Paris to Zanzibar is a long-haul beach route with a seasonal twist: Air France runs a nonstop over the busy winter months, but for much of the year every itinerary connects once through a Gulf, Turkish or African hub. This guide covers when the nonstop actually flies, the best one-stop options, what a fair return costs in euros, and how to time your booking.
Route: Paris (CDG) → Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume (ZNZ)
Distance: approximately 6,850 km (4,260 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 9 hours (seasonal); one-stop journeys run 12–16 hours
Direct flights: Yes, for most of the year — Air France flies nonstop from Charles de Gaulle, and we found direct seats on sale for September, October and November as well as the winter high season. It is not the cheap option, though: the nonstop was €803–€873 while Etihad via Abu Dhabi ran €698–€847 and carried more than three quarters of the low fares.
Fares from Paris to Zanzibar (EUR)
Zanzibar’s fares track its climate and the European holiday calendar. The dry, sunny stretches — the December–February winter-escape peak and the July–August European summer — are the priciest; the long rains from March to May are the cheapest and quietest. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros; the lowest usually come from the one-stop carriers when they run a sale, with the seasonal nonstop sitting toward the higher end.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | high (winter sun) |
| February | — | high |
| March | — | medium (rains begin) |
| April | — | low (long rains) |
| May | — | low |
| June | — | medium-high |
| July | — | high (summer holidays) |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | medium-high |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | medium (short rains) |
| December | — | very high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, anything under about €700 is worth booking quickly — that anchor is almost exactly right, because the floor is €698. The rest needs correcting downward: the median return is €765 and four fares in five are under €769, so the everyday price is in the mid-700s rather than the high 800s. The 800s are what the Air France nonstop costs (€803–€873), and it does price toward the top — about €90 above the typical connection.
Airlines on this route
Nonstop (seasonal, about 9 hours):
- Air France — nonstop from Charles de Gaulle on a widebody, running through most of the year rather than winter only: we found direct seats for September, October and November as well as the high season, up to five times a week at peak. The quickest option, and usually the priciest at €803–€873 return.
One-stop (usually cheaper, and year-round):
- Etihad via Abu Dhabi — the cheapest fares on the route by a wide margin, €698–€847 return and more than three quarters of everything we found, on a journey of about 14 to 15 hours.
- Kenya Airways via Nairobi — the quickest connection at about 10h 50m, a shorter African hub routing at €754–€1,034.
- EgyptAir via Cairo — €743–€751, but read the timings: the itineraries we found ran about 30 hours.
- Turkish Airlines via Istanbul — good frequencies, €1,012 when we checked.
- Qatar Airways via Doha, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Emirates via Dubai — reliable alternatives that widen your choice of dates, though none appeared among the cheapest fares when we checked.
Because the one-stop carriers compete hard, they do undercut the nonstop — by about €90 on the typical fare in our check, and by €105 at the floor. If time matters, the Air France nonstop is worth a look in any month, not just winter; for the lowest fare, Etihad through Abu Dhabi is the sweet spot, and Kenya Airways through Nairobi is the fastest connection.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–4 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice; long-haul beach fares to Zanzibar rarely improve in the final weeks, especially around Christmas.
- Avoid the peaks if you can — December to February and July to August are the dearest; the long rains (April–May) are the cheapest, with short afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
- Check whether the nonstop is flying on your dates — outside the winter season you’ll be connecting anyway, so compare the one-stop carriers directly.
- Compare all-in prices with bags: Gulf and full-service carriers usually include 25–30 kg to Zanzibar, but the cheapest “light” fares may not.
- Sort your entry paperwork early — most visitors need a Tanzania visa and Zanzibar’s mandatory travel-insurance cover, both arranged online before you fly (see below).
Arriving in Zanzibar
Flights land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), about 7 km south of Stone Town, where a modern Terminal 3 now handles international arrivals. There’s no train; a taxi to Stone Town runs roughly €12–€18 and takes 15–20 minutes, while transfers to the northern beaches at Nungwi or Kendwa cost around €40–€60 and take up to 1½ hours — agree the fare before setting off. Most visitors need a Tanzania visa (available online or on arrival, commonly around US$50) and Zanzibar also requires its mandatory travel-insurance cover (bought online before arrival, roughly US$40); check the current rules for your nationality before you travel. The US dollar is widely accepted alongside the Tanzanian shilling.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Paris to Zanzibar?
Yes, for most of the year. Air France flies a nonstop from Charles de Gaulle, and it is not confined to the winter high season — we found direct seats on sale for September, October and November, and the airline’s published timetable runs the flight through most of the calendar. It is the quickest way there and usually the priciest, at €803–€873 against a typical connection around €765. The efficient connections are Etihad via Abu Dhabi, which held the cheapest fares, and Kenya Airways via Nairobi, the quickest at about 10h 50m.
How long is the flight from Paris to Zanzibar?
The seasonal Air France nonstop takes about 9 hours. One-stop itineraries typically run 12 to 16 hours in total depending on the hub and layover — the fastest, via Doha, is around 13 hours gate to gate.
How much does it cost to fly from Paris to Zanzibar?
A typical economy return runs about €761–€769, median €765, with the fares we could price spanning €698–€1,034. Good deals start at €698 on Etihad via Abu Dhabi, usually during the long rains (April–May). The Air France nonstop was €803–€873, and the December and summer peaks push toward €1,000.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Paris to Zanzibar?
April and May are usually the cheapest, because they fall in the long-rains low season. In the dates we could price, returns started at €698. Avoid December to February and July to August, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from Paris to Zanzibar?
Nonstop: Air France from Charles de Gaulle, €803–€873 in our fare data. One-stop, cheapest first: Etihad via Abu Dhabi (€698–€847, the floor and over three quarters of the cheapest fares), EgyptAir via Cairo (€743–€751, but a 30-hour journey), Lufthansa via Frankfurt (€754), Kenya Airways via Nairobi (€754–€1,034, and the quickest connection at about 10h 50m) and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (€1,012). Qatar Airways via Doha and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa also serve the route but neither appeared among the cheapest when we checked.
Which airport do I fly into in Zanzibar?
You arrive at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), about 7 km south of Stone Town on Zanzibar’s main island (Unguja). Its modern Terminal 3 handles international flights, and it’s a short taxi ride to Stone Town or a longer transfer to the northern beaches.
How far in advance should I book Paris to Zanzibar flights?
Aim to book 2 to 4 months ahead. Long-haul fares to Zanzibar tend to rise as departure approaches, especially around the December–February winter peak and the summer holidays, so booking early almost always wins on this route.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Most visitors need a Tanzania visa (available online in advance or on arrival, commonly around US$50) plus Zanzibar’s mandatory travel-insurance cover, bought online before you arrive (roughly US$40). Requirements change, so confirm the current rules for your nationality before booking.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
