Samoa
The best time to visit
When to go to Samoa
Go in the dry season, May to October, for trade winds, sunshine and less than half the rain of high summer. The wet season, November to April, is hotter and much wetter and overlaps the South Pacific cyclone season.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Apia. Higher is better. Some links on this page are affiliate links, at no cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Jul.
Either side of peak, with thinner crowds and better rates.
Cyclone season.
In short
The year at a glance
Samoa is the heart of Polynesia: two lush volcanic islands of waterfalls, blowholes, village greens and open beach fales. It is warm year round, and the year splits cleanly into a drier, breezier half and a hot, wet half. We rate on Apia, the capital on Upolu.
May to October is the dry season, with June to September the driest, sunniest stretch. November to April brings heavy downpours, sticky heat and the cyclone risk, with the heaviest rain from December to February. The Teuila Festival, Samoa's biggest cultural event, fills Apia in early September.
Month by month
Samoa month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Apia.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rating | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 490 mm | Avoid 0 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| February | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 360 mm | Avoid 5 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| March | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 350 mm | Avoid 6 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| April | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 290 mm | Avoid 15 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| May | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 200 mm | Good 51 | Hot and wet. |
| June | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 120 mm | Great 70 | Hot and wet. Apia hotels in June |
| July | 28°C / 82°F | 23°C / 73°F | 90 mm | Ideal 82 | Warm with a little rain. Apia hotels in July |
| August | 28°C / 82°F | 23°C / 73°F | 110 mm | Ideal 74 | Warm with a little rain. Apia hotels in August |
| September | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 150 mm | Great 58 | Hot and wet. |
| October | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 200 mm | Good 51 | Hot and wet. |
| November | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 260 mm | Avoid 19 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| December | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 360 mm | Avoid 5 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
By region
Where you go changes when you go
Upolu
Apia, the To Sua Ocean Trench and the south-coast beaches. Best in the dry season, May to October.
Savai'i
The bigger, quieter island: lava fields, blowholes and village Samoa at its most traditional. Same seasons, even fewer crowds.
Waterfalls and the interior
Falls thunder hardest at the wet edges of the year and shrink by late dry season. The lookout roads are easiest when dry.
Go for
Best time to visit Samoa for
Beach fales and swimming
May to October, for sun, settled seas and comfortable nights in an open fale.
Snorkelling
The dry season, when calm water clears up the lagoons and the To Sua trench.
Culture and festivals
Early September for the Teuila Festival, still inside the dry season.
Best value
The wet season, accepting daily downpours for green landscapes and quiet fales.
On the calendar
What is on, and when
Teuila Festival, early Sep
A week of fautasi longboat racing, dance and the crowning of Miss Samoa in Apia.
Dry season, May to Oct
Trade winds and the year's most reliable sunshine across both islands.
Cyclone season
Nov to Apr.
Rainy season
Sep to May.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Samoa
Compare hotels and rentals around Apia, then book the month you want.
Ready to book?
Rates climb in peak season, so the best-weather months pay to book early. Shoulder and low months are the value windows.
Prefer to sort flights first? Compare flights
Questions
Good to know
What is the best time to visit Samoa?
When is cyclone season in Samoa?
Samoa or American Samoa?
Where else, and when
Every country on one map, or jump straight to another guide.