Samoa Food Itinerary: 5 Days

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How to Get Around Samoa in Five Days

This Samoa food itinerary for five days includes travelling to various different destinations on Samoa’s main island, Upolu. Here’s a quick rundown on how to get around Samoa in five days.

Road Transport in Samoa

For travelling around Upolu, car hire offers the most flexibility and convenience. Get advice on car hire from What You Need to Hire a Car in Samoa.

Alternatively, this itinerary is doable with a mix of taxis (see Taxis in Samoa: Taxi Fares, How to Use & More), hiring private drivers (see How to Hire a Driver in Samoa for more advice), as well as taking guided tours such as the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Samoa.

For all of your transport options across the islands, check out our Samoa Transport Guide: 15 Best Ways to Get Around Samoa.

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Day 1 – Arrival in Samoa

Travel time: 15 minutes drive.

Welcome to Samoa and the start of your escape to paradise! After the arrivals process of going through customs and biosecurity, you’ll step outside of the arrivals area to where your airport transfer or rental car will be waiting, whether it’s organised through your accommodation or simply a taxi transfer (see your options in the 10 Best Airport Transfers in Samoa).

Upolu Foodie Accommodation

Since it’s your first day in Samoa, take it easy at the foodie accommodation we’ve chosen for you, Ifiele’ele Plantation. After check-in, relax by the pool, explore the plantation and meet the animals. We’ll go over a few things you can do at Ifiele’ele Plantation tomorrow.

Get details on all of our recommended stay in the 10 Best Resorts for Foodies in Samoa.

Dining Recommendations

To dine on fresh produce straight from the plantation, choose to book your evening dinner with Ifiele’ele Plantation (only available on request).

Alternatively, the accommodation is one of the few in Samoa with self-catering facilities, should you want to stop at a convenience store on the way over – see A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Samoa for more advice.

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Day 2 – Plantation Tour + Apia

Travel time: 35 minutes drive.

You’re in a stunning setting high on the hills of Upolu to relax and catch your breath before hitting the road this afternoon.

Plantation Tour

Make use of Ifiele’ele Plantation‘s large lap pool and tennis courts but be sure to make time for one of their Plantation Tours, as well as to sample some of their dried fruit, chutneys, jams and ice pops that are loved around Samoa. See the 10 Best Foodie Experiences on Upolu for more details on the tour.

Ifiele’ele Plantation to Apia

Experience the joy of driving through Samoa’s most populated villages on the Main West Coast Road on your way to Apia.

Once you reach Apia, you’ll realise where all of the restaurants in Samoa are (more or less)! We’ll get onto some of the foodie activities in the following days. For now, check-in at your accommodation and enjoy the breadth of culinary experiences available.

Apia Foodie Accommodation

• Lava Hotel
• Taumeasina Island Resort
• Amanaki Hotel
• Le Manumea Hotel
• Tanoa Tusitala Hotel
• The White House Hotel
• Samoa Tradition Resort

See some of these accommodations listed in the 10 Best Resorts for Foodies in Samoa, as well as in the 25 Best Hotels in Apia & Upolu.

Dining Recommendations

For lunch, Nourish Cafe near the gorgeous Immaculate Conception Cathedral provides an attractive indoor and outdoor setting for an array of creative yet health-conscious meals for lunch with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, dairy and gluten-free options.

Learn more and see alternative options in the 10 Best Cafes in Apia & Upolu.

As for dinner, make a booking at the most popular restaurant in town, Paddles Restaurant, famous for its relaxing ambience combined with Italian-Samoan fusion cuisine.

See more recommendations in the 10 Best Restaurants in Apia.

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Day 3 – Northeast Coast Trip

Travel time: 1 hour 10 minutes drive.

It’s time to hit the road and discover more of Upolu! Either do this tour as a self-drive in your rental vehicle or do it as part of Samoa Holidays & Events, where you’ll enjoy a traditional umu lunch at Samoa Cultural Village before heading to the Piula Cave Pools, as described in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Apia.

Apia to Piula Cave Pools (and Back)

Take the Main East Coast Road along the scenic coastline with cliffs and villages to admire. Your first stop is the freshwater spring of Piula Cave Pools, signposted between the villages of Saoluafata and Faleapuna.

Bathe in the reviving spring waters then choose whether to return on the Main West Coast Road straight away or take a 20-minute return detour to another mesmerising swimming spot, Sauniatu Falls signposted from Saoluafata.

Learn more about both of these attractions in the 10 Best Swimming Spots in Samoa. Return the way you came back to Apia!

Dining Recommendations

Between Apia and Piula Cave Pools, there are no real restaurant or cafe opportunities until you reach Le Uaina Beach Resort, which you could try out for lunch.

Alternatively, we recommend stopping by Sula’s Supermarket & Bakery along the Main East Coast Road in Moataa, which is often agreed to be one of the best places to pick up quintessential Samoan snacks, from keke pua’a (pork buns) to keke saiga (Chinese biscuits) and many of the items we list in the 20 Foods to Try in Samoa.

For dinner, make tonight the night you experience one of Samoa’s famed fiafia nights, giving you the opportunity to sample a range of Samoan dishes while relaxing with a captivating cultural show. Every Thursday, Lava Hotel hosts a vibrant fiafia night that stands out with its Samoa-focused cultural showcase. The generous BBQ buffet offers a taste of street-side Samoan barbecue alongside salads and sides, though vegetarian options are limited.

