811458 |
| SOL | 0.004377 |
| SOS | 210.581540 |
| SPL | 0.061885 |
| SRD | 14.037594 |
| SRG | 14,037.594408 |
| SSP | 2,104.948084 |
| STD | 7,838.510342 |
| STN | 7.838510 |
| STX | 2.846511 |
| SUI | 0.526130 |
| SVC | 3.248971 |
| SYP | 4,827.069473 |
| SZL | 5.978374 |
| THB | 12.191590 |
| THETA | 2.470455 |
| TJS | 3.405838 |
| TMM | 6,496.584528 |
| TMT | 1.299317 |
| TND | 1.076086 |
| TOP | 0.884512 |
| TRL | 17,806,035.432051 |
| TRX | 1.111620 |
| TRY | 17.806035 |
| TTD | 2.509976 |
| TUSD | 0.371869 |
| TVD | 0.522365 |
| TWD | 11.821365 |
| TWT | 0.928442 |
| TZS | 982.766053 |
| UAH | 16.583790 |
| UGX | 1,379.616740 |
| UNI | 0.101401 |
| USD | 0.371311 |
| USDC | 0.371228 |
| USDD | 0.371476 |
| USDP | 0.371704 |
| USDT | 0.371449 |
| UYU | 14.856309 |
| UZS | 4,361.168918 |
| VAL | 615.473515 |
| VEB | 28,823,749,179.9863 |
| VED | 287.591911 |
| VEF | 28,759,191.070829 |
| VES | 287.591911 |
| VET | 76.497541 |
| VND | 9,699.586971 |
| VUV | 43.918377 |
| WAVES | 1.882898 |
| WEMIX | 1.918610 |
| WOO | 33.662033 |
| XAF | 208.506128 |
| XAG | 0.005551 |
| XAU | 0.000083 |
| XAUT | 0.000083 |
| XBT | 0.000005 |
| XCD | 1.005116 |
| XCG | 0.665099 |
| XCH | 0.262093 |
| XDC | 13.348390 |
| XDR | 0.271155 |
| XEC | 52,956.388423 |
| XEM | 793.084228 |
| XLM | 2.161866 |
| XMR | 0.000869 |
| XOF | 208.506128 |
| XPD | 0.000279 |
| XPF | 37.931449 |
| XPT | 0.000206 |
| XRP | 0.334629 |
| XTZ | 1.704484 |
| YER | 88.027058 |
| ZAR | 5.978374 |
| ZEC | 0.000662 |
| ZIL | 152.754488 |
| ZMK | 6,955.749813 |
| ZMW | 6.955750 |
| ZWD | 134.377430 |
| ZWG | 9.902979 |
| ZWL | 24,744.813378 |
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Cities in Samoa 32
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Cities in Samoa 32
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Visa Requirements
Check what visa a citizen of Samoa needs to enter any country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Samoa?
The capital of Samoa is Apia.
What currency does Samoa use?
Samoa uses the Samoan tālā (T) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Samoa?
The official language(s) of Samoa include English, Samoan.
What is the population of Samoa?
Samoa has a population of approximately 205,557 people.
What region is Samoa in?
Samoa is located in Oceania, specifically in the Polynesia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Samoa?
The international dialing code for Samoa is +685.
What time zones does Samoa observe?
Samoa observes the following time zone(s): UTC+13:00.
What is the current time in Samoa?
The local time in Samoa is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Samoa?
Samoa covers a total area of 2,842 km².
How many states or provinces does Samoa have?
Samoa is divided into 11 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Samoa in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Samoa in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Samoa?
Visa requirements for citizens of Samoa vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.