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Apia — travel, stays & events guide
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Apia city overview
Apia is a city in Samoa shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forApia, Capital city in Samoa, Apia planning base 3, Apia planning base 4
RegionSamoaSamoa
Time zonePacific/Apialocal time
Founded1800historical origin
City history
Apia was originally a small village (the 1800 population was 304), from which the country's capital took its name.
The harbour was the site of a notorious 15 March 1889 naval standoff in which seven ships — from Germany, the US, and Britain — refused to leave the harbour, even though a typhoon.
Seumanutafa Pogai was high chief until his death in 1898.
Western Samoa was ruled by Germany as German Samoa from 1900 to 1914, with Apia as its capital.
In August 1914, the Occupation of German Samoa by an expeditionary force from New Zealand began.
New Zealand governed the islands, (as the Western Samoa Trust Territory) from 1920 until Samoan independence in 1962 – first under a League of Nations Class C Mandate and then, after 1945, as a.
On what became known as "Black Saturday" (28 December 1929), during a peaceful Mau gathering in the town, the New Zealand constabulary killed the paramount chief Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III.
During World War II the United States Navy built and operated Naval Base Upolu from 1941 to 1944.
The modern city of Apia was founded in the 1850s, and it has been the official capital of Samoa since 1959.
The country underwent a struggle for political independence in the early 1900s, organised under the aegis of the national Mau movement.
Apia Village still exists within the larger modern capital of Apia, which has grown into a sprawling urban area that encompasses many villages.
Like every other settlement in the country, Apia Village has its own matai (leaders) and fa'alupega (genealogy and customary greetings) according to fa'a Samoa.
All the ships sank or were damaged beyond repair, except for the British cruiser Calliope, which managed to leave port, travelling at a rate of one mile per hour, and was able to ride.
During this period, the streets of Apia were the site of non-violent protests and marches, in the course of which many Samoans were arrested.
Worth seeing
Apia
Apia is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Samoa
Capital city in Samoa is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Apia planning base 3
Apia planning base 3 is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Apia planning base 4
Apia planning base 4 is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Apia planning base 5
Apia planning base 5 is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Apia planning base 6
Apia planning base 6 is a practical Apia planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Apia before booking Apia hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Apia by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Apia, SamoaFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Apia airport accessMain gateway TBC.
Compare airport access against hotel location, arrival time, rental car pickup, late flights and onward driving before choosing the first night base.
Rental cars
Apia day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Apia events in the shared event index yet.