Matola: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Matola is a city of 1.2 million people in Mozambique (Maputo Province), 42 m (138 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Maputo Airport (MPM), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre. Our booking partner lists 18 places to stay.
Key facts
Daylight in Matola runs from about 10 h 33 min a day in late June to 13 h 48 min in late December (computed for -25.96° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Matola is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Maputo Airport (MPM), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, whose 12,008-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are King Mswati III International Airport (SHO, 86 km).
Flights to Matola: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Matola · Driving and car hire
Where to stay
Our booking partner lists 18 places to stay in Matola. Of the 11 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (9). Guests have left 67 reviews in total.
Hotels in Matola: the full picture, and book
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Maputo, 12 km
- Newcastle, 320 km (South Africa)
- Emalahleni, 323 km (South Africa)
- Polokwane, 378 km (South Africa) — flights
- Richards Bay, 316 km (South Africa) — flights
- Middelburg, 300 km (South Africa)
- KwaDukuza, 392 km (South Africa) — flights
- Xai-Xai, 156 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Vryheid, 260 km (South Africa)
- Ladysmith, 392 km (South Africa)
Common questions
Which airport serves Matola?
Maputo Airport (MPM), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Matola?
About 1.2 million people live in Matola (GeoNames).
What time zone is Matola in?
Africa/Maputo, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Matola?
The Metical (MZN). Traffic drives on the left.
How many hotels are there in Matola?
Our booking partner lists 18 places to stay in Matola, bookable on this site.
Which cities are near Matola?
Maputo (12 km), Newcastle (320 km), Emalahleni (323 km), Polokwane (378 km), Richards Bay (316 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.