Planning your trip
Flights to Zanzibar: Flight Time, Stopovers and Routes
How long the flight to Zanzibar takes, whether there is a direct flight and how stopovers work.
By Luciano Baetz · Updated · 4 min read
London to Zanzibar is roughly 7,400 km in a straight line. People searching for flights to Zanzibar want to know how long they will spend in the air, and the honest answer is that it depends on the stopover: for most travellers it means one connection and a journey of around a day, including the wait between flights. The exact time depends on the airline, the connecting airport and the day.
How long is the flight to Zanzibar?
As a rule of thumb, flight time adds up two legs: the first, from your departure airport to the connecting airport, and the second on to Zanzibar. With a stopover in the Middle East, for example, the first leg can be around 6 hours and the second around 5 and a half. On top of that comes the wait between flights, which can run from a little over an hour to more than half a day.
Are there direct flights to Zanzibar?
On scheduled services, usually not: the normal route has one stop. Direct flights depend on the season and the operator, so we never assume them. For every booking request we confirm the exact itinerary with you before the booking is final.
How long is the journey door to door?
- Flight time: the sum of the two flights; the second, from Africa or the Middle East to Zanzibar, is shorter.
- Stopover: from a little over an hour to more than half a day, depending on the connection.
- Door to door: allow a full day, including the transfer to your hotel.
Because Zanzibar is 3 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 2 hours ahead in summer, you usually arrive the day after you leave. Plan a relaxed first day.
How flights to Zanzibar with a stopover work
Flights to Zanzibar make a stop at a large hub airport in the Middle East, Turkey or East Africa, depending on the airline. On a single ticket, checked baggage normally goes through to the final destination and the connection is protected: if the first flight is late, the airline rebooks you. If you book two separate tickets yourself, that risk is yours, so leave a generous gap between flights.
Zanzibar airport
Flights land at Zanzibar International Airport, near Stone Town. Hotel transfers leave from there and take between one and two hours depending on whether your resort is on the north or the east coast. Transfers are included in our packages. To choose an area, read where Zanzibar is and what the island is like.
What the flight includes in our packages
- A seat on a scheduled flight in economy class, from Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Paris, Madrid or Lisbon (see each hotel page for the airports and dates on offer).
- Airport and fuel charges (which may change until tickets are issued).
- Transfers and travel insurance.
Tips for a long journey
- Keep the essentials in your hand luggage: medication, chargers and a change of clothes.
- Drink plenty of water and get up now and then during the flight.
- Leave a generous gap between flights if you book yourself.
- Check entry and health requirements before you leave.
Would you rather have everything arranged, with flights, hotel, transfers and insurance? See our all inclusive Zanzibar hotels with flights and choose your date with the help of our guide to the best time to visit Zanzibar.
