Harare International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is about 15 km south of the centre of Harare, with no train or dedicated bus: an official taxi takes 25-45 minutes depending on traffic and is paid only in US dollars cash, since Zimbabwean dollars are not accepted by the airport's taxi drivers. The real choice for those sleeping near the airport comes down to a single residential area south of the city, Arlington, a few minutes from the terminal; for everything else, from the business district to evening restaurants, you still have to get into the centre, where the only international chain featured in this guide is on the very central Samora Machel Avenue.

Arlington, near the airport

Airport area · About 6 km and 5 minutes by car from the airport, along Airport Road; the centre of Harare is then another 15-20 minutes away.

Best for: Short layovers and morning departures, with a stay in a private villa inside a guarded residential area a few minutes from the terminal.

Pros

A few minutes from check-in, useful for those who don't want to risk the city's traffic at dawn
A gated residential neighbourhood with round-the-clock security, its own generator and borehole water: useful given the unreliability of the local power grid

Cons

An exclusively residential area: no restaurant or shop within walking distance
For the centre of Harare or evening life you still need a car or a taxi

Recommended hotels in this area

Arlington Estate - Modern Luxury Villa with Gym, Bar & Lounge, in a Secure Gated Estate Next to the Airport: Three-bedroom villa inside a gated community about 6 km from the terminal, with round-the-clock security, a generator and borehole water; designed for those with an early flight who want to stay close without giving up the space of a house.

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Centre of Harare

City centre · About 15 km from the airport, 25-45 minutes by taxi depending on traffic; cash only in US dollars, the airport taxis do not accept Zimbabwean dollars.

Best for: Those who want the business district, restaurants and shops of the centre within walking distance, accepting a longer transfer from the airport.

Pros

Samora Machel Avenue, the Fife Avenue Shopping Centre and Harare Gardens within walking distance
A district with more restaurants and evening life than the airport area alone

Cons

A longer transfer from the airport, subject to city traffic
Recent reviews report rooms and bathrooms needing renovation in some central hotels

Recommended hotels in this area

Holiday Inn - Harare by IHG: On Samora Machel Avenue, a 15-minute walk from the Fife Avenue Shopping Centre and Harare Gardens; outdoor pool and an in-house restaurant in the heart of the city centre.

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