Madagascar receives international flights primarily through Ivato International Airport, located 16 kilometers northwest of Antananarivo. The airport opened in 1967 and underwent terminal expansion in 2019, increasing capacity to approximately 1.5 million passengers annually. Air Madagascar, the national carrier founded in 1962, operates international routes alongside Air France, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and several regional carriers. Direct connections exist from Paris Charles de Gaulle (11 hours), Addis Ababa (5 hours), Istanbul (10 hours), and Nairobi (3 hours). Seasonal flights operate from Milan and other European cities during June through September. Nosy Be's Fascene Airport receives some international flights from Nairobi and Johannesburg, though most international arrivals transit through Antananarivo.
Visa requirements changed in November 2017 when Madagascar reinstated visa-on-arrival for most nationalities after a brief period requiring advance e-visa applications. Citizens of most countries including the United States, European Union member states, Canada, Australia, and Japan can obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival for 80,000 Ariary (approximately 18 USD as of 2024), a 60-day visa for 100,000 Ariary, or a 90-day visa for 140,000 Ariary. Payment accepts Euros, US Dollars, or Ariary in cash; credit cards are not processed at immigration counters. The visa desk operates in the arrival hall before passport control. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required only for travelers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission; this includes several African nations but not Europe, North America, or most of Asia. Official requirements are published at http://www.madagascar-consulate.gov.mg and http://www.edbm.gov.mg.
Currency exchange operates in the arrivals hall through BNI Madagascar and BOA counters, open from 0800 to 1700 Monday through Friday and 0800 to 1200 Saturday. Rates at the airport typically run 3 to 5 percent below city rates. The Malagasy Ariary replaced the Malagasy franc in 2005 at a rate of 5 francs to 1 Ariary. As of 2024, one US Dollar exchanges for approximately 4,400 to 4,600 Ariary depending on location and transaction size. ATMs in the arrivals hall accept Visa and Mastercard, dispensing Ariary in denominations of 10,000 and 20,000. Daily withdrawal limits range from 400,000 to 600,000 Ariary depending on the bank. International transaction fees apply through most foreign cards. Major banks operating airport ATMs include BOA, BNI, and BFV-SG.
Mobile SIM cards are sold in the arrivals hall by Telma, Airtel Madagascar, and Orange Madagascar. Telma operates the most extensive 3G and 4G network, reaching approximately 60 percent of the population as of 2023. A tourist SIM costs 5,000 to 10,000 Ariary with varying data packages. A typical package includes 5GB data valid for 30 days at approximately 25,000 Ariary. Network coverage in Antananarivo and major coastal cities is generally reliable; the Central Highlands outside major towns often have limited or no signal. Registration requires passport presentation. Airtel Madagascar and Orange offer similar pricing but reduced coverage in rural areas and national parks.
Transportation from Ivato Airport to central Antananarivo operates through taxis, hotel shuttles, and private transfers. No public bus service connects the airport to the city center as of 2024. Official airport taxis queue outside arrivals; fares to Antananarivo center run 40,000 to 60,000 Ariary depending on destination neighborhood and negotiation. The journey takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic, which intensifies significantly between 0700 to 0900 and 1600 to 1900. The primary route follows Route Nationale 3 through Ivahona and into the city. Major hotels including the Carlton Madagascar, Louvre Hotel & Spa, and Tana Hotel offer advance-booking airport shuttles ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 Ariary per vehicle. Private transfer companies including Mad Cameleon and Boogie Pilgrim Tours operate advance-booking services.
Antananarivo sits at 1,280 meters elevation in the Central Highlands. Travelers arriving from sea-level cities occasionally experience mild altitude effects including headache, fatigue, or sleep disruption during the first 24 to 48 hours. The city experiences a subtropical highland climate with warm wet summers from November through March and cool dry winters from May through September. Average temperatures range from 12°C to 26°C. Most international flights arrive in evening hours between 1900 and 2200, delivering passengers to hotels during dinner hours.
Accommodation near the airport clusters in Ivato and Ambatobe. Hotel Spa Mangily sits 1 kilometer from the terminal with rooms from 150,000 Ariary per night. Iloha Seaview Hotel in Ambatobe, 8 kilometers from the airport, offers rooms from 180,000 Ariary. Central Antananarivo hotels including the Carlton Madagascar (from 350,000 Ariary), Hotel Colbert (from 280,000 Ariary), and Tana Hotel (from 220,000 Ariary) concentrate in Analakely and Isoraka neighborhoods. Budget guesthouses in areas including Isoraka and Faravohitra range from 60,000 to 120,000 Ariary per night. Advance booking is recommended during July through September peak tourist season and December holiday period.
Money considerations require attention beyond initial airport exchange. Ariary notes come in denominations of 10,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, and 500. Coins include 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 Ariary denominations, though coins below 50 Ariary have limited circulation. Many transactions round to the nearest 100 Ariary. Counterfeit 10,000 and 20,000 Ariary notes exist; legitimate notes include watermarks, metallic thread, and raised print. Credit cards see acceptance in major hotels, upscale restaurants, and some tour operators in Antananarivo, Nosy Be, and Île Sainte-Marie, but most businesses operate cash-only. Visa has wider acceptance than Mastercard. American Express and Discover have minimal acceptance. Cash remains necessary for national parks, small restaurants, markets, and most transportation.
Banking infrastructure in Antananarivo includes BOA branches in Analakely and Ankorondrano, BNI Madagascar locations in Analakely and Ambohijatovo, and BFV-SG branches in Antsahavola and Tsaralalana. Bank hours typically run 0800 to 1530 Monday through Friday. ATMs distribute throughout central Antananarivo, though machines frequently run empty on weekends and Monday mornings. Carrying sufficient cash when departing Antananarivo for other regions prevents problems, as ATM availability decreases significantly outside the capital. Towns including Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina, and Mahajanga have ATMs, but smaller towns and all national park gateway villages require cash carried from larger cities.
Health protocols for arrival include malaria prevention medication for travelers heading to coastal regions below 1,000 meters elevation. The Central Highlands including Antananarivo, Antsirabe, and Fianarantsoa sit above malaria transmission zones. Coastal areas including Nosy Be, Île Sainte-Marie, Toamasina, and the west coast require prophylaxis. Medical consultation before travel determines appropriate medication. No specific vaccinations are required for entry except yellow fever certificate for travelers from endemic countries, though vaccination for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and routine immunizations are advisable. Travelers should consult physicians regarding specific health preparation.