Check out some of your best options in the 10 Best Fiafia Nights in Samoa.

If there isn’t a fiafia on, be transported to the Mediterranean and among the attractive patio gardens of Giordano’s Pizzeria. The closest European-style pizzas we’ve found in Apia, and Samoa for that matter, Giordano’s combines Italian cuisine with a gorgeous balmy setting and ambient lighting. While pizzas are the obvious go-to’s here, with popular options being the Mediterranean lamb, salmon and tapenade (chef-made) pizzas, the smoked salmon pasta, lasagne (with a gluten-free option) and tropical salad are all worth venturing off the pizza train.

Alternatively, take a look at The Food Guide to Apia for more restaurant recommendations.

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Day 4 – Cross Island Road Trip

Travel time: 1 hour drive.

Another exciting Upolu day trip awaits from Apia, which you can enjoy either in your rental car or on yet another private tour, this time with Samoa Scenic.

Guided Tour

On the “Essence of Upolu” Tour with Samoa Scenic, enjoy a scenic drive over Le Mafa Pass, reaching heights of 518 m (1,700 ft) above sea level.

Stop at Sopoaga Falls and Botanical Gardens, where you’ll witness a fascinating coconut husking demonstration (trust us, it’s more exciting than it sounds!). Next up is the famous To Sua Ocean Trench – a sight that’ll take your breath away.

Then, it’s off to the pristine white sands of Lalomanu Beach. Here, you’ll have time to snorkel, swim, or simply relax on the beach or in one of the sheltered fales. We personally love grabbing a spot under a palm tree and watching the world go by. To top it all off, a succulent BBQ lunch will be served right on the beach.

Apia to Maninoa (and Back)

If you’d rather self-drive, we recommend checking out of your Apia hotel and hitting the Cross Island Road, stopping by the acclaimed Robert Louis Stevenson Museum for an intriguing mansion tour and revelling in these glorious gardens.

Speaking of gardens, don’t miss a potter around the Baha’i Temple; one of only eight in the world! Next door is also the Tipapata Art Centre with its art gallery and vegan speciality cafe.

Further along the Cross Island Road is the free-to-visit Papapapaitai Waterfall, one of the highest waterfalls in Samoa.

Your final destination today is Maninoa, which has a gorgeous beach, fabulous resorts, and restaurants. After you’ve wrapped up the day here, return back to Apia (if you can pull yourself away).

Dining Recommendations

Along the Cross Island Road, you have the option of Tiapata Art Centre & Cafe with homemade everything and specialising in vegan meals (as well as meat and fish dishes) – see Samoa for Vegans & Vegetarians + 10 Best Restaurants. Alternatively, Forest Cafe provides a unique setting as long as you have a 4WD vehicle.

Find out more in the 10 Best Cafes in Apia & Upolu.

For dinner, Ava I Toga Restaurant of the Sinalei Reef Resort is a must-do for fine dining on its over-the-water restaurant, boasting an array of creative cuisine for all diets.

Learn more about these restaurants and others in the 10 Best Restaurants on Upolu and 10 Best Bars on Upolu.

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Day 5 – Explore Apia + Departure

Travel time: 45-50 minutes drive.

Experience the culinary delights of Samoa’s capital today, as Apia boasts many experiences that foodies will love. Make sure your flight is a late one, so can enjoy as many of these activities as possible!

Foodie Experiences in Apia

• See an umu demonstration at the Samoa Cultural Village
• Browse the Fugalei Market, SWAG Market, Fish Market, Night Market and more – see the 8 Best Markets in Samoa
• Take part in a Samoan cooking class at the Taumeasina Island Resort
• Experience a Sunday to’onai (if it’s a Sunday)
• Catch your own dinner on a Samoan fishing charter…

… And the list goes on in detail in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Apia.

Dining Recommendations

For lunch, Café 10 is a hidden gem in Apia where comfort food favourites take centre stage in an attractive garden centre setting. The menu spans hearty classics like eggs benedict, burgers and grilled fish, alongside lighter options such as tropical salads and veggie toasties.

Take a look at the 10 Best Cafes in Apia & Upolu for more about this establishment plus alternative recommendations.

If you need dinner recommendations, Bistro Tatau Restaurant is a good go-to to impress with its speciality Asian cuisine, as well as European, Mediterranean and Australasia influences. Start with the likes of steamed dumplings or a tropical oka for an injection of local then move on to pan-fried swordfish, crisp pork belly salad or rib-eye steak.

Learn more in the 5 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Samoa.

Departure from Faleolo Airport

Finally, after an exciting five days in Samoa on a foodie getaway, it’s finally time to say goodbye to the islands.

Remember to arrive at the airport a couple of hours before your scheduled departure so that you have enough time to check in, go through security and browse the retail offerings, as listed in The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop.

You may even want to wait for your flight in style at the Faleolo Airport Lounge with a refreshment buffet, unlimited WiFi, a shower, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and more.

For anything else you need to know about leaving Samoa, it’s all listed in our guide, Leaving Samoa: Departure Tips & Checklist.

And it’s “Tofa Soifua” from Samoa!