Why is a trip to Zanzibar worthwhile?
Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania combines the centuries-old trading history of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, with spice plantations and beaches such as Nungwi, Kendwa and Jambiani. The main island of Unguja is reached by ferry from Dar es Salaam or by direct flight, and is often combined with a safari on the Tanzanian mainland.
The island is known as the "spice island" because clove, nutmeg and cinnamon plantations shaped world trade from the era of Omani rule in the 19th century onward. Today, alongside that history, Stone Town with its carved wooden doors, palm-fringed beaches on the north and east coasts, and dive spots such as the offshore atoll Mnemba take center stage.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania and manages tourism, travel insurance and part of its legislation independently; the same information applies for time zone, national currency and basic entry rules as for Tanzania as a whole. Variable details – visa, insurance requirement, prices – reflect the status as of September 2026.
What does Zanzibar feel like?
Zanzibar blends African, Arab, Persian and Indian heritage into its own Swahili culture: the lanes of Stone Town smell of spices, while along the coast fishing boats and resorts sit side by side. Around 1.9 million people live across the entire Zanzibar Archipelago, most of them on Unguja.
Zanzibar City, with its historic core Stone Town, is both the seat of administration and the tourist center; around 16,000 people live on just under 96 hectares within the historic city walls. Outside the city, fishing, agriculture and, increasingly since the 1990s, tourism shape everyday life.
The north around Nungwi is the most densely developed for tourism – hotel capacity there grew by 129% between 2008 and 2013 alone – while the east from Matemwe to Jambiani feels quieter and is strongly shaped by tides that expose wide reef flats at low tide. Many coastal towns traditionally lived off fishing and the building of dhows, wooden sailboats that still define the look of the beaches today.
Most residents are Muslim; Ramadan, prayer times and modest clothing outside the hotel beaches are part of everyday life. After the Zanzibar Revolution of 12 January 1964, in which Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah was deposed, the island united with Tanganyika in April 1964 to form today's United Republic of Tanzania.
Which places are worth visiting on Zanzibar?
Stone Town, with its carved doors and the House of Wonders from 1883, is the essential historical stop; the northern tip around Nungwi and Kendwa offers the densest choice of hotels; and the east coast from Matemwe to Jambiani lives by the tides and steady wind. Out on the reef lie dive destinations such as the private atoll Mnemba and the island's only national park, Jozani-Chwaka Bay.
Stone Town
Stone Town, the historic core of Zanzibar City, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000 and comprises more than 1,700 historic coral-stone buildings across around 96 hectares. Narrow, largely car-free lanes connect buildings from Arab, Persian, Indian and European eras.
The House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib) was built in 1883 by Sultan Barghash bin Said as a ceremonial palace; it was the first building in Zanzibar with electricity and the first in East Africa with an elevator. The building is dilapidated and being restored; check access and opening hours locally before visiting.
The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), a 17th-century Omani fortress, today serves as a cultural center with craft shops and an open-air cinema. On the site of today's Anglican Cathedral stood East Africa's largest slave market until the 1870s, through which an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people were trafficked each year; a memorial commemorates this history.
In a lane near the market, Farrokh Bulsara was born on 5 September 1946, who became Freddie Mercury, singer of Queen; his family fled to England in 1964 during the revolution. His birth house is now privately owned; a small café nearby commemorates him.
Nungwi and Kendwa
Nungwi, at the northern tip, was until the 1990s mainly a fishing village and dhow-building site and had around 30,762 residents in 2022; its main beach made CNN's list of the 100 best beaches in the world in 2014. Hotel capacity grew by 129% between 2008 and 2013, and today dive schools, bars and a small aquarium with sea turtles define the scene.
Kendwa, a few kilometers south on the northwest coast, is smaller and less densely built than Nungwi and is considered a quieter alternative with its own sandy beach.
