Cheap flights to Luanda

Quick summary

Why track Luanda with SniperAir

You do not need to compare prices every day

Luanda is the capital of Angola and lies on the Atlantic coast, according to Wikipedia (FR) and Wikivoyage (EN, ES). It was founded by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, in 1575 or 1576 depending on the source, and in 1627 became the administrative centre of the colony. German Wikipedia distinguishes the Baixa, the lower town near the port with narrow streets and colonial buildings, from the Cidade Alta, a more recent district. The bay is sheltered by the long spit of the Ilha do Cabo. Population figures are not cross-checked, so we do not publish one.

Wikivoyage (EN) describes a city transformed since the end of the civil war in 2002, with a big construction boom fuelled by offshore oil and a surprisingly large number of international connections for a country that receives few tourists. It is also an expensive destination that needs preparation: read the section on precautions carefully. SniperAir tracks fares to LAD and alerts you; it does not sell or book tickets.

Airport and getting into town

Two airports: check the one on your ticket

The distance is given only by Wikivoyage (ES) for LAD airport; the sources we consulted give no reliable travel time and no distance for the new airport. We do not quote fares.

Wikivoyage (EN) lists international links with Lisbon, Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Casablanca and Johannesburg, as well as flights by the national carrier TAAG, including to Douala, Kinshasa and Windhoek. These routes change, so check the stopovers on your ticket.

Wikivoyage (ES) recommends an official taxi or a private vehicle from the airport and advises against informal services for safety reasons; some hotels also arrange transfers. We quote no taxi fare.

Landmarks

The bay, the Marginal and the southern cliffs

Luanda is discovered between its bay, its waterfront and the landscapes to the south. The places shown below are described according to our sources; figures differ between sources, so we stay cautious.

The bay and the waterfront promenade

Wikivoyage (EN) explains that most restaurants are on the Marginal or on the Ilha de Luanda, where the well-off go to dine and have fun. German Wikipedia recalls that the Bay of Luanda is formed in the shelter of the Ilha do Cabo peninsula. In this photo, modern buildings line the promenade.

The bay and the Ilha seen from the sky

From above, the bay is closed by a long sandy spit: French Wikipedia recalls that the Portuguese landed on the island of Cabo in 1575 before settling on the São Miguel hill, according to German Wikipedia. Wikivoyage (EN) names the Ilha's boat clubs for a sundowner.

Miradouro da Lua

According to the official Angolan tourism site (visitangola.ao), the Miradouro da Lua offers ochre and white cliffs sculpted by erosion, south of Luanda. This landscape of pinnacles and gullies overlooks the ocean; the outing should be arranged with a guide or a trusted provider, because access and safety depend on current conditions.

The National Museum of Slavery

German Wikipedia places the Museu Nacional da Escravatura in a chapel on a hill by the sea, south-west of Luanda. Wikivoyage (EN) recalls that, from the late sixteenth century until 1836, Luanda was the port from which nearly all slaves bound for Brazil left.

Other places named by Wikipedia (FR, DE) and by visitangola.ao: São Miguel fortress, which houses the national museum of military history; São Pedro da Barra fortress, built in 1618 (Wikipedia FR); the Agostinho Neto memorial; Mussulo island; and, further south, Kissama (Quiçama) National Park, home to elephants, antelopes, ostriches, zebras and giraffes according to Wikivoyage (FR). Access conditions vary: ask before you go.

Museums and culture

Forts, museums and Portuguese heritage

São Miguel fortress and national museums

German Wikipedia says São Miguel fortress houses the national museum of military history. The same source names the Museu Nacional de Antropologia, with a collection of African art including many masks, and the Museu Nacional de História Natural. We give no hours or fees, which change.

Memory of the slave trade

The Museu Nacional da Escravatura, set in a chapel by the sea according to German Wikipedia, recalls Luanda's role in the trade to Brazil. French Wikipedia also mentions the Dutch capture of the city in 1641, retaken by the Portuguese with Brazilian help in 1648.

A city marked by Portugal

Wikivoyage (EN) stresses that Luanda is strongly influenced by Portuguese culture, even in its drinks. Galleries, clubs and shows vary: ask locally rather than relying on fixed lists.

Food and drink

Fish, seafood and Portuguese flavours

Angolan dishes

German Wikipedia describes a cuisine built mainly on fish and seafood, cassava and maize, in spicy stews, with plenty of poultry: grilled prawns, grilled chicken and, for dessert, cocada amarela. According to our research on the country, muamba de galinha, chicken with palm oil and okra, and funge, a cassava paste, are among the emblematic dishes.

Where to eat

Wikivoyage (EN) places most restaurants on the Marginal and on the Ilha de Luanda. German Wikipedia notes that Portuguese cuisine has been gaining ground in the cities. Wikivoyage (EN) advises against drinking tap water when eating out.

Drinks and markets

Wikivoyage (EN) mentions Portuguese and local beers and Portuguese wines, widely available; it also names a crafts market in Belas, south of the city, for local goods. We name no brand and quote no price.

Getting around

Taxis, cars and domestic links

Taxis and private cars

Wikivoyage (ES) recommends official taxis and private vehicles over informal services. Wikivoyage (EN) advises keeping car doors locked. Our research on the country also suggests hiring a car with a driver for trips outside Luanda.

A city under construction

Wikivoyage (EN) mentions major road works, with several expressways under construction around the city, and the rebuilding of railway lines. Allow extra time for journeys, which vary with traffic.

Train and domestic flights

Wikivoyage (ES) says a Luanda Railway line links the capital with Malanje, with no guarantee of frequency or punctuality; Wikivoyage (EN) says the carrier TAAG flies to about fifteen Angolan cities. We quote no fares.

Budget and precautions

Budget and precautions

Price level

Wikivoyage (EN) presents Luanda as an expensive city, and our research on the country points the same way for accommodation. We give no range, as we could not confirm any on two independent sources.

Currency

The currency is the kwanza (AOA). Check payment and withdrawal options before leaving, as they change.

Flights, safety and health

SniperAir tracks fares to LAD and compares them with the route's price history, but it does not sell or book tickets. To compare, you can also follow Maputo or Windhoek. Wikivoyage (EN) recommends not going out alone at night, not entering deprived neighbourhoods and keeping a low profile; it also advises carrying a certified photocopy of your passport rather than the original. Official travel advice varies widely depending on your country of departure, sometimes advising against certain regions of the country, so check your own government's advice before booking. For health, ask a doctor or a vaccination centre well before departure: yellow fever, often required, and malaria prevention.

When to go

A semi-arid climate, tempered by the Benguela current

For more comfortable visits, the mildest months, May to October, are the ones most often recommended. We do not give full monthly averages, because the sources do not cover the same stations or years.

By length of stay

What to do in Luanda depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Luanda in pictures

You might also like

Similar destinations

Mozambique

Maputo

Discover

South Africa

Cape Town

Discover

Namibia

Windhoek

Discover

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Luanda