Flights to Zanzibar(ZNZ)
The Spice Island — turquoise waters, white sand, and centuries of Swahili culture
Flights to Zanzibar start from $400 roundtrip, with May being the cheapest month to fly. Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) serves 12+ direct international routes from cities including London (13-14h) and Nairobi (2h). Book on Travorio and pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 100+ cryptocurrencies, or split into 4 interest-free payments with Sezzle.
Quick Facts — Flights to Zanzibar
Avg. Roundtrip
$400–$900
Cheapest Month
May
~$400 avg
Direct Flight
10h
12+ routes
Airport
ZNZ
5 km from center
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Cheapest Time to Fly to Zanzibar
Monthly price guide — cheapest in May (~$400 avg roundtrip)
Best time to book: 8-12 weeks before departure
| Month | Avg. Price | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $650 | high | Dry season. Perfect beach weather. New Year demand lingers. |
| February | $600 | high | Hot and dry. Ideal for diving. Sauti za Busara music festival. |
| March | $500 | medium | Long rains begin late March. Prices start dropping. |
| April | $420 | low | Heavy rains. Many beach resorts offer 50% discounts. |
| MayCHEAPEST | $400 | low | Cheapest month. Rains easing. Whale shark season begins. |
| June | $480 | medium | Dry season returns. Whale sharks off Mafia Island. |
| July | $600 | high | Peak season starts. European summer holidays. |
| August | $700 | peak | Most expensive month. Book 12+ weeks ahead. |
| September | $620 | high | Still peak. Great weather and diving conditions. |
| October | $550 | medium | Short rains may begin late Oct. Shoulder season prices. |
| November | $480 | medium | Short rains. Some deals available. Warm (30°C). |
| December | $650 | high | Festive season. Rains usually stop mid-month. |
January
$650
high demand
February
$600
high demand
March
$500
medium demand
April
$420
low demand
May
$400
low demand
June
$480
medium demand
July
$600
high demand
August
$700
peak demand
September
$620
high demand
October
$550
medium demand
November
$480
medium demand
December
$650
high demand
Airlines Flying to Zanzibar
2 direct routes and 4 connecting options
2 airlines offer direct flights to Zanzibar, with Oman Air providing the most frequent service from Muscat (via).
| Airline | From | Direct? | Duration | Price Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oman Air | Muscat (via) | 1 stop | 13h | $450-$900 | Daily |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul (via) | 1 stop | 14h | $400-$850 | Daily |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa (via) | 1 stop | 12h | $380-$750 | Daily |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (via) | 1 stop | 15h | $500-$950 | 5x weekly |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi | Direct | 2h | $150-$300 | Daily |
| Condor | Frankfurt | Direct | 10h | $400-$800 | 2x weekly |
Oman Air
1 stopFrom Muscat (via)|13h|$450-$900
Turkish Airlines
1 stopFrom Istanbul (via)|14h|$400-$850
Ethiopian Airlines
1 stopFrom Addis Ababa (via)|12h|$380-$750
Qatar Airways
1 stopFrom Doha (via)|15h|$500-$950
Kenya Airways
DirectFrom Nairobi|2h|$150-$300
Condor
DirectFrom Frankfurt|10h|$400-$800
Flights to Zanzibar by City
Compare prices and flight times from major departure cities
London
LHR · UK
From $550·13-14h
Nairobi
NBO · Kenya
From $180·2h
Dar es Salaam
DAR · Tanzania
From $60·20m
Dubai
DXB · UAE
From $480·6h
Istanbul
IST · Turkey
From $450·9h
Amsterdam
AMS · Netherlands
From $580·14h
Doha
DOH · Qatar
From $520·7h
Addis Ababa
ADD · Ethiopia
From $250·3h
Zanzibar Airport Guide
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) — 5 km from city center
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
ZNZ · 5 km from center · Primary
Taxi (~TZS 20,000/$8), hotel transfer (pre-arranged), dala dala (TZS 500/$0.20)
Getting from ZNZ to Zanzibar
Hotel Transfer
$10-2015-90 minutesMost hotels offer airport pickup. Arrange in advance — especially for remote beaches.
Taxi
TZS 20,000-50,000 ($8-20)15-90 minutesNegotiate price before boarding. No meters. Higher prices for tourist-facing drivers.
