Turquoise water, spice-scented air, centuries-old stone alleys, Zanzibar photographs beautifully, which is exactly why it keeps showing up on everyone’s feed. But the island has a handful of practical quirks that catch new visitors off guard, from a mandatory insurance fee most people don’t know about to a visa system that changed in the last two years. Here’s what to actually do before you go.
1. Apply for your e-Visa online, not on arrival
Tanzania (which Zanzibar is part of) suspended visa-on-arrival for most nationalities, so don’t plan on sorting your visa at the airport. Apply through the official e-Visa portal a few days ahead of travel. Processing usually takes a matter of hours, but leaving it to the last minute means risking a delay you can’t fix once you’re already at the gate. You’ll need a passport valid for at least six months, a blank visa page, and proof of a return ticket.
2. Budget for one visa, not two
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, but it doesn’t have its own separate visa. A standard Tanzania e-Visa covers entry to both the mainland and the islands. Cost is around $50 USD for most nationalities (US passport holders pay $100 for a one-year multiple-entry visa). Don’t pay twice for something a single application already covers.
3. There’s a mandatory insurance fee waiting at arrival
This one trips up almost everyone. Since late 2024, every visitor to Zanzibar has to buy local travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation on arrival, currently around $44 USD, even if you already have comprehensive travel insurance from home. It’s collected as part of the entry process at the airport or port, so build it into your trip budget rather than being surprised by it at immigration.
4. Check the yellow fever rule if you’re connecting through certain cities
Tanzania doesn’t require a yellow fever certificate for travelers flying in directly from low-risk regions like Europe or North America. But if your route connects through a high-risk country such as Kenya, Ethiopia, or Rwanda for more than 12 hours, you’ll likely need to show a valid certificate. Health officers do run spot checks at both Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro airports, so this is worth confirming against your actual itinerary, not just your nationality.
5. Pack for modesty, even on beach days
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, and while resort areas are relaxed about swimwear, Stone Town and local villages are not. Cover shoulders and knees when you’re walking through town, visiting the old fort, or stopping at a mosque. A light scarf or sarong thrown over a swimsuit is the easiest fix when you’re moving between beach and town in the same day.
6. Carry small US dollar bills and local shillings
US dollars are widely accepted for hotels, tours, and bigger purchases, but small vendors, local food stalls, and taxis often deal only in Tanzanian shillings. They are also far happier with smaller, newer bills than crumpled large notes. Pull out shillings from an ATM in Stone Town or at the airport, and keep a stash of small dollar bills separate from the rest for places that won’t take cards.
7. Time your trip around the rains, not just the heat
Zanzibar’s “best” season depends on what you’re after. June through October is dry, breezy, and the most popular stretch for beach time. The short rains hit around November, and the long rains, which are heavier and often bring washed-out roads, run roughly March through May. Shoulder months can mean lower prices and thinner crowds, but check the specific weeks against your travel dates before booking, since the rains don’t follow a strict calendar.
8. Decide between Stone Town and the beach early
Trying to “do” Stone Town and the northern beaches from the same base usually means losing a chunk of your trip to driving. Stone Town gives you history, food markets, and easy day trips to spice farms, but its beaches aren’t the postcard kind. Nungwi and Kendwa in the north have the calm, swimmable water. Paje and Jambiani in the east are better for kitesurfing and a slower pace. Most first-timers do two or three nights in Stone Town, then relocate to a beach town for the rest of the trip.
9. Get a local SIM at the airport, not later
Connectivity is patchy once you’re outside Stone Town and the main resort strips, and a local SIM is cheap and quick to set up at the airport on arrival. It’s worth doing immediately rather than waiting until you need it. You’ll want maps, translation, and ride-booking apps working from the moment you leave the terminal, and shops outside the airport aren’t always easy to find or staffed in English.
Bottom line: Zanzibar rewards a little homework. Sort the e-Visa and insurance fee before you fly, pack a scarf for town days, and decide on your Stone Town and beach split early. Then the only thing left to plan is which sunset to watch first.