East coast: Matemwe, Paje, Jambiani
The east coast from Matemwe through Paje to Jambiani lies behind a wide fringing reef that exposes large flats at low tide, revealing seaweed farms between the tides. In Jambiani, with around 7,000 residents according to the 2012 census, nearly 400 people once worked in seaweed farming; today around 50 remain, mostly women.
Paje and Jambiani are known as leading East African kitesurfing destinations, thanks to the shallow, reef-protected lagoon and steady wind. The Kuza Swimming Cave, a natural freshwater grotto near Jambiani, is a popular stop.
Mnemba, Jozani and Changuu
The private atoll Mnemba, around 3 km off the northeast coast, measures only about 500 m in diameter and is surrounded by a reef measuring 7 by 4 km; it is one of the island's best-known dive and snorkel destinations. Guests not staying on the island itself may not approach closer than the 500-meter protected zone.
Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, at 50 km² Zanzibar's only national park (founded 2004), protects the habitat of the endemic red colobus monkey (Procolobus kirkii, around 1,000 animals); a wooden boardwalk also leads through adjoining mangrove forests with 168 documented bird species.
Off Zanzibar City also lies Changuu (Prison Island): built in 1893/94 as a prison, the island in fact never served that purpose, being used instead as a quarantine station for yellow fever cases. In 1919, the British governor of the Seychelles sent four Aldabra giant tortoises here; their descendants still live on the island today.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The driest and most pleasant periods are June to September, with lows from around 22 °C, and December to February, with highs above 32 °C; the main rainy season runs from March to May, with up to 256 mm of rainfall in April. Kitesurfers are best off planning for December to February or June to September, when the wind is most consistent.
Zanzibar City: average daily highs and lows (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm)
| Zanzibar-Stadt (Stone Town) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
| Low °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Rainfall mm | 62 | 51 | 119 | 256 | 186 | 29 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 64 | 101 | 92 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ZANZIBAR / ABEID AMANI KARUME INTL (7 km, 17 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
From June to September, with lows around 22 °C, it is noticeably cooler and drier than during the rest of the year, while the southeast monsoon (Kusi) blows steadily – ideal for kitesurfing on the east coast. The short rainy season from October to December brings occasional showers but hardly disrupts daily life.
The long rainy season (Masika) from March to May brings the most rainfall, often as brief, heavy afternoon showers; some accommodations close during these months, but prices are at their lowest. Around Mnemba atoll, November to March is considered the period with the best visibility and calmest water for diving.
Anyone wanting to add a mainland safari is best off planning for the drier months from June to October, when the major wildlife parks are also most accessible.
Sources: Wikipedia
What do you need to enter Zanzibar?
Swiss, German and Austrian travelers need a Tanzanian visa – either in advance as an e-visa or on arrival for US$50 – because Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Since October 2024, a local travel insurance policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation costing US$44 has also been mandatory, separate from any private travel insurance.
The visa is valid for all of Tanzania including Zanzibar; there is no separate Zanzibar visa. According to the Federal Foreign Office, travel documents must be valid for at least six months on entry; an ID card is not sufficient.
The Zanzibar insurance is paid on arrival at the airport or ferry terminal, regardless of whether private travel or health insurance is already in place.
The official authorities are always authoritative: the Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA and the FDFA list Zanzibar under their travel advice for Tanzania. Other nationalities are subject to separate rules; the Tanzanian immigration authority is authoritative.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · tanzaniaembassyinfo.com
What vaccinations and health risks apply on Zanzibar?
No vaccination is mandatory on direct entry, except on arrival from a yellow fever area. The CDC recommends hepatitis A and B, typhoid and, depending on activity, rabies, and because there is a high malaria risk year-round, both the Federal Foreign Office and the CDC recommend malaria prophylaxis.
The CDC and the Federal Foreign Office additionally recommend updating all routine vaccinations; a polio booster is also advisable. Insect protection against mosquitoes protects simultaneously against malaria and dengue fever.
Contact with fresh water, for example in rivers or ponds on the mainland, carries a risk of bilharzia (schistosomiasis); this risk does not exist at Zanzibar's saltwater beaches. Sun protection is important given the proximity to the equator, and medical care outside Zanzibar City is limited.