Dala Dala (Minibus)
TZS 500-2,000 ($0.20-0.80)VariesCheap but crowded local minibuses. Fun experience if you're not in a rush.
Scooter Rental
$10-15/daySelf-drivePopular way to explore. International license technically required. Drive carefully — sandy roads.
Dhow Boat
TZS 5,000-20,000 ($2-8)VariesTraditional wooden sailing boats for island transfers and sunset cruises.
Local tip: Arrange airport transfers through your hotel — it's usually included or cheap ($10-15). For beach-to-beach travel, shared minivans ("tourist buses") are safer and more comfortable than dala dalas.
Zanzibar Travel Essentials
The Spice Island — turquoise waters, white sand, and centuries of Swahili culture
Zanzibar is an archipelago off Tanzania's coast that feels like a world apart. Stone Town's UNESCO-listed labyrinth tells the story of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European traders. Beyond the old town, powder-white beaches stretch for miles along turquoise Indian Ocean waters. The island is a spice producer (cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon) and a gateway to world-class diving at Mnemba Atoll.
Top Things to Know About Zanzibar
Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage old town with spice markets, rooftop dining, and sunset dhow cruises
Mnemba Atoll — world-class diving and snorkeling with dolphins, turtles, and whale sharks (Oct-March)
Spice tours — visit working plantations growing cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, and black pepper
Jozani Forest — home to the endemic red colobus monkey found nowhere else on Earth
Prison Island — giant Aldabra tortoises (some over 100 years old) on a tiny island 30 minutes by boat
Climate
Tropical — warm year-round (25-33°C). Long rains March-May, short rains Nov-Dec. Dry June-October and January-February.
Best Time to Visit
June-October for dry weather and best diving; January-February for heat and festivals
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). ~TZS 2,500 = $1 USD. USD widely accepted at hotels/tours; TZS for local markets.
Language
Swahili (primary), English (widely spoken in tourism), Arabic in Stone Town
Time Zone
EAT (UTC+3) — same as Nairobi, 2 hours ahead of London in winter
Visa
Most nationalities require an e-visa ($50, apply online at immigration.go.tz) or visa on arrival ($50). Apply online 2+ weeks before travel to avoid airport queues.
Flexible Payment for Zanzibar Flights
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Crypto in Zanzibar: Tanzania has limited crypto infrastructure but growing mobile money usage (M-Pesa). Paying for your trip in crypto through Travorio avoids the need to carry large amounts of USD cash.
Flights to Zanzibar — FAQ
What is the cheapest month to fly to Zanzibar?
May is typically the cheapest month ($400 avg roundtrip from London), coinciding with the end of the rainy season. April is also affordable ($420 avg). Peak pricing hits in August ($700 avg) and December ($650 avg) during European holidays.
How long is the flight to Zanzibar from London?
There are no direct flights from London to Zanzibar. The fastest one-stop routes via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, ~14h), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines, ~12h), or Muscat (Oman Air, ~13h). From Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, short hops take just 20 minutes to 2 hours.
Which airlines fly to Zanzibar?
Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, and Emirates connect Zanzibar to Europe and the Middle East with one stop. Condor offers seasonal direct flights from Frankfurt. Kenya Airways flies direct from Nairobi (2h), and multiple airlines serve the 20-minute Dar es Salaam route.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Yes. Most nationalities (including UK and US) need a visa for Tanzania/Zanzibar. Apply for an e-visa online ($50) at immigration.go.tz at least 2 weeks before travel. Visa on arrival is also available at ZNZ airport ($50) but expect longer queues.
Can I pay for Zanzibar flights with cryptocurrency?
Yes. Travorio accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC, and 100+ other cryptocurrencies for all flight bookings to Zanzibar. This avoids the fluctuating TZS exchange rate and international card conversion fees.
Should I fly into Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam?
Fly directly into Zanzibar (ZNZ) if possible — it saves the cost and hassle of a connecting flight or 2-hour ferry. If flying via Dar es Salaam (DAR), the short 20-minute flight to ZNZ costs $60-100. The ferry ($35, 2h) is a scenic but slower alternative.
Is Zanzibar a good safari and beach combo?
Zanzibar is the perfect beach extension after a Tanzanian safari (Serengeti, Ngorongoro). Fly from Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK) to ZNZ in about 1.5 hours. Many travelers do 5 days safari + 5 days Zanzibar for the ultimate trip.