December 16, 2025
Fnding flights to São Tomé requires more planning than most destinations. Services are limited, frequencies are low, and choosing the wrong connection can add unnecessary cost, visa problems, or overnight delays.
This guide explains how to book flights to São Tomé from Europe and Africa, using the routes that actually operate from São Tomé International Airport (TMS). Prices are indicative for travel around 1 February, reflecting typical market conditions.
Cheapest route: Via Luanda (Angola) with TAAG. Around €360–€500 return via Lisbon.
Best route (Europe): Via Lisbon (LIS) with TAP Air Portugal. Around €550–€750 return.
Accra warning: Do not self-transfer via Accra unless you plan to stay overnight. Schedule mismatches force a paid visa and added risk.
Visa rule: UK, EU, US, and Canadian citizens enter visa-free for 15 days. Strictly enforced.
Entry fee: €20 on arrival. Cash only. Bring a clean, crisp note.
Health: Yellow Fever certificate is mandatory if arriving from or transiting through certain African countries.
Part 1: African Routes (Often Cheaper & Better Baggage)
While most guides on flights to São Tomé and Principe focus solely on Lisbon, looking for African connections is often the smartest way to find cheap flights to São Tomé, especially for travellers with heavy luggage.
Route 1: Luanda to São Tomé (Cheapest Route)
Luanda is the most important African gateway for flights to São Tomé. It is often ignored by European travellers, but in practice, it is the cheapest and most baggage-friendly route.
TAAG Angola Airlines TAAG operates regular nonstop flights between Luanda and São Tomé.
Typical cost: Return fares are commonly €360 to €500, often 30 to 40 percent cheaper than TAP.
Why this is the insider choice:
Cheapest route: It is consistently the lowest fare on most dates.
Baggage allowance: Economy passengers typically receive 2 x 23 kg checked bags (46 kg total). This is double the standard European allowance and ideal for anglers, divers, photographers, or travellers with equipment.
Visa-free transit: UK, US, and EU citizens can now transit Angola visa-free. You do not need a complex visa just to change planes in Luanda.
Flight details: Boeing 737 jet. Flight time is just under two hours.
Who this route suits: Travellers coming from Southern Africa or Brazil., or price-sensitive travellers from Europe willing to transit via Luanda. Anyone travelling with heavy or bulky luggage.
Route 2: Regional Connections (Gabon & Togo)
These routes are vital for travellers combining São Tomé with other West African destinations.
Libreville (Gabon) via Afrijet
Typical cost: €185 to €290 one-way. Aircraft: ATR-72 Turboprop. Note: This is an expensive route per mile, but it is frequent (several times per week).
Lomé (Togo) via ASKY Airlines
The Connection: ASKY is a partner of Ethiopian Airlines. This allows you to fly from the US (Newark/Dulles) or East Africa to Lomé and connect to São Tomé without ever touching Europe.
For travellers starting in the UK or mainland Europe, Lisbon remains the most straightforward gateway for flights to São Tomé.
TAP operates the main scheduled services between Lisbon and São Tomé.
Typical cost: Return fares are usually €550 to €750, depending on baggage and flexibility.
Why this route works: Single-ticket reliability, bags checked through, and no transit visa issues.
Flight details: Airbus A321neo Long Range. Flight time is approx 6 hours 40 minutes.
Insider tip: Choose a seat on the right-hand side of the aircraft. It offers the best views of the island and the volcanic peaks on approach.
STP Airways operates a once-weekly service from Lisbon, typically departing late Friday night and arriving early Saturday morning.
Typical cost: Usually €600 to €850 return.
Risk factor: They use leased aircraft (often from EuroAtlantic). If there is a technical issue, delays can last 24 to 48 hours as they lack a backup fleet.
Who this is for: Flexible travellers who want to arrive Saturday morning to maximise their holiday time.
It is technically possible to book flights to São Tomé via Accra in Ghana, usually by flying British Airways from London and then connecting to TAP.
Is it doable? Yes. Is it easy? No. There are easier flights to São Tomé and Principe.
The Schedule Mismatch (The “Visa Trap”): British Airways flights from London Heathrow land in Accra at approximately 19:25. The TAP service to São Tomé departs Accra at approximately 16:20.
The Consequence: You cannot connect on the same day. You must enter Ghana and stay overnight.
The Real Cost:
Visa: You need a Ghana entry visa, typically £60 to £100, arranged in advance. The last time I took this route (to burn some airmiles), it took two trips to London to sort out. They were unable to understand that I was flying in one day, out the next, then returning and doing the same thing again two weeks later. It ended up being possibly one of the most complicated visa processes of my entire life.
Acommodation: You must pay for a hotel and taxi transfers in Accra.
Hassle Risk: Kotoka International Airport has a long-standing reputation for officials asking for a “blessing” or, in other words a bribe, to give your luggage to you, to pass through security, and pretty much breathe the oxygen in the aiport. Once you are through the customs the ‘fun’ really starts, taxis will swarm you, so if you take this route get a Bolt from the airport, they stop down the stairs in front of the airport. Don’t engage with anyone else there, even if they say they are your taxi. I’ve travelled the world, and it was the most uncomfortable experience of my life.
Verdict: Only choose this route if you explicitly plan to visit Ghana for a few days. If you are just trying to save money on flights to São Tomé, the visa and hotel costs will likely wipe out your savings.
Visa-free entry:
UK, EU, US, and Canadian citizens can enter São Tomé visa-free for up to 15 days.
Warning:
This limit is strict. If your return flight departs on day 16, you may be fined or refused entry.
Entry fee (€20):
Cost is €20 per person. Payment is cash only.
Crucial detail:
The note must be clean and crisp. Notes with tears, ink marks, or heavy creases are frequently rejected by officials. You will need the name and address of the place you are staying upon arrival. Taxi drivers from the airport can be a little on the ‘sharky’ side – don’t pay more than 10 euros to your hotel, better still we can arrange for car hire at the airport.
Mandatory:
If arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours in, Angola, Ghana, Gabon, or Togo.
Recommended:
For all travellers. Officials often check it regardless of your route.
When booking flights to São Tomé:
Choose the gateway first, then select dates. Day-of-week matters.
If travelling with equipment, factor the TAAG baggage allowance into the real cost.
Avoid self-transfers via Accra unless you are prepared for the visa costs.
Recheck schedules close to departure, as low-frequency routes do change.