Honeymoon from South Africa
Every destination seen through a South African passport: where you can go without an embassy visa, how long it takes from Johannesburg, and what a week for two costs in ZAR.
The short answer
53 of 83 honeymoon places need no embassy visa on a South African passport. The closest are Zanzibar, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Cheapest abroad without an embassy visa: Mahabaleshwar (R 6 397), Mount Abu (R 6 397) and Kodaikanal (R 6 978) for a simple week for two.
- No embassy visa
- 53 of 83
- Under 6 hours away
- 5
- At home
- 1
- Prices in
- ZAR
From Johannesburg
Popular with couples from South Africa
Minimoons and short trips
Short flight, no embassy visa
Within about six hours of Johannesburg, with visa-free entry, a visa on arrival or a quick online form. Good for a short honeymoon or a minimoon.
No passport queues
Honeymoons without leaving South Africa
No passport queues and no currency exchange.
Make the most of your leave
The cheapest weeks to take off in 2027
Nine days away for the fewest days of leave, using South Africa’s public holidays and weekends.
Sun 21 Mar – Mon 29 Mar
3 days of leave for 9 days off · Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day
Sat 24 Apr – Sun 2 May
4 days of leave for 9 days off · Freedom Day, Workers' Day
Sat 12 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
4 days of leave for 9 days off · Youth Day
Sat 7 Aug – Sun 15 Aug
4 days of leave for 9 days off · National Women's Day
The full list
Every destination on a South African passport
Sorted by how easy entry is, then by flight time from Johannesburg. Prices are for two people for 7 nights on the ground, flights not included.
| Destination | Visa | From JNB | Simple week | Comfort week | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town & Winelands South Africa | Home country | ~2h | R 16 865 | R 41 871 | Sep–May |
| Zanzibar Tanzania | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~4h | R 16 001 | R 43 333 | Jun–Mar |
| Mauritius Mauritius | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~4.5h | R 20 935 | R 55 828 | May, Sep–Nov |
| Seychelles Seychelles | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~5.5h | R 33 065 | R 73 772 | Jun–Aug, Oct |
| Phuket & Krabi Thailand | Visa-free, 60 days · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 11 049 | R 30 240 | Dec–Apr |
| Singapore Singapore | Visa-free, 30 days · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 23 261 | R 52 338 | Feb–Mar, Jul–Sep |
| Langkawi Malaysia | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 11 980 | R 29 426 | Jan–Mar |
| Koh Samui Thailand | Visa-free, 60 days · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 11 631 | R 36 055 | Feb–Aug |
| Kuala Lumpur Malaysia | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 11 631 | R 26 751 | Feb, Jun–Jul |
| Saint Lucia Saint Lucia | Visa-free, 42 days · official | ~16.5h · 1 stop | R 32 566 | R 77 926 | Nov–Jul |
| Costa Rica Costa Rica | Visa-free, 180 days · official | ~19.5h · 1 stop | R 26 751 | R 56 409 | Dec–Apr |
| Bahamas Bahamas | Visa-free, 90 days · official | ~19.5h · 1 stop | R 46 689 | R 94 375 | Nov–Jul |
| Fiji Fiji | Visa-free, 120 days · official | ~22h · 1 stop | R 28 246 | R 60 812 | May–Oct |
| Maasai Mara Kenya | eTA (online) · official | ~5.5h | R 91 717 | R 149 871 | Jun–Mar |
| Maldives Maldives | Visa on arrival · official | ~9h | R 44 994 | R 103 148 | Jan–Apr, Jun |
| Sri Lanka Sri Lanka | Visa on arrival · official | ~13.5h · 1 stop | R 10 468 | R 30 240 | Dec–Apr |
| Bali Indonesia | Visa on arrival · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 11 382 | R 31 735 | May–Oct |
| Dubai United Arab Emirates | e-Visa · official | ~9h | R 23 843 | R 56 409 | Oct–May |
| Lakshadweep India | e-Visa · official | ~10h | R 15 868 | R 30 406 | Oct–Apr |
| Goa India | e-Visa · official | ~12h · 1 stop | R 8 723 | R 21 517 | Nov–May |
| Cappadocia Türkiye | e-Visa · official | ~12.5h · 1 stop | R 16 865 | R 45 360 | Apr–Oct |
| Udaipur India | e-Visa · official | ~12.5h · 1 stop | R 9 305 | R 26 751 | Sep–Mar |
| Istanbul Türkiye | e-Visa · official | ~12.5h · 1 stop | R 15 702 | R 36 055 | Apr–Nov |
| Kerala India | e-Visa · official | ~13h · 1 stop | R 9 305 | R 24 425 | Dec–Mar |
| Jaipur India | e-Visa · official | ~13h · 1 stop | R 7 560 | R 20 935 | Oct–Mar |
