🇹🇿 Tanzania · Travel Guide
Zanzibar Travel Guide
Spice islands, Stone Town labyrinths and the turquoise Indian Ocean.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the Tanzanian coast where Swahili, Arab and Indian cultures blend — the UNESCO-listed maze of Stone Town, clove and cinnamon spice farms, dhow-sailed sunsets and some of the finest white-sand beaches in the Indian Ocean. It’s a predominantly Muslim, conservative island, which shapes how (especially women) travellers dress and behave away from the resorts — but it’s warm, welcoming and endlessly atmospheric.
Plan my free Zanzibar itinerary📅 Best time
June–October is dry, cooler and the best all-round time; the short rains fall around November and the long rains March–May. It’s hot and humid year-round on the coast.
💷 Daily budget
$50–120 a day mid-range, though beach resorts and honeymoon lodges climb well beyond that.
🗓️ Ideal length
5–7 days to combine Stone Town with a few nights on a north- or east-coast beach.
💱 Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), though US dollars are widely used and quoted across tourism.
🗣️ Language
Swahili; English is widely spoken in hotels, tours and Stone Town.
Is Zanzibar safe?
General safety
Generally safe for visitors, with violent crime against tourists uncommon. The realistic issues are petty theft, the odd scam or overcharge, and persistent “beach boy” attention on the north coast — plus the need to respect conservative Muslim customs. Take normal care with valuables and you’ll have an easy trip.
Solo female travellers
A popular but slightly more demanding solo-female destination than the postcard suggests. It’s doable and rewarding, but dress modestly in Stone Town and villages (cover shoulders and knees; swimwear is for resort beaches only), expect some persistent attention from beach vendors on the north coast, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and use trusted taxis or drivers at night rather than walking.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Travel informed and be discreet: same-sex relations are criminalised in Tanzania with severe penalties, and Zanzibar is especially conservative and Islamic, with no scene and no legal protection. LGBTQ+ travellers do visit, but public affection is unsafe and same-sex couples should be very discreet, particularly away from private resorts. This is honest awareness, not encouragement to take risks.
Safety guidance is general and can change — always check your government’s latest travel advice before you go.
Top things to do in Zanzibar
- Getting lost in Stone Town’s carved-door alleys and the Forodhani night-food market
- A spice-farm tour tasting cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon
- The white sand and turquoise water of Nungwi and Kendwa in the north
- Jozani Forest and its rare red colobus monkeys
- A sunset dhow cruise and a day trip to Prison Island’s giant tortoises
More ways to book in Zanzibar
Getting around & essentials
Taxis and pre-booked private drivers are the easiest way around — agree the fare before setting off, as meters are rare. Shared dala-dala minibuses are cheap but crowded. You reach the island by short flight or fast ferry from Dar es Salaam; internal roads are slow, so factor in transfer times to the far beaches.
Flight to Zanzibar delayed or cancelled? You could be owed up to €600 — check free →
Get a free, personalised Zanzibar itinerary
Tell Wavvia who you are — solo, couple, family, LGBTQ+, accessibility needs — and get a day-by-day plan tuned to you, with safety built in.
Plan my trip — freeZanzibar FAQs
Is Zanzibar safe for solo female travellers?
Yes, with awareness — it’s popular and rewarding but more demanding than the postcards suggest. Dress modestly away from resort beaches, expect some persistent beach-vendor attention on the north coast, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and use trusted taxis at night.
What should I wear in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is conservative and mostly Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages; swimwear is fine on resort beaches but not in town. A light scarf is useful for shoulders and for any mosque visit.
Is Zanzibar LGBTQ+ friendly?
No — same-sex relations are criminalised in Tanzania with severe penalties, and Zanzibar is especially conservative, with no scene and no legal protection. LGBTQ+ travellers do visit but must be very discreet; public affection is unsafe. Always check your government’s current travel advice.
Beyond Zanzibar: top places in Tanzania
More travel guides
Some links are affiliate links — Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, hours and entry rules change; verify before you travel.