Overview
Maputo, Mozambique's seafront capital, mixes Portuguese-era architecture, jacaranda-lined avenues and some of the best prawns and peri-peri on the Indian Ocean. It is the natural gateway to southern Mozambique's beaches and the Maputo Special Reserve. There are no direct flights from the UK, so every routing involves one connection, but the city is comfortably reachable with a single change of plane. If you are hunting for cheap flights to Maputo, check the price charts on this page to see how current fares are moving before you book.
Best time to fly to Maputo
The dry season from May to October is the most pleasant time to visit: warm days, cooler evenings, low humidity and little rain. This is peak season, and demand for seats climbs around UK school holidays. The wet season, November to April, is hot and humid with heavy downpours and a cyclone risk between January and March, though fares and hotel rates are often lower. The 'When to book' chart above shows how prices shift month by month.
Airlines and routes
From London, the smoothest options connect through Doha with Qatar Airways, through Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines, through Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal, or through Johannesburg using a British Airways plus Airlink combination. Kenya Airways via Nairobi and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul are also worth comparing. Total journey time from London is typically around 14 to 18 hours including the layover. From Manchester, expect roughly 16 to 21 hours via Doha, Addis Ababa or Istanbul.
Things to do in Maputo
The centre is walkable and best explored on foot before the midday heat.
- Maputo Central Market: a bustling hall for spices, cashews, crafts and street food near the old town.
- CFM Railway Station: a grand colonial-era terminus with a domed roof, now a café and events space.
- Casa de Ferro (Iron House): a prefabricated all-metal house linked to Gustave Eiffel's workshop.
- FEIMA craft market: a leafy garden market for Mozambican art, carvings and textiles.
- Costa do Sol: a breezy beachfront strip north of the centre, ideal for a sundowner and grilled seafood.
At Maputo International Airport (MPM)
The airport lies about 3 km north-east of the city centre, a 15 to 20 minute drive in normal traffic. Options into town are airport taxis from the rank outside arrivals, a pre-booked hotel transfer, or the Yango ride-hailing app, which is widely used locally. Agree a fare before setting off if using a rank taxi. Local minibuses (chapas) run nearby but are not practical with luggage.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Maputo
- Book roughly two to four months ahead for dry-season travel, when seats on the best connections sell out first.
- Fly midweek and consider the wet-season shoulder months for noticeably lower fares.
- Keep your dates flexible and compare the total journey, as a slightly longer layover can cut the price sharply.
- Compare hubs side by side, since Doha, Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Lisbon routings often differ more in price than in total time.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for Mozambique. A visa on arrival is generally available at Maputo airport for tourist stays, and an e-visa system also operates, so apply online or check the latest FCDO advice before you travel. The currency is the Mozambican metical (MZN); carry some cash, as card acceptance is patchy outside hotels and larger restaurants. A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country with a risk of transmission, and anti-malarial precautions are recommended. Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity and spare blank pages.
