Upolu Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Upolu featuring a sandy beach and tropical scenes
Upolu showing a bay or harbour, forest scenes and general coastal views
Upolu featuring a beach and tropical scenes
Upolu
Upolu as well as a large group of people

Visit Samoa’s most important island to discover pristine beaches, lush rainforest and a relaxed pace of life in its small capital city.

Upolu will most likely be your first port of call when you visit the pristine archipelago of Samoa. The island contains the country’s major international airport and its capital, Apia. Shop for traditional goods and sample delicious local food or slip off your sandals and walk across the white sands of one of Upolu’s picture-perfect beaches. Enjoy diving, surfing or fishing and then lie back in the warm, clear waters of an ocean lagoon to relax. Hike through dense rainforest, stopping along the way to admire a waterfall or to swim in a freshwater pool.

Upolu is Samoa’s second-largest island, but is the most populated of the 10 islands and islets. In the capital Apia, visit the food market for tasty local treats and the flea market for traditional souvenirs. In this still quite traditional city you’ll find the majority of the island’s restaurants, banks, shops and other visitor facilities.

Hire a car or a taxi and take the winding coast road that leads from Apia to the many stunning beaches that the island offers. Lalomanu, one of the busier stretches of shoreline, has white sands and warm water that is safe for swimming. Go for a swim or relax with a book or picnic lunch under the palm trees. Watersports enthusiasts can surf, snorkel and scuba dive around the outer reefs by arranging a boat excursion from Apia. Many beaches also have coral closer to shore at high tide These beaches include the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve just outside Apia.

Head inland and explore the hiking trails in places like Lake Lanoto’o National Park, which has a rare swamp forest as its ecosystem. Nearby, O Le Pupu-Pue National Park is where you’ll find Upolu’s highest mountain, the 1,100-metre (3,600-foot) Mount Fito. Many of the tracks pass waterfalls and one of the most spectacular ones is Papapapaitai Falls.

Upolu is served by regular international flights, and has ferry and air services to all of Samoa’s other islands.

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort

4.5 out of 5
Entrance Road, Mulifanua
The price is NZ$268 per night from 24 July to 25 July
NZ$268
24 July - 25 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury resort in Mulifanua. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (662 reviews)
"Problems when checked in at 3am even though had booked from the night prior, which meant room wasn’t cleaned the next day, we weren’t on list for breakfast etc. Lovely hotel although not much around so basically at resort . Beautiful pool area and nice food. Very convenient to airport."

Reviewed on 21 Jul. 2025

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort
Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows

Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows

5 out of 5
Main Beach Road, Apia
The price is NZ$268 per night from 24 July to 25 July
NZ$268
24 July - 25 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Apia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Falemataaga – The Museum of Samoa and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (397 reviews)
"Best Hotel in Samoa !"

Reviewed on 19 Jul. 2025

Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows
Taumeasina Island Resort

Taumeasina Island Resort

4.5 out of 5
Beach Road, Apia
The price is NZ$464 per night from 25 July to 26 July
NZ$464
25 July - 26 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Apia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (596 reviews)
Samoa family trip 2025
"The resort pool and beach area was beautiful - great ambiance"

Reviewed on 21 Jul. 2025

Taumeasina Island Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Fugalei Motel

Fugalei Motel

3.5 out of 5
Fugalei, Street, Apia
Stay at this 3.5-star villa in Apia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Fugalei Fresh Produce Market and Flea Market ...
Fugalei Motel
Spacious 3 BDRM family holiday home, 10min to town, AC available!

Spacious 3 BDRM family holiday home, 10min to town, AC available!

Apia
Stay at this vacation home in Apia. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Robert Louis Stevenson Museum and Vailima ...
Up country gem
"Quiet and safe, except for roosters, haha! We enjoyed being at this place. A land phone line could come in handy, but we utilized BlueSky. We enjoyed evenings watching the sunset. Either car rental or taxi is affordable easy and necessary since you are out of town a ways. Great accommodation for ..."

Reviewed on 8 Jul. 2019

Spacious 3 BDRM family holiday home, 10min to town, AC available!
5 minutes to City Centre of Apia on Private Estate

5 minutes to City Centre of Apia on Private Estate

Apia
Stay at this vacation home in Apia. Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Faleata Golf Course and Fugalei Fresh Produce Market are ...
Beautiful Homestay
"We were in Apia for 7 days to attend the CHOGM 2024. We were pleasantly surprised by how neat and tidy the property was and very spacious. My work colleague was a person with a disability and the home was very accessible for her. The hostess went out of her way to ensure that we had everything we ..."

Reviewed on 29 Oct. 2024

5 minutes to City Centre of Apia on Private Estate
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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