Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) · Tanzania
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Quick answer
Entry
Same as Tanzania mainland — Tanzania visa is required even on Zanzibar (separate immigration desk). Visa-on-arrival USD 50 (USD 100 US). E-visa recommended. Yellow fever certificate if from endemic country.
Into town
Daladala (shared minibus): 25 min, TZS 500.
Time outside
4–5 hours in the city (stay close)
Times from ZNZ arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
The sights in Zanzibar worth leaving the airport for.
1Maze of 19th-century Swahili-Arab-Indian alleys. Carved doors + Sultan's Palace + House of Wonders. Free to wander. 2-3 hours minimum.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Mbz1 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sunset seafood grill — Zanzibar pizza, skewers, sugarcane juice. USD 5-10 a meal. Daily 5pm-11pm.
30-min boat from Stone Town — giant tortoises (150+ years old) + clear-water snorkel. USD 35 boat + USD 5 entry. 3-4 hours total.
Half-day tour into Kizimbani spice plantations — taste cloves, vanilla, cinnamon. USD 20-30. Why Zanzibar is the Spice Island.
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
4–5 hours in the city (stay close)
Insider tip
ZNZ is 6km from Stone Town — taxis USD 15-25 (negotiate, no meter), Daladala minibus TZS 500. For 4-hour layovers: Stone Town walk + Forodhani night market. For 12+ hours: add a Spice Tour. Bring USD cash — ATMs unreliable.
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Daladala (shared minibus) | TZS 500 | 25 min |
| Taxi to Stone Town | USD 15–25 | 15 min |
| Hotel transfer (book ahead) | USD 20–30 | 15 min |
Zanzibar pizza (Forodhani). Pilau spiced rice. Mishkaki skewers. Coconut octopus curry. Spiced chai. Konyagi gin.
0–45 min
Clear passport control
Only leave the airport if your passport and visa allow entry; see the entry note above.
45–90 min
Into Zanzibar: Daladala (shared minibus)
25 min, TZS 500.
90–210 min
Stone Town (UNESCO) + Darajani Market
Maze of 19th-century Swahili-Arab-Indian alleys. Carved doors + Sultan's Palace + House of Wonders. Free to wander. 2-3 hours minimum.
210–270 min
Eat before you head back
Zanzibar pizza (Forodhani). Pilau spiced rice. Mishkaki skewers. Coconut octopus curry. Spiced chai. Konyagi gin.
270–360 min
Back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Head back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport by Daladala (shared minibus) (25 min, TZS 500). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Same as Tanzania mainland — Tanzania visa is required even on Zanzibar (separate immigration desk). Visa-on-arrival USD 50 (USD 100 US). E-visa recommended. Yellow fever certificate if from endemic country. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
4–5 hours in the city (stay close). Getting into Zanzibar by Daladala (shared minibus) takes 25 min each way.
Daladala (shared minibus): 25 min, TZS 500. Taxi to Stone Town: 15 min, USD 15–25. Hotel transfer (book ahead): 15 min, USD 20–30.
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Zanzibar and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse ZanzibarJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Zanzibar? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Zanzibar.Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
A day-use hotel near the airport is a great option for a 6-hour layover.
Find hotels in Zanzibar
Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia
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Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from ZNZ.
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Same as Tanzania mainland — Tanzania visa is required even on Zanzibar (separate immigration desk). Visa-on-arrival USD 50 (USD 100 US). E-visa recommended. Yellow fever certificate if from endemic country.
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Head back to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport by Daladala (shared minibus) (25 min, TZS 500). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
