Best beaches in Samoa
Samoa's beaches are the kind that consistently top "world's best" lists and somehow stay uncrowded. Most are on customary land — you'll pay a small village fee (typically WST 5–20) at the gate, which goes back into maintaining the site. Below: the ones our travellers come back about.
About this guide
Lalomanu (Upolu south-east) is the postcard beach — white sand, turquoise water, beach fales right on it. Aganoa Black Sand Beach (Savai'i) is its volcanic opposite. Manase has the longest stretch on Savai'i and the densest fale strip. Vavau on the south coast of Upolu is quieter and good for a half-day. Cape Mulinu'u and Falealupo Beach mark the western tip of Savai'i, where the land ends and the spirits begin (per the local legend). All are open daily; bring cash for fees.
Where to stay (8)
Va-i-moana
Asau · Savaii
- Bungalow
- Hotel
- Featured
from WST 180 / night
Le Uaina
Faleapuna · Upolu
- Resort
- Featured
from WST 300 / night
Hotel Laimoa
Apia · Upolu
- Hotel
- Featured
from WST 277 / night
Miti Maninoa Ocean Club
Maninoa · Upolu
- Resort
from WST 520 / night
Seabreeze Resort Samoa (Adults Only)
Aufaga · Upolu
- Resort
from WST 950 / night
Savaii Lagoon Resort
Fagamalo · Savaii
- Resort
from WST 380 / night
Aga Reef
Lalomanu · Upolu
- Villa
- Resort
from WST 540 / night
Jaymy Beach Fales
Apia · Upolu
- Bungalow
from WST 230 / night
Places worth visiting (9)
Practical info
Before you fly, skim our Samoa travel info page — visa rules, ferry to Savai'i, driving on the left, village fees, and cultural protocols. For event timing, the Samoa events calendar covers festivals, public holidays, and weekly markets.
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Best beach fales in Samoa: traditional open-air stays
The beach fale (pronounced FAH-leh) is Samoa's signature stay — a traditional thatched-roof hut, open to the ocean breeze, on the sand. You sleep on a mattress with a mosquito net, the family runs the kitchen, and dinner is whatever was caught that day. It's the cheapest and most authentic way to stay in Samoa.
Best stays in Samoa: where to sleep across Upolu and Savai'i
Samoa's accommodation runs the full spectrum — from US$30-a-night beach fales where you sleep open-air to the lagoon, through family-run boutique hotels in Apia, all the way to five-star resorts with overwater bungalows. Picking the right one depends entirely on what you're after: barefoot authenticity, restaurant variety, or a swim-up bar.
Best waterfalls in Samoa
Samoa is volcanic, mountainous, and perpetually green — which means waterfalls everywhere. A handful are big, dramatic, and reachable by sealed road; many are off-grid and require a local guide and a small village fee. Below are the ones worth the drive.