Sources: CDC Travelers' Health · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How safe is Zanzibar for travelers?
The Federal Foreign Office rates the political situation in semi-autonomous Zanzibar as stable, while crime on the Tanzanian mainland has continued to rise. According to the Federal Foreign Office, a residual risk of attacks exists across all of Tanzania, but there are no specific indications concerning Zanzibar.
According to the BMEIA, isolated beaches away from hotel complexes should be avoided even during the day, as should walks after dark. Valuables belong in the hotel safe, and it's better not to display jewelry and cash openly in public.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to Zanzibar?
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) near Zanzibar City is served directly from Europe by Air France from Paris, KLM from Amsterdam and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, plus seasonally by Condor and Discover Airlines from Frankfurt; from the Gulf states, Qatar Airways flies from Doha and Emirates/Flydubai from Dubai. Alternatively, travelers connect via Dar es Salaam by short flight or ferry.
| Region | Hub | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Paris | Air France |
| Europe | Amsterdam | KLM |
| Europe (seasonal) | Frankfurt | Condor, Discover Airlines |
| Middle East | Doha | Qatar Airways |
| Middle East | Dubai | Emirates / Flydubai |
| Turkey | Istanbul | Turkish Airlines |
| Africa | Addis Ababa | Ethiopian Airlines |
| Africa | Nairobi | Kenya Airways |
The airport lies around 5 km south of Zanzibar City; Terminal 3, in operation since early 2021, handles international traffic. In 2025, the airport recorded around 2.7 million passengers.
Travelers arriving via the Tanzanian mainland take a short flight from Dar es Salaam or one of the daily ferries operated by Azam Marine / Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, which offer a choice between Standard, Royal and VIP class; exact schedules and prices should be confirmed with the operator before booking.
Dedicated ferries and small propeller planes run between Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia Island; anyone wanting to combine several islands is best off booking these connections from home in advance.
Sources: Wikipedia · Azam Marine
How do you pay on Zanzibar?
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), but larger excursions and admission fees are also widely quoted in US dollars. Credit cards are accepted by most hotels and larger restaurants in the tourist areas, while in Stone Town and rural areas cash is often the only option.
ATMs are found in Zanzibar City and larger tourist towns such as Nungwi; outside those areas, it's worth carrying enough cash. US dollar bills should be as new and undamaged as possible, as older banknote series are sometimes refused.
The Zanzibar insurance (US$44) and many admission fees – for example for Stone Town, Jozani National Park or Mnemba – are charged in US dollars and paid on site in cash or by card.
Sources: tanzaniaembassyinfo.com · Wikipedia
Where do you stay on Zanzibar?
The largest choice of resorts is at the northern tip around Nungwi and Kendwa, while the east coast from Matemwe to Jambiani offers quieter lodges right on the reef. In Stone Town, accommodation is usually in restored merchant houses with only a few rooms.
Anyone wanting to avoid the east coast's tides chooses a resort in the north; anyone seeking quiet and kitesurfing is well placed in Paje or Jambiani. Around Zanzibar City there are also a number of addresses with a short route to the airport, useful for arrival and departure days.
What do people eat on Zanzibar?
The cuisine blends Swahili staples such as rice, plantains and fish with spices from the island's own plantations – cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. At sunset, stalls at Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town sell grilled fish, seafood skewers and "Zanzibar pizza", a filled, deep-fried dough pocket.
Curry with coconut milk, "urojo" – a spicy soup with potato balls – and freshly pressed sugarcane or tamarind juices are part of the street food scene. Spice farms near Stone Town offer tours with tastings of cloves, vanilla and pepper straight from the plant.
What culture shapes Zanzibar?
Zanzibar's culture blends African, Arab, Persian and Indian roots into its own Swahili identity; most residents are Muslim. Musically, the island is shaped by the Taarab style, with Arab-influenced melodies and Swahili lyrics.
