Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
About
This was the poet's home for the last few years of his life and his burial site.
Duration: < 1 hour
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- TAMAN1951Liberty Lake, Washington8,682 contributionsBery nice visitThe grounds are well maintained and quite beautiful. The home and contents are likewise well preserved and well worth a visit if you are on the island. Sadly he was only here for s bit over four years but his story is quite nice and he was a well liked resident.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 April 2024
- Katie W8 contributionsHistorical beautyStunning home of Robert Louis Stevenson. Lovely guide took us around and gave great information. She also sang beautifully at the end. The museum has a superb collection of old photos of samoa and the various peoples and activities that have taken place there.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 30 April 2024
- Andy keenBirmingham, United Kingdom1,703 contributionsBob's 20Hired a taxi and went from the cruise ship port for an Island tour. Of course we called into Roberts holiday 20 as we visited his Res in Edinborough. Lovely house to walk around but would have loved towalk up the top to see his grave and the view but one needs to allow 2 and half hours for up and down.!! My knee grumbles sadly. If yam in Apia ...don't miss itVisited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 6 June 2024
- Leanz25 contributionsWorth the moneyLoved the song poem Raquiem of RLS that our guide Ese sang to us at the end of the tour. I learned alot from the visit and never knew RLS only lived in Samoa for 4 and half years before his passing. Please note that if you break anything here you have to pay 2K Samoan tala for damages and to take your shoes off before entering. Thats how precious this place is. Loved our visit to Vailima.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 July 2024
- Phill DAuckland Central, New Zealand3 contributionsAmazing Experience. Beautiful Place.What an awesome experience. A beautiful place and an incredible story. Our guide was amazing and the house and gardens have to be seen to be appreciated. If Robert could look down from heaven - and maybe he is - he would be immensely proud of how his legacy is being represented. A must do in Samoa.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 25 July 2024
- Iain MBrisbane, Australia451 contributionsVery interesting historyThis is where the famous author of Treasure Island, kthe Ebb Tide and Dr Jeckle & Mr Hyde to name a few, lived the last view years of his life in the late 1800s. The museum is his former house and shows what it was like when he originally lived there. It's well worth a visit.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,206 reviews
Excellent
751
Very good
364
Average
80
Poor
9
Terrible
2
Linda-wanderer
Sedona, AZ325 contributions
Jan 2023
Really enjoyed visiting this house/museum where RLS spent his last days. There are about four or five rooms including what is now a library but was RLS's room. Other rooms are those of his wife, her daughter and daughter's son and a room full of photographs, paintings and sculpture . We did not walk up to the grave which is on the hill above the house. House is surrounded by lovely tropical gardens. There is a small gift shop which has T shirts ,souvenirs and some old copies of RLS's novels for sale. If you do this independently please make sure your driver waits for you or arrange a fee and get him to come back. The tour takes about 45 minutes. The taxi up cost us only 10 Samoa dollars but to get a taxi back it was $20 US (about triple the cost of getting there). I suppose we could have walked back - it would have taken an hour but it is downhill, though quite warm.
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gene R J
Silver Spring, MD10,794 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We drove our rental car ~14km south up to see the Shrine of the Three Hearts then returned 4km down to this expansive gated property and parked under a century old shade tree.
After paying 20 WS tala each, we took the self-guided tour with the provided guidebook, going from room to room over the 2 floors at our own speed, seeing the many old editions of his writings in many languages in the library, period furniture, and the original photos from his 5 year stay.
We took the 'short trail' up to the mountaintop to see his inscribed tomb and encompassing views then returned on the 'long trail' finding both difficult for us seniors. This loop is 4 km with a gain in height of 375m(1,230').
Overall a very worthwhile visit.
After paying 20 WS tala each, we took the self-guided tour with the provided guidebook, going from room to room over the 2 floors at our own speed, seeing the many old editions of his writings in many languages in the library, period furniture, and the original photos from his 5 year stay.
