Apia has been the capital as well as the largest city of Samoa, located on the central north coast of Upolu, which is the second largest island. Home to about 36,735 residents, Apia is considered as the only city in the country and is administered under the district of Tuamasaga. The city would start as a small village around the 1800s before being modernized as a city in the 1850s. Given its status as the capital ever since the reign of German Samoa, as Samoa gained independence, Apia is then made the capital since 1959. In the present day, Apia comprises of 45 smaller villages with the original Apia village can be found within the settlement. As the center of the country’s government and political administration as well as a major transport and education hub, Apia has been thriving and attracting people from all over the country and even outside tourists.

Airports in Apia

Faleolo International Airport

Faleolo International Airport or formerly known as Faleolo Airfield is the main airport that majorly serves Apia and nearby areas. Being the busiest airport around and a gateway into Samoa, it is located 40 kilometers west of Apia city center. This public airport started as the airfield constructed by the United States Navy Seabees around the time the war broke out around Pacific in 1942. It has been expanded ever since to accommodate much larger commercial aircraft. At an elevation of 18 meters, it has a 3,000 meters long runway that is made of asphalt, enabling the handling of a variety of turboprop, narrow-body and wide-body jet aircraft. Faleolo International Airport typically caters to airlines such as Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, Fiji Link, Inter Island Airways, Real Tonga, Samoa Airways, Talofa Airways and Virgin Australia for destinations around New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii and United States. It also caters to other international airlines, including Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, for connecting passenger flights to and from Manila with the budget ranging from 69,345 pesos to 108,834 pesos.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Faleolo?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travelers to find the cheapest flights to Faleolo.All you need to do is to key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Don’t hesitate to use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Faleolo.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Apia?

Even though Apia may seem to be an all-year-round destination, the off-peak season is usually around the month March due to the wet season that makes it uneasy about going out. As such, you can look forward to interesting bargains in hotel and flight ticket prices around this period which will allow you to save money. It only applies provided if you do not mind the weather and is merely trying to hunt a bargain. If you desire to come when there is a crowd, note that peak season in Apia is from June, July and September which is during the season in which there are more moderate, comfortable temperatures with much lesser rain.

Apia has a tropical rainforest climate according to Köppen climate classification which is characterized for its all-year-round consistent temperatures, yet it is not equatorial given the presence of trade winds, plus the occasional appearance of cyclones. Usually, it will be warm and sunny, with the average annual temperature is 26.9 degree Celsius with temperatures throughout the year ranging around 23.5 degree Celsius for the average low, with the average high that could go up to 30.2 degree Celsius. The annual precipitation is approximately 2,965 mm, being spread evenly over the months with a significant increase in December to March, with a total of 2,230 sunshine hours throughout the year.

When in Apia, one can look forward to join in the handful of events and festivities organized around town just like the locals would. To begin with, there is a great celebration of New Year in town with a mesmerizing fireworks display that is nice to check out. Then there is the Teuila Festival in September, which is a cultural event with various activities including the choral exhibition, traditional Siva Samoa, fire knife dancing and many more. Also, given that most Samoans are practicing Christianity, they will observe the major Christianity celebrations as their holidays, including Christmas and Easter Day, among others.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Apia?

Immaculate Conception Cathedral – The cathedral is the oldest of its kind in Apia, having finished its construction in 1857 after seven years when the first stone is placed due to epidemics and 1854 hurricane. Over time, it has been the center of Christianity for the folks around the city, being restored and maintained with the most significant work being after the 2009 earthquake.

Robert Louis Stevenson Museum – Located 5 kilometers south of Apia, the Robert Louise Stevenson Museum is originally a house built and inhabited by the prolific Scottish writer during his final years. In the present, one can come over to have a look at the museum and get an up-close look into his life over the years. It is open daily, except on Sundays.

Piula Cave Pool – Also known as Fatumea Pool, this natural freshwater pool can be found near the sea at Piula on the north coast part of Upolu island, being half an hour away from Apia. It is a well-known spot to swim for locals and visitors alike, with its formation said to come from the natural spring that flows out of the cave.