The Zanzibar Revolution of 12 January 1964 overthrew Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah and ended around 130 years of Omani-Arab rule; a few months later, the island united with Tanganyika to form today's United Republic of Tanzania. The annual music festival Sauti za Busara in Stone Town commemorates this layered heritage.
Outside the hotel complexes, modest clothing is considered a sign of respect, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan, when some restaurants remain closed during the day.
Sources: Wikipedia
What can you experience on Zanzibar?
Highlights include a walk through Stone Town with the House of Wonders and the slave market memorial, a spice tour near Stone Town, and snorkeling or diving at Mnemba atoll. Add to that Jozani National Park with the red colobus monkey and kitesurfing on the east coast around Paje.
- Stone Town on foot: carved doors, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort and the slave market memorial site near the Anglican Cathedral.
- Spice tour: guided tours through clove, nutmeg and cinnamon plantations with tastings, usually a half-day excursion from Stone Town.
- Diving and snorkeling: the private atoll Mnemba as well as reefs off Nungwi and Matemwe, best visibility usually November to March.
- Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park: a walk to see the endemic red colobus monkey and a wooden boardwalk through the mangroves.
- Kitesurfing: shallow lagoons at Paje and Jambiani with steady wind during the Kusi monsoon (June–September).
- Sunset at Forodhani Gardens: street food stalls right on the water in front of Stone Town's skyline.
Day trips also lead to the offshore island of Changuu (Prison Island) with its Aldabra giant tortoises, or by boat to more remote sandbanks off the north coast.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
How do you travel responsibly on Zanzibar?
Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park protects the last major population of the endemic red colobus monkey, around 1,000 animals; entrance fees and guided forest walks fund this protection directly. When snorkeling at Mnemba atoll, reef etiquette rules help preserve the sensitive corals.
Because tourism has grown rapidly – hotel capacity in Nungwi rose by 129% between 2008 and 2013 – it's worth deliberately choosing smaller, locally run accommodations over large chains to keep economic value on the island. Buying spices directly from smallholders instead of at tourist shops lets producers benefit more directly.
What can Zanzibar be combined with?
Zanzibar is most often combined with a safari on the Tanzanian mainland, for example in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater, since short flights and ferries from Dar es Salaam or Arusha are well developed. Anyone wanting to see several islands can connect Zanzibar by ferry or small plane with Pemba or Mafia Island.
Pemba, quieter and less developed for tourism, suits divers looking for distance from large resorts; Mafia Island, known for its marine national park with seasonal whale sharks, is a destination in its own right for nature enthusiasts. Both islands have their own travel pages with their specific connections.
Who is Zanzibar suited for, and who is it less suited for?
Zanzibar suits culture enthusiasts, beach lovers, divers and kitesurfers looking for a mix of history and beach holiday. Anyone seeking exclusively remote, untouched nature with no tourist infrastructure at all is more likely to find that on Pemba or inland.
- Well suited: Culture and history enthusiasts, beach and water holidays, divers, kitesurfers, combinations with a safari.
- Less suited: Anyone seeking quiet entirely without other travelers – the north around Nungwi is densely developed for tourism – or anyone counting on extensive nightlife outside the hotels.
What does it mean that Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania?
Zanzibar united with Tanganyika in April 1964 to form today's United Republic of Tanzania, but retained its own government, its own parliament and its own president for internal affairs. For travelers this means: the same currency, time zone and entry visa as for all of Tanzania, but an additional insurance requirement that applies only to Zanzibar.
Time zone, national currency (Tanzanian Shilling) and the basic entry visa correspond to the information on the Tanzania country page; the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy (US$44, since October 2024) as well as tourism and parts of economic legislation, by contrast, are managed independently by Zanzibar.
Pemba and Mafia Island also belong to the wider Zanzibar Archipelago and to Tanzania respectively, but have their own distinct tourist profile – Pemba quieter and dive-oriented, Mafia Island centered on its marine national park with seasonal whale sharks – and their own travel pages.
Sources: Wikipedia · tanzaniaembassyinfo.com