We took the 'short trail' up to the mountaintop to see his inscribed tomb and encompassing views then returned on the 'long trail' finding both difficult for us seniors. This loop is 4 km with a gain in height of 375m(1,230').
Overall a very worthwhile visit.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leanz
25 contributions
July 2024 • Family
Loved the song poem Raquiem of RLS that our guide Ese sang to us at the end of the tour. I learned alot from the visit and never knew RLS only lived in Samoa for 4 and half years before his passing. Please note that if you break anything here you have to pay 2K Samoan tala for damages and to take your shoes off before entering. Thats how precious this place is. Loved our visit to Vailima.
Written 17 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lesley M
Auckland Central, New Zealand138 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
This would have to be one of the best guided tours of a museum that I have ever been on. Margaret, our guide, was amazing and her oral narration of Robert Louis Stevenson’s time in Samoa with his family was beautifully told and well and truly from the heart. It was obvious how much he was loved in Sāmoa. This homestead is a must visit as well as its surrounding gardens. If you want to do the trek up to the burial site go very early before it gets too hot. You can go into the grounds and on the walkway up the mountain at anytime for no charge. A great little gift shop too which I gladly spent money in, knowing some of it was going towards supporting the running of the museum and grounds.
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
samoa1113
Melbourne, Australia66 contributions
July 2023 • Family
The tour probably lasted 20-30mins. Yes it was a short tour but full of information. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Our tour guide also sang a song at the end of the tour which gave goosebumps as it referred back to Robert Louis Stevenson.
I totally recommend this tour to anyone and everyone.
P.s do not expect too much from the tour as it will disappoint you go in with a open heart and mind.
I totally recommend this tour to anyone and everyone.
P.s do not expect too much from the tour as it will disappoint you go in with a open heart and mind.
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maynooth
Perth, Australia42 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
I learned so much about Stevenson and the historic time that he resided in Samoa.
The building is beautiful and the guide was well informed and willing to answer questions and chat.
Once the tour is completed we were allowed to wander through at our leisure and look at things closely.
There is a small gift shop with items and snack foods.
The building is beautiful and the guide was well informed and willing to answer questions and chat.
Once the tour is completed we were allowed to wander through at our leisure and look at things closely.
There is a small gift shop with items and snack foods.
Written 17 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy M
Brisbane, Australia50 contributions
Mar 2023
Our guide was very informative she made our visit a true experience to know of the last days of Robert and his family and friends.
The house with all its contents makes it all the more interesting to have a guide share how they all came to be and how they lived, giving the tour meaning.
The song at the end that the guide sang words of the late Robert Louis Stevenson.
The house with all its contents makes it all the more interesting to have a guide share how they all came to be and how they lived, giving the tour meaning.
The song at the end that the guide sang words of the late Robert Louis Stevenson.
Written 1 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kay S
Walton-On-Thames, UK9 contributions
July 2021
I have tried to post photograph but not having much success, don't know why. It is a picture of the Stevenson house when they first built it.
I spent time in Samoa, months of it on occasion but that was back in the 90s and I believe there have been some changes. But I'm sure the people are still the same, the villages will still have chiefs and run their villages in the traditional way. And they will talk to you about their lives. I was there as the Stevenson house was refurbished and turned into a museum. And visited his tomb on top of Mount Vaea. I fyou can read about his life in Samoa and you'll get the feel of it. I'm sure Apia is quite modernised now, but visit Aggie Greys hotel at the end of the town and learn about the history of that. I'm sure the magic is still there is you want to find it. Speak to people in the cafes and working in the hotels and ask them to tell you about what has not changed. They will love to have a willing ear. I think I visited 3 times for several months at a time. I would definitely go back and maybe meet up again with some of the people I stayed with and got to know.. Don't stick to the new resorts, mix in the bars for drinks etc. I believe the library still has a Robert Louis Stevenson room, ask to go in and perhaps glimpse through some of letters that he write from Samoa. Take a bus around the island. Have a wonderful time. I was not there in July 2021- but it doesn't matter in the Pacific Islands, any of them. History is important, traditions etc. I was there in the 90s so can't put correct date below.
