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Apia is the charming capital of Samoa, situated on the north coast of Upolu. With a population of over 40,000, Apia is a fairly compact town with a central business district along the attractive Apia Harbour.
The pleasant beach road is the main stretch for shops, restaurants and hotels as well as the main tourist information centre at the Travellers Lounge. Beach Road follows the harbour wall with its wide promenade. Before the wall was built, a beach lined the waterfront, but now little sand is left except on the harbour sea-bed which is a popular swimming spot with local kids. The only beach area is a ten minute stroll from central Apia at Vaiala which has several guest houses with ocean views but the main attraction here is not the beach but snorkelling at the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve with its deep blue hole and colourful fish.
Apia has a large selection of hotels, inns and motels. Quite a few are pretty ordinary hotels in out of the way locations and aimed more at visiting Samoans and businessmen than tourists. The best luxury hotel in Apia is Aggie Grey's Hotel, a South Sea legend, located on Beach Road overlooking the harbour with excellent dining, cocktail bars and a culture show some nights. The alternative is the Hotel Kitano Tusitala on Mulinuu Peninsula, a slightly cheaper option and aimed more at families than couples. The Hotel Elisa is also located on Mulinuu Peninsula and offers nice views across the harbour but its clientele is aimed more at businessmen than tourists and the rooms are efficient rather than homely. The Vaiala Beach Cottages offers excellent value for money self contained bungalows in a spacious garden setting overlooking the sea at Vaisala, about 15-minutes walk into downtown and is a great option for families being able to sleep up to 5 people or couples looking for a little peace and quiet. The Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, which has great snorkelling, is just around the corner. For those on more of a budget, Pasefika Inn is a centrally located hotel with clean rooms and large restaurant and is a good choice being close to restaurants and tour offices. Backpackers have several accommodations to choose from including the elegant and extremely reasonably priced rooms of Outrigger Hotel (some even have air-conditioning), with its swimming pool and large decking area about 10 minute walk to downtown Apia near the hospital. Princess Tui Inn at Vaiala offers backpacker dorms and budget rooms, some with air-conditioning.
There are several distinct features about Apia, the Catholic church being the finest architectural building in town, but overall it has a laid back old world feeling and is swept meticulously clean every morning and afternoon. The small Samoa Museum on Beach Road has a fair introductory to Samoan culture and relics from the past.
Nightlife in Apia is thriving with lots of atmospheric fine dining restaurants and good drinking holes including a few exceptionally rowdy local bars and nightclubs and the infamous drag act put on at Margary-Ta's Beer Garden.
Markets are great places to meet the locals in a more sedate manner and to buy fresh produce - Apia centre boasts three - the colourful fish market by the harbour, the fruit and veg market opposite the bus stand and the large flea market selling everything from fine crafts to tacky souvenirs and cheap Chinese clothes.
One of Apia's traditions is its early morning Police Band parade and flag raising ceremony at the government buildings when all traffic and anything else moving comes to a momentary stop.
A few places of interest on the outskirts of Apia are the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, the Papasee'a natural sliding rock and pools, several excellent trails through rainforest around Tanumapua, and the new 18-hole championship golf course at Faleata.
... back to the Upolu Island Travel Guide
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