| Kashmir India | e-Visa · official | ~13.5h · 1 stop | R 9 305 | R 23 261 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar |
| Ladakh India | e-Visa · official | ~14h · 1 stop | R 9 886 | R 22 098 | Jun–Sep |
| Bhutan Bhutan | e-Visa · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 39 545 | R 61 643 | Nov–Dec |
| Ooty India | e-Visa · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 16 283 | Dec–Apr |
| Wayanad India | e-Visa · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 7 560 | R 19 191 | Nov–Feb |
| Andaman Islands India | e-Visa · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 11 797 | R 28 661 | Nov–Apr |
| Coorg India | e-Visa · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 8 142 | R 22 098 | Nov–Apr |
| Mussoorie India | e-Visa · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 17 446 | Feb–May, Oct–Dec |
| Kodaikanal India | e-Visa · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 16 283 | Jan–Mar |
| Phu Quoc Vietnam | e-Visa · official | ~15h · 1 stop | R 10 468 | R 25 588 | Dec–Apr |
| Hoi An & Ha Long Bay Vietnam | e-Visa · official | ~15.5h · 1 stop | R 9 886 | R 26 751 | Feb–Apr |
| Manali India | e-Visa · official | ~15.5h · 1 stop | R 7 560 | R 18 028 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Feb |
| Munnar India | e-Visa · official | ~15.5h · 1 stop | R 7 560 | R 19 191 | Dec–Mar |
| Mahabaleshwar India | e-Visa · official | ~15.5h · 1 stop | R 6 397 | R 16 283 | Nov–May |
| Tasmania Australia | e-Visa · official | ~16h · 1 stop | R 32 566 | R 60 480 | Oct–Apr |
| Mount Abu India | e-Visa · official | ~16h · 1 stop | R 6 397 | R 15 120 | Sep–Apr |
| Nainital India | e-Visa · official | ~16h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 17 446 | Oct–May |
| Shimla India | e-Visa · official | ~16.5h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 18 028 | Feb–May, Oct–Dec |
| Margaret River Australia | e-Visa · official | ~16.5h · 1 stop | R 39 545 | R 70 948 | Oct–May |
| Darjeeling India | e-Visa · official | ~17.5h · 1 stop | R 6 978 | R 16 865 | Nov–Mar |
| Meghalaya India | e-Visa · official | ~17.5h · 1 stop | R 7 560 | R 16 283 | Nov–Apr |
| Gold Coast Australia | e-Visa · official | ~18h · 1 stop | R 27 914 | R 54 665 | Apr–Jan |
| Noosa Australia | e-Visa · official | ~18.5h · 1 stop | R 30 240 | R 60 480 | Apr–Jan |
| Byron Bay Australia | e-Visa · official | ~18.5h · 1 stop | R 33 729 | R 67 458 | Apr–Jan |
| Whitsundays Australia | e-Visa · official | ~19h · 1 stop | R 36 055 | R 73 274 | Apr–Nov |
| Port Douglas & Daintree Australia | e-Visa · official | ~19h · 1 stop | R 36 255 | R 68 821 | Jun–Nov |
| Great Ocean Road Australia | e-Visa · official | ~19h · 1 stop | R 32 566 | R 58 154 | Jun–Sep, Nov–Apr |
| Gangtok & Sikkim India | e-Visa · official | ~19h · 1 stop | R 8 142 | R 19 191 | Feb, Oct–Dec |
| Kyoto Japan | e-Visa · official | ~21h · 1 stop | R 21 633 | R 51 873 | Nov |
| Egypt Egypt | Visa required · official | ~9h | R 12 212 | R 27 914 | Nov–Apr |
| Santorini Greece | Visa required · official | ~12h · 1 stop | R 25 355 | R 63 737 | May–Oct |
| Marrakech Morocco | Visa required · official | ~12.5h · 1 stop | R 13 375 | R 34 892 | Sep–May |
| Dubrovnik & Hvar Croatia | Visa required · official | ~13h · 1 stop | R 24 425 | R 56 991 | May–Sep |
| Georgia Georgia | Visa required · official | ~13h · 1 stop | R 11 049 | R 23 261 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Baku Azerbaijan | Visa required · official | ~13h · 1 stop | R 12 794 | R 27 332 | Apr–Oct |
| Barcelona & Mallorca Spain | Visa required · official | ~13.5h · 1 stop | R 24 425 | R 50 012 | Mar–Nov |
| Amalfi Coast Italy | Visa required · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 29 077 | R 68 621 | May–Oct |
| Paris France | Visa required · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 31 636 | R 66 528 | Apr–Oct |
| Azores Portugal | Visa required · official | ~14.5h · 1 stop | R 23 261 | R 44 197 | Mar–Nov |
| Pokhara Nepal | Visa required · official | ~15.5h · 1 stop | R 8 723 | R 20 935 | Oct–Apr |
| Swiss Alps Switzerland | Visa required · official | ~16h · 1 stop | R 50 178 | R 90 886 | Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar |
| Lapland Finland | Visa required · official | ~16.5h · 1 stop | R 36 055 | R 81 415 | Jun–Mar |