I spent time in Samoa, months of it on occasion but that was back in the 90s and I believe there have been some changes. But I'm sure the people are still the same, the villages will still have chiefs and run their villages in the traditional way. And they will talk to you about their lives. I was there as the Stevenson house was refurbished and turned into a museum. And visited his tomb on top of Mount Vaea. I fyou can read about his life in Samoa and you'll get the feel of it. I'm sure Apia is quite modernised now, but visit Aggie Greys hotel at the end of the town and learn about the history of that. I'm sure the magic is still there is you want to find it. Speak to people in the cafes and working in the hotels and ask them to tell you about what has not changed. They will love to have a willing ear. I think I visited 3 times for several months at a time. I would definitely go back and maybe meet up again with some of the people I stayed with and got to know.. Don't stick to the new resorts, mix in the bars for drinks etc. I believe the library still has a Robert Louis Stevenson room, ask to go in and perhaps glimpse through some of letters that he write from Samoa. Take a bus around the island. Have a wonderful time. I was not there in July 2021- but it doesn't matter in the Pacific Islands, any of them. History is important, traditions etc. I was there in the 90s so can't put correct date below.
Written 3 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iain M
Brisbane, Australia451 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
This is where the famous author of Treasure Island, kthe Ebb Tide and Dr Jeckle & Mr Hyde to name a few, lived the last view years of his life in the late 1800s. The museum is his former house and shows what it was like when he originally lived there. It's well worth a visit.
Written 2 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie W
8 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Stunning home of Robert Louis Stevenson. Lovely guide took us around and gave great information. She also sang beautifully at the end. The museum has a superb collection of old photos of samoa and the various peoples and activities that have taken place there.
Written 1 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a bad knee so just wanted some feedback from people about the walk to the grave site please. Avoid or take walking poles?? Any feedback much appreciated.
Written 14 July 2018
We did the shorter but steeper track and I’d definitely avoid that. I can’t speak for the other track. Another family we met said that this track was also a little challenging as it had been raining for a week leaving it quite slippery and rough in spots. If your knee is bad I’d recommend not doing it. You could have a look at the start of the track and this will give you an idea. Hope this helps.
Written 29 July 2018
Can you tell me how you paid the 20 talas for the museum? Do they take credit cards or foreign currency (such as US$) We plan to arrive by cruise ship. I understand its within walking distance. Do you know roughly how long the walk is? Thanks!
Written 27 January 2017
You can pay by cash in tala or Foreign currency (US dollars, AUD, NZD) We do have an Eftpos machine however, the line connection is sometimes a problem.
The walk from the ship to the Museum will be maybe an hour. Depending on how you walk.
Written 1 February 2018
My friend and I are hoping to visit Apia in January 2017. He is a great R.L.Stevenson fan, and the museum there is on his "bucket list". He would also like to visit the grave at the top of Vaea, but he is 90 years old and I don't think can make the climb even on the easier path. Is there any way he could go by some conveyance. I am 83, but more agile and a walker. I would appreciate any helpful advice. Thank you.
Written 29 July 2016
It is quite a hike up to the grave and can be very slippery when wet. I agree with the previous comments that perhaps a visit to the museum would be sufficient, I wouldn't recommend the walk to the grave site.
Written 30 July 2016
We arrive in Apia by cruise ship on Sunday 7th Feb. Can anyone please inform me how we get to the museum from our cruise ship ? We are seniors and are not great on our feet, but we can walk approx. a kilometre.
Many thanks.
Alan
Written 11 January 2016
It is best for you to grab a taxi. The taxi fare cost $10.00 tala to come from the ship to the Museum. The Museum can order you another taxi with the same amount to go back to the Ship.
Written 1 February 2018
what are the hours for this museum?
How far is it from the cruise terminal?
Are cabs readily available?
Written 13 August 2015
Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. About 10 mins drive. Yes, there will be cabs available at the Wharf at your arrival.
Written 1 February 2018
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