TAAG flies from Luanda to São Tomé on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. We explain how to fit a long weekend or a week around the flight days, with an itinerary and tips.
São Tomé and Príncipe is the easiest international trip for anyone living in Luanda: a direct flight of about 2 hours, no visa for Angolans and only one hour's time difference. The secret to a great long weekend is building the trip around TAAG's flight days. In this guide you will find the schedules, the combinations that work and what to do each day.
TAAG flight times Luanda – São Tomé
TAAG flies between Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (NBJ) in Luanda and São Tomé International Airport (TMS) on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
| Day | Route | Flight | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Luanda → São Tomé | DT 510 | 10:30 | 11:35 |
| Wednesday | São Tomé → Luanda | DT 511 | 12:35 | 15:45 |
| Friday | Luanda → São Tomé | DT 510 | 10:30 / 15:30 | 11:35 / 16:45 |
| Friday | São Tomé → Luanda | DT 511 | 12:35 / 17:35 | 15:45 / 20:45 |
| Sunday | Luanda → São Tomé | DT 510 | 10:30 / 15:30 | 11:35 / 16:45 |
| Sunday | São Tomé → Luanda | DT 511 | 12:35 / 17:35 | 15:45 / 20:45 |
Times are local. São Tomé is one hour behind Luanda: you leave at 10:30 and land at 11:35, but the flight takes about 2 hours. The opposite happens on the way back. Schedules can change, so always check with TAAG before buying your ticket.
Enjoying this article?
Get the day-by-day trip programme, with dates and prices
Sao Tome and Principe Tours: 8-Day Private Trip with a Local Guide8 days / 7 nightsfrom 1,250 €
Which combinations work?
| Trip | Outbound | Return | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend | Friday morning | Sunday afternoon | 2 |
| Long weekend | Wednesday morning | Sunday afternoon | 4 |
| Midweek | Wednesday morning | Friday afternoon | 2 |
| One week | Sunday (or Wednesday) | The following Sunday (or Wednesday) | 7 |
Even the shortest weekend (Friday to Sunday) lets you do a lot: you arrive before lunch on Friday and only leave late on Sunday afternoon. With a long weekend, Wednesday to Sunday, you have time for the south and Rolas Islet.
Making the most of Angola's 2027 public holidays
- Carnival (Tuesday 9 February): fly on Sunday 7 and return on Wednesday 10: 3 nights in São Tomé using the holiday.
- Easter (Good Friday, 26 March): fly on Wednesday 24, or on the Friday morning itself, and return on Sunday 28.
Flights fill up quickly on these dates: book ahead.
Weekend itinerary (Friday to Sunday)
Friday: arrival and the city. The guide meets you at the airport exit. After lunch, a tour of São Tomé city: the waterfront, São Sebastião Fort, the market and the colonial houses. Welcome dinner at Papa Figo, with grilled fish.
Featured trip
Monte Café Plantation and São Nicolau Waterfall Tour in São Tomé
Half a day in the mountainous heart of São Tomé: Monte Café plantation, the coffee museum, São Nicolau Waterfall and the Bom Sucesso Botanical Garden, with a local guide.
Saturday: north or south. Choose one side of the island:
- North: the Blue Lagoon, Tamarindos Beach and Roça Agostinho Neto, one of the largest plantations in the country, with the same name as the airport you flew from.
- South: Boca do Inferno, the view of Pico Cão Grande and lunch by chef João Carlos Silva at Roça São João dos Angolares.
Sunday: coffee, a waterfall and home. In the morning, the Coffee Route and São Nicolau Waterfall, a relaxed lunch and the 17:35 flight back to Luanda.
Long weekend itinerary (Wednesday to Sunday)
With four nights, add to the weekend:
- A day in the south on Rolas Islet, where the Equator passes, with a seafood lunch by the sea.
- The Cocoa Route, to see how one of the best chocolates in the world is made.
- A night out of town, on a plantation or in an ecolodge, to feel the forest.
And if you want to visit Príncipe Island, allow at least a week: the domestic flight has its own schedule and it is best not to risk same-day connections.
Where to stay for a weekend
For a few days, stay in or near the city: the Pestana São Tomé (5 stars) and the Omali are a few minutes from the airport and include the transfer. See our guide to the best hotels and resorts in São Tomé and Príncipe.
What to pack and what to know
- Documents: Angolans do not need a visa. Bring a valid passport and the international yellow fever vaccination certificate, required for travellers arriving from Angola. See visas and documents.
- Money: bring euros, or kwanzas to change into dobras on arrival. See the kwanza–dobra exchange table.
- Luggage: for a weekend, hand luggage is enough.
Frequently asked questions
On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, from Dr. António Agostinho Neto Airport. Check the schedule with TAAG before buying.
About 2 hours. As São Tomé is one hour behind Luanda, you leave at 10:30 and land at 11:35 local time.
Yes. With the Friday morning flight and the Sunday afternoon return, you get two and a half days on the island.
We do not recommend it. The flight to Príncipe has its own schedule; to visit Príncipe, allow at least a week.
