Getting to paradise shouldn't cost a fortune. And luckily, Zanzibar is easier to reach than you might think.
The trick? Don't just search for flights from your nearest airport. A little creativity can save you serious money.
Here's what you need to know.
✈️ One Stop and You're There
Most European travellers can reach Zanzibar (ZNZ) with just one connection.
The main routes worth checking:
- Istanbul — Turkish Airlines
- Doha — Qatar Airways
- Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Airlines
- Dubai — flydubai
- Abu Dhabi — Etihad Airways (seasonal)
- Cairo — EgyptAir (new route launched in 2026!)
All connect to Zanzibar, although some flights are seasonal or operate only on certain days.
Our tip: compare at least three routes before booking. The price difference can be surprisingly big.
🌍 Yes, You Can Fly Nonstop from Europe!
Depending on the season, direct flights to Zanzibar are available from several European cities:
- 🇩🇪 Frankfurt — Discover Airlines, Condor
- 🇳🇱 Amsterdam — KLM, TUI fly
- 🇫🇷 Paris — Air France
- 🇮🇹 Milan & Rome — Neos
- 🇨🇭 Zurich — Edelweiss
Travelling from Poland, Czechia, Slovakia or Hungary? Check Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Frankfurt alongside your local airport.
And don't forget seasonal charter flights from tour operators such as TUI, Rainbow and ITAKA. Sometimes a holiday package costs less than the flights alone. Yes, really.
💡 The Dar es Salaam Trick
Here's one many travellers miss.
Instead of searching only for Zanzibar (ZNZ), try Dar es Salaam (DAR) on mainland Tanzania. Sometimes it's significantly cheaper.
From Dar, you can reach Zanzibar by:
✈️ Domestic flight: around 20–30 minutes.
⛴️ Fast ferry: around 1.5–2 hours, with tickets generally starting around $35 for non-residents — see our full Zanzibar cost guide for how that compares to flying.
Just remember the ferry leaves from the city, not the airport. Allow time for Dar's notorious traffic.
Bonus: if you're combining Zanzibar with a mainland safari, flying into DAR might make even more sense.
🔥 Five Flight Hacks Worth Trying
- Search nearby countries. A cheap flight or train to Milan, Berlin or Frankfurt could save hundreds on your long-haul ticket.
- Mix airlines. Fly out via Cairo, return via Istanbul. Sometimes two one-way tickets beat a traditional return.
- Play with your dates. Moving your departure by 2–3 days can make a big difference.
- Check holiday packages. Especially for winter departures from Europe. Charter deals can be ridiculously good.
- Don't ignore longer stays. Travelling for 4–12 weeks? Compare different return dates instead of sticking to standard holiday lengths.
⚠️ One warning: separate tickets mean separate risks. Leave plenty of connection time if you're mixing airlines.
🔎 Where to Find the Deals
Google Flights — great for comparing dates and nearby airports.
Skyscanner — useful for flexible monthly searches.
Tour operators — TUI, Rainbow, ITAKA and others sometimes have surprising charter deals.
And always compare the final price on the airline's own website before booking.
🛂 Before You Fly
Two things to sort out:
Visa: many European passport holders can obtain a Tanzania visa online or on arrival. Check the rules for your nationality.
Mandatory insurance: Tanzania requires inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors, with rules depending on where you first enter the country — see our Zanzibar insurance guide for the full breakdown.
Arriving directly in Zanzibar? Check the official Zanzibar insurance portal:
Already have travel insurance? You may still need the mandatory local policy.
🌴 One Last Tip…
Don't spend three weeks trying to save €30 on a flight that involves four airports, two overnight layovers and a 47-minute sprint across Istanbul.
Sometimes paying a little extra for an easy journey is the smartest travel hack of all.
See you on the island! 🥥
For airport transfers, taxis, ferries and getting around once you arrive, explore our Getting Around Zanzibar guide.