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The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2023]
The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2023]

The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2024]

© SamoaPocketGuide.com

Where to Shop in Samoa

Samoa might be a South Pacific island but it has the perfect blend of Polynesian and cosmopolitan culture which includes a vibrant shopping scene. If you love browsing gift shops and buying new fashions from the places you visit, then you’ll love Samoa’s capital. Although Apia is the main hub for shopping, you’ll find the odd hidden gem on the outskirts of town. As for the greater islands of Upolu and Savai’i, shopping opportunities are, admittedly, thin.

Whatever you’re looking to purchase, whether it’s Polynesian artwork, island clothing or even groceries, you’ll be pointed in the right direction with this ultimate guide to shopping in Samoa.

6 Quick Tips for Shopping in Samoa

  1. Cash is king in Samoa, so make sure you have some available for shopping, especially for the markets – find out more in What is the Best Way to Pay in Samoa?
  2. It is normal for some shops in Samoa to ask customers to leave bags at the front of the store in a secure place
  3. Haggling the price is not customary in Samoa
  4. While most stores are open 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, be aware that shops typically close early on a Saturday and are closed on a Sunday
  5. Perhaps with the exception of tacky fridge magnets and bottle openers, there are a rare few items that are made outside of Samoa; if you’re unsure where it’s made, just ask
  6. Most souvenirs will pass through biosecurity when you arrive home (such as in New Zealand, for example), just remember to declare any shell, wood or food products – see similar tips in Leaving Samoa: Departure Tips & Checklist.
The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2023]© SamoaPocketGuide.com

The Best Places to Go Shopping in Samoa

A vibrant shopping scene awaits in Samoa with a splattering of boutiques, markets and fashion stores – where apparel is actually created in-house – in the capital Apia. The cosmopolitan vibe doesn’t exactly extend to Samoa’s less-developed islands, however, but you will find the odd hidden gem on Savai’i.

Shopping in Apia

A must-do for shop-a-holics, Apia is easily the best place in Samoa to browse handicrafts and apparel and sit down at a cafe in between it all. Home to numerous markets, Fugalei Market is the largest one where an array of local sellers gather for an extravaganza of local crafts, clothing, art, jewellery, food and produce. You’ll also find an ensemble of boutiques and fashion stores where many of the island-style clothing are made in-house and even in-store with tailors on hand to size you up. See the “The Best Shops in Samoa” section below to sift through your options, or head to 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Samoa where most listings are based in Apia.

Shopping at Faleolo International Airport

Save some Samoan Tala to spend at the Arrivals and Departures Lounges of Faleolo International Airport. Although not heavy on duty-free goods, stores here sell an array of local arts, crafts and apparel from some of Samoa’s largest brands. It’s a good way to pass the time while waiting for your flight, which you can learn more about in Leaving Samoa: Departure Tips & Checklist.

Shopping on Savai’i

Shopping on Savai’i is nothing like Upolu and Apia, as the main town here is much sleepier. In terms of shopping for crafts and souvenirs, the Salelologa Market is your best bet while the Eveni Carruthers store is a good option for island-style apparel. Amoa Resort also sells an attractive selection of Samoan gifts. Alternatively, the Siapo Demonstration in Palauli village is a more interactive and fun way to come away with your own piece of siapo – as described in the 8 Best Cultural Activities on Savai’i.

The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2023]© SamoaPocketGuide.com

The Best Shops in Samoa

What are the shops you can’t miss in Samoa? Check out these lists of the most popular clothing, gift, art gallery stores and more.

The 10 Best Clothing Stores in Samoa

  1. MENA, Apia – 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday
  2. Eveni Carruthers, Apia, Salelologa & Faleolo Airport – 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday
  3. Janet’s, Apia & Faleolo Airport – 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday
  4. Tanoa Samoa, Apia – 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday
  5. Le-Ata, Apia – 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 2 pm Saturday
  6. Pacific Jewell Gift Shop, Apia – 7:30 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and until 2 pm on Saturday
  7. Horizon Surf, Apia & Faleolo Airport – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and until 1 pm on Saturday
  8. Samoa Lokostyle, Apia & Faleolo Airport – 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and until 1:30 pm on Saturday
  9. Fugalei Market, Apia – 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday
  10. Salelologa Market, Salelologa, Savai’i – From 7 am (all day) Monday to Saturday.

More details on some of our favourite fashion stores can be found in the 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Samoa.

The 10 Best Gift Stores in Samoa

  1. Pacific Jewell Gift Shop, Apia – 7:30 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and until 2 pm on Saturday
  2. Janet’s, Apia & Faleolo Airport – 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday
  3. Mailelani Samoa Body Care, Apia – 9 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday
  4. Plantation House, Apia – 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday
  5. Fugalei Market, Apia – 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday
  6. Salelologa Market, Salelologa, Savai’i – From 7 am (all day) Monday to Saturday.
  7. The Vanya Taule’alo Gallery, Apia – 8 am to 3 pm, Monday to Saturday
  8. Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Apia – 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 12 pm on Saturday
  9. Samoa Lokostyle, Apia & Faleolo Airport – 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and until 1:30 pm on Saturday
  10. Frankie Gift Shop, Faleolo Airport – Open for flight departures.

Learn more about local gift stores in the 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Samoa.

The 5 Best Art Galleries in Samoa

  1. EFKS Museum, Malua – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday or call ahead on Saturday
  2. Tiapapata Art Centre, Malololelei – From 9 am, Tuesday to Sunday
  3. The Vanya Taule’alo Gallery, Apia – 8 am to 3 pm, Monday to Saturday
  4. Manamea Art Studio, Apia – 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday and 10 am to 3 pm on Friday
  5. The Museum of Samoa, Falemata’aga, Apia – 9:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

Learn more about art galleries and others in the 5 Best Art Galleries in Samoa.

The 5 Best Craft Markets in Samoa

  1. Fugalei Market, Apia – 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday
  2. Salelologa Market, Salelologa, Savai’i – From 7 am (all day) Monday to Saturday.
  3. Savalalo Flea Market, Apia – 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday
  4. SWAG Market, Apia – 9 am to 12 pm Saturday
  5. Vaitele Market, Apia – 6 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday…

… And there’s more listed in the 8 Best Markets in Samoa.

The Guide to Shopping in Samoa + The Best Places to Shop 🛍️ [2023]© SamoaPocketGuide.com

Groceries and Essentials

Of course, grocery shopping and essential supplies are always useful to have on your radar, especially on remote islands where you can’t always rely on a Walmart, New World or Woolworths just down the road. Luckily, we have grocery shopping guides for the capital, as well as the greater islands of Upolu and Savai’i. Check them out in the links below:

And anything we’ve missed will be in the Information, Shops & Services in Samoa.

For more details on what grocery supplies are available, check out A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Samoa.

More About Shopping in Samoa

Now that you know all about shopping in Samoa, as well as the best shops in Samoa, take a look at more of our guides that will help plan the perfect shop-a-holic’s outing:

Finally, add more activities beyond shopping to the bucket list using the 101 Best Things to Do in Samoa: The Ultimate List. Plus, work out all the logistics of planning a Samoa getaway in The Best Samoa Travel Guide.

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:

Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Samoa Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Samoa. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Upolu and Savai’i’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Laura via our contact page

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