Cheap Flights from Dublin to Zanzibar

November is the cheapest month to fly, sitting in Zanzibar's short rains and just before the Christmas run-up lifts fares again. The dry stretch from June to October draws the crowds, and the price calendar here covers September through March and then May and June, with nothing quoted for April or the height of summer. Midweek departures often come in below weekend ones, so nudge your dates a day or two either side before you settle on one.

What the fare includes comes first: on a through-ticket with Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines or Egyptair, checked baggage and meals are normally part of the price, and seat selection plus extra weight are the usual extras. Nothing flies nonstop from Dublin, so the choice sits between Abu Dhabi and Doha, Istanbul, Cairo, or a European stop with Lufthansa, British Airways or Aer Lingus. The short legs are often flown by regional arms such as Lufthansa City Airlines, BA CityFlyer and Emerald Airlines, whose baggage rules can differ from the long-haul carrier's. A longer layover usually lowers the fare, while an overnight stop reshapes the trip.

Kisauni is a compact airport, which keeps walking distances short but can mean a queue at immigration when several international arrivals land together. Stone Town sits a short drive away, and most visitors use a pre-booked hotel transfer, a taxi or a tuk-tuk, settling the price before setting off. If your stay is at a beach lodge on the far side of the island, arrange the pickup in advance, because the first hours after a long connection are the wrong moment to negotiate. Keep the address of your first night's accommodation to hand for the immigration desk.

Currency

TZS (TSh)

Power sockets

Type G · 230 V

Language

Swahili, English

Emergency number

112, 114, 115

Calling code

+255

Internet domain

.tz

Population of Zanzibar

710 k (2022)

Time zone

UTC+03 (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check what the fare includes before you pay, because baggage and seat selection are where connecting tickets hide extras.
• Look at which hub your connection uses, since an overnight wait in Doha or Istanbul reshapes the whole journey.
• Keep the route on one ticket if you can, because a missed connection on two bookings means dealing with two airlines.
• Check Tanzania's passport validity and visa rules early, and decide between applying online or at the counter in Kisauni.
• November usually carries the lowest fares, while the weeks around Christmas and New Year sit at the other end.
• Shift your dates a day or two either side and watch the fare move before you commit.