🇹🇿

Zanzibar

Tanzania

📷 George John — Pexels

Route info

Timezone

GMT+3

CurrencyTSh TZS

LanguageSwahili

Airport transfer~20 minTaxi / Dala-dala (minibus) / Private transfer

About Zanzibar

Zanzibar is where the Indian Ocean trade winds meet centuries of Swahili, Arab, and Portuguese history — all compressed into Stone Town's labyrinth of carved doors, spice markets, and rooftop sunset bars. The white-sand beaches of the north and east coast rank among Africa's finest, fringed by warm turquoise water that stays above 25°C year-round. It's a rare destination where you can lose yourself in a medieval medina in the morning and be snorkelling a reef in the afternoon.

Visa requirements

Visa on Arrival

Visa requirements depend on your passport — check your government's travel advice before booking.

Good to know

✓Dress modestly outside resorts — Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim and Stone Town is conservative
✓East-coast beaches have huge tide swings; check timing if you want to swim, not walk
✓Buy a Zantel or Airtel SIM at the airport — resort WiFi is generally poor

Popular airlines on this route

Ethiopian Airlines

Edelweiss

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✈️ Getting there

ZNZAbeid Amani Karume International Airport

📍 6 km⏱ 20 min🚕 Taxi🚌 Dala-dala (minibus)🚌 Private transfer

A metered taxi to Stone Town costs around $10–15 USD and takes 15–25 minutes — agree the price before getting in; the dala-dala (shared minibus) runs for under $1 but is slow and not suitable with luggage.

A compact, single-terminal airport that handles mostly charter and regional flights, with direct connections from European hubs via Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, or Doha; expect long queues at visa-on-arrival counters during peak season.

Don't Miss

Hidden gems and local experiences in Zanzibar — beyond the tourist trail.

🌿Book a spice farm tour in the interior highlands (around Kizimbani) early morning before the heat kicks in — Mrembo Spice Farm is small and unhurried compared to the tourist-packed options. You'll taste fresh cardamom, cloves, and vanilla straight from the plant.

🐢Visit Nungwi Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond at low tide around 6am when the turtles are most active and the crowds haven't arrived. Entry is a small donation; you can swim alongside the green turtles.

🌅Watch the sunset from the rooftop of Emerson on Hurumzi in Stone Town — the hotel charges a cover for non-guests at sunset but it's worth every dollar for the 360° view over the old town and the harbour.

🦞Eat at the Forodhani Gardens night market on the Stone Town waterfront for Zanzibari pizza (a thin stuffed crepe), grilled lobster, and fresh sugar cane juice — arrive after 7pm when it's fully set up and negotiate prices before ordering.

🤿Snorkel or dive Mnemba Atoll off the northeast coast — the visibility regularly exceeds 20m and you'll find dolphins, hawksbill turtles, and reef sharks. One Ocean is a reputable PADI operator based in Nungwi with reliable equipment.

Travel Plans

Suggested itineraries for Zanzibar — tap a plan to see day-by-day details.

More in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Zanzibar?▾

Visa requirements depend on your passport — check your government's travel advice for the latest entry requirements before booking.

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