Apia’s Most Romantic Experiences
You don’t have to be staying at some remote beach resort to experience romance in Samoa. In fact, many couples have a better time in more contemporary Polynesia; the city of Apia. The small capital easily provides an endearing weekend or even a week’s break, especially with all of the romantic things to do in Apia.
Create your own itinerary from these Apia activities for couples, or head over to The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Apia for more holiday advice.
1. Enjoy a Romantic Stroll Through Matagialalua Friendship Park
A neat little area on the Apia waterfront, Matagialalua Friendship Park offers an attractive park for a romantic stroll with that special someone. Explore the Mangrove Tidal Garden with boardwalks and bridges to mosey over, watch locals battle it out at the sports courts, and head down to the amphitheatre to catch a free gig or event.
Location: On the waterfront behind the Government Building on Beach Road.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com2. Take a Picnic to the Vailima Botanical Garden
Encompassing 12 ha (30 acres) of native, introduced and naturalised plant species, Vailima Botanical Garden offers an endearing space to explore in Apia for couples. The information centre here provides more details about the biodiversity of the gardens, while the freshwater pool and waterfall of the Loimata o Apaula stream is a wonderful place for a refreshing dip. You can also start the Tomb Trail walking track from here, as detailed in the 15 Best Walks & Hikes in Samoa.
Location: Follow signposts for the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum along Cross Island Road in the village of Avele, just south of Apia. Instead of turning down the lane to the museum, however, continue straight until you reach an archway and sign for Vailima Botanical Garden.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com3. Indulge in a Couple’s Massage
Apia boasts a number of day spas for you to effortlessly find your zen together. From cultural therapeutic massages to international favourites, there are a number of treatments you can try together in a double-massage-table setting. What’s more, there are some very reasonable massage rates going around, so compare your options with the 5 Best Spas in Apia and start reviving.
Location: All over Apia! See the link above for recommendations and their locations.
© Samoa Tourism Authority4. Tackle the Papase’ea Sliding Rocks Together
For something more adventurous, try out nature’s waterslides at the Papase’ea Sliding Rocks! After walking down some jungle steps, you’ll come across the first and biggest slide that locals call the “men’s slide”; a near-verticle 5-m (16-ft) slide. Further down is the “kids’ slide”, a much less precarious slide with a little drop at the end of extra fun. Finally, at the bottom, you have the “women’s slide”. Lots of fun, lots of laughs; what’s not to love? Avoid the busiest times, which tend to be the weekends, to get optimal slide time and more alone time. Discover more stunning sights of nature in The Top 20 Natural Wonders in Samoa.
Location: Se’ese’e, Faleata District on the outskirts of Apia. The access road turns off Maugafolau Road near the University of the South Pacific campus.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com5. Stay in a Romantic Hotel or Resort
Stay at one of the 10 Most Romantic Wedding & Honeymoon Hotels in Apia and you’ll have access to a number of facilities that will make it well worth a day of simply relaxing at your hotel or resort. Cool off in the pool, treat each other to cocktails at your hotel’s bar, hire kayaks or SUP boards to explore the coast, order room service and… You get the picture.
Location: All over Apia! See the link above for recommended accommodations and their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com6. Experience Private Dining on the Beach
Apia has many enticing restaurants that we’ll get to later but if you seek a more exclusive experience, perhaps for a special occasion, then treat your loved one to one of Apia’s private dining experiences. Taumeasina Island Resort indulges couples in a three-course dinner with bubbles either on your room’s balcony or by the beach. You never know, it could be the perfect time to pop the question… As such, see more ideas in 5 Romantic Ways to Propose in Samoa.
Location: Taumeasina – Taumeasina Road, Taumeasina.
© Samoa Tourism Authority7. Discover Apia’s Most Mesmerising Snorkelling Spot
This shared experience of seeing an underwater world thriving is sure to bring any couple closer together. On the shores of Apia, Palolo Deep Marine Reserve hides a vibrant underwater world some 100 m (109 yards) swim away. Hire snorkelling gear from the kiosk and swim out to the white buoy to see an underwater trench brimming with staghorn coral, hundreds of tropical fish species, starfish, octopuses and, if you’re lucky, perhaps even some turtles. Note, however, that the water is too shallow for enjoyable snorkelling when it’s not close to high tide, so plan your visit accordingly. For more sweet snorkelling spots, check out The Best Snorkelling in Samoa: Top 10 Places to Snorkel.
Location: Between the Marina and Vaiala Beach along Beach Road.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com8. Treat Your Loved One to Something Special from Apia’s Shops and Markets
Home to talented craftspeople who have passed down techniques from generation to generation, Samoa certainly entices with unique jewellery, gorgeous siapo paintings, hand-printed clothing, natural island cosmetics and much more – just see the 10 Best Souvenirs from Samoa. With this in mind, shopping and perhaps buying a gift to remember your time in paradise together offers another romantic thing to do in Apia. Discover the retail highlights in The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop.
Location: All over Apia! Check out the link above for shopping recommendations and their locations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com9. Dine at Apia’s Cute Cafes and Restaurants
The lunch or dinner date has been a staple of courtship for centuries; good food, good conversation, good company; what’s not to love? In Apia, you’re in the best place in Samoa to enjoy a romantic meal together, whether it’s at one of the city’s very adorable cafes or perhaps at a fine dining restaurant. There’s much to go through, so check out some of our recommendations in The Food Guide to Apia: Places to Eat & Food Tours.
Location: All over Apia! See the link above for recommendations.
© SamoaPocketGuide.com10. Take a Tiki Tour Around the Island
You haven’t experienced true Samoa until you’ve left Apia. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind for lusher lands awash in waterfalls, pristine beaches, uninhabited islands and swimming holes that look like something out of a tropical fairytale. Get some ideas for things to do around the island in the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do on Upolu or plan a self-drive tour using A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Upolu: One Day Itinerary.
Location: Upolu. Take a look at the links above for directions on where to go.
© SamoaPocketGuide.comMore Romantic Things to Do in Apia for Couples
Of course, every couple has different tastes and interests so if there’s anything missing from this list of the most romantic things to do in Apia for couples, it will probably be in the following articles:
Finally, don’t miss a thing when it comes to planning the perfect getaway by checking out The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Samoa.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
- Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
- Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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