| Scottish Highlands United Kingdom | Visa required · official | ~16.5h · 1 stop | R 30 821 | R 55 246 | May–Jun (rated Good) |
| Iceland Iceland | Visa required · official | ~17h · 1 stop | R 46 523 | R 86 068 | Jun–Mar |
| Hong Kong Hong Kong | Visa required · official | ~17h · 1 stop | R 23 843 | R 48 849 | Oct–Apr |
| Queenstown New Zealand | Visa required · official | ~17.5h · 1 stop | R 40 708 | R 76 763 | Nov–Apr |
| Florida Keys United States | Visa required · official | ~20h · 1 stop | R 40 708 | R 76 763 | Jul, Nov–May |
| Cancún Mexico | Visa required · official | ~20.5h · 1 stop | R 20 271 | R 52 837 | Jul, Dec–May |
| Smoky Mountains United States | Visa required · official | ~21.5h · 1 stop | R 29 658 | R 52 920 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov |
| Tulum Mexico | Visa required · official | ~22h · 1 stop | R 21 434 | R 54 000 | Jul, Dec–May |
| Palawan Philippines | Visa required · official | ~22h · 1 stop | R 14 190 | R 31 636 | Jan–Apr |
| Aspen United States | Visa required · official | ~23h · 1 stop | R 56 991 | R 113 981 | Jun–Oct, Dec–Mar |
| Bora Bora French Polynesia | Visa required · official | ~24h · 1 stop | R 50 345 | R 132 923 | May–Sep (rated Good) |
| Banff Canada | Visa required · official | ~25h · 1 stop | R 43 732 | R 76 298 | Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar |
| Sedona United States | Visa required · official | ~25.5h · 1 stop | R 43 034 | R 84 904 | Mar–May, Aug–Nov |
| Napa Valley United States | Visa required · official | ~26.5h · 1 stop | R 58 154 | R 108 166 | Apr–Nov |
| Kauaʻi United States | Visa required · official | ~27.5h · 1 stop | R 56 409 | R 95 954 | All year |
| Maui United States | Visa required · official | ~28h · 1 stop | R 56 991 | R 96 535 | All year |
What the visa labels mean, sources and downloads
- Visa-free:
- No application. You are admitted on arrival, for a set number of days.
- Visa on arrival:
- No application in advance. You get the visa at the airport, usually for a fee, with proof of onward travel.
- eTA (online):
- A short online authorisation before you travel, linked to your passport. Not a visa, but you can’t board without it.
- e-Visa:
- A visa you apply for online before you travel. Allow a few days to a few weeks.
- Visa required:
- Apply at an embassy, consulate or visa centre before you travel. Allow several weeks.
Visa rules from the Passport Index dataset (updated 2026-10-10), for tourism stays; not individually confirmed with each government. Always confirm on the linked official site before booking. Travel times are door-to-door estimates. Rates as of 2026-10-09. Download: CSV · JSON
About these prices: estimates for two people, 7 nights, covering the stay (three levels, from guesthouses to four-star to five-star or villa), food, experiences and mandatory fees. Flights are not included. Off-peak prices; peak months add about 20% to the stay. Set October 2026, converted at 2026-10-09 exchange rates. Treat them as a guide: real prices often vary by 25% or more with the hotel, dates and how early you book. How we estimate
Questions couples ask
Questions couples from South Africa ask
Which honeymoon destinations are visa-free for South African passport holders?
Of the 83 destinations we cover, these need no embassy visa on a South African passport (visa-free, on arrival, an online eTA or an e-visa): Seychelles, Maldives, Saint Lucia, Mauritius, Lakshadweep, Cappadocia, Udaipur, Kashmir, Bahamas and Fiji, and 43 more. Rules change, so check the official source before you book.
What is the closest international honeymoon from South Africa?
From Johannesburg, the shortest trips abroad without an embassy visa are Zanzibar (about 4 hours), Mauritius (about 4.5 hours), Seychelles (about 5.5 hours) and Maasai Mara (about 5.5 hours).
What is the cheapest honeymoon abroad from South Africa?
On the ground, the cheapest no-embassy-visa picks are Mahabaleshwar (from R 6 397 for a simple week for two), Mount Abu (from R 6 397 for a simple week for two) and Kodaikanal (from R 6 978 for a simple week for two). Flights are extra.
Where should we honeymoon in December from South Africa?
Within 12 hours of Johannesburg and without an embassy visa, December’s weather favours Cape Town & Winelands, Dubai, Lakshadweep, Goa and Maasai Mara.
Two passports? Check both, then let the Matchmaker rank the rest.