Samoa
Independent State of Samoa
Polynesia · WSM
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Samoa
Samoa mixes lush inland scenery with a beach-and-lagoon coastline and a strong village culture. It works best as Upolu plus a short Savai'i extension rather than trying to see both islands in a rushed loop.
Popular For
Things To See
- Apia
- Upolu
- Savai'i
- To Sua Ocean Trench
- Lalomanu Beach
- Papaseea Sliding Rocks
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Ferries to Savai'i are limited, so plan schedules ahead.
- A two-island split is enough for first visits; more stops add transit.
- Dry season from May to October has the best weather.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Samoa.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Samoa Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Samoa.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Apia
- Population
- 205,557
- Area
- 2,842 km²
- Region
- Polynesia
Languages
- English
- Samoan
Currency
Samoan tālā (T)
WST
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
61.7
Price level index (US = 100)
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Apia (13.82°S, 171.77°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 57/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.708
High human development
- 5-year change
- -0.003
- 10-year change
- +0.002
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.955
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.416
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 7.8%
- Forest cover
- 57.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 2
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 5
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
33/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
67/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in Samoa. Samoa is generally a safe destination for travelers. Review our Travel Guidance for Samoa to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. If you decide to travel to Samoa: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Samoa. Review local laws and conditions before traveling. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Samoa. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data