Some useful information
Visa
Travellers to Zanzibar require a valid visa. The costs are US$50 for most nationalities (US$100 for US citizens) for a single-entry visa, it is valid for a maximum of three months. If you want to avoid long lines at the airport, it's recommended to apply for your visa online in advance.
You also get it on arrival at the Zanzibar International Airport, it has to be paid by credit card.
Vaccination
For Zanzibar a Yellow Feaver vaccination is an entry requirement for all travelers arriving (including airport transit more than 6 hours) from countries where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Zanzibar is NOT malaria-free — the risk is much lower than on mainland Tanzania thanks to sustained control programmes, but prophylaxis is still generally recommended. Talk to your doctor before you travel.
Payments
The official currency in Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Banknotes come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 TZS. However, if you're bringing cash, the preferred means of payment is the U.S. Dollar. Just be sure to bring bills that are no older than 2006, as older bills may not be accepted.
On the east coast, there are no banks, but there is an ATM in Paje. All ATMs in Zanzibar only dispense Tanzanian Shillings. You can also withdraw money at the airport or in Zanzibar Town.
Many shops and restaurants accept credit cards.
Time Zone & Swahili time
Zanzibar's time zone is East Africa Time (EAT), which is UCT (Universal Time Coordinated) plus three hours. This means that during Central European Time (CET), Zanzibar is two hours ahead.
The Swahili Time is different from all other parts in the world. The reference points are sunrise and sunset. Most Swahili speakers live close to the equator, where sunrise and sunset are at the same time all year long between 6 & 7 am and 6 & 7 pm. The rising sun is the beginning of the day, therefore 7 am is 1 o’clock in Swahili time.
Money: what to bring, and in which currency
Zanzibar has been tightening up on currency since the Bank of Tanzania's rules took effect in March 2025, and prices you see locally are generally quoted in Tanzanian shillings. In practice, as a hotel with mostly international guests, we work in both:
So you do not need to arrive with a specific currency to stay here. Where shillings genuinely help is outside the hotel — a village shop, a ngalawa captain, a spice-farm entrance, a tip. ATMs on the island dispense shillings, and small notes are far more useful than large ones.
One practical note that surprises people: bring USD notes that are recent and in good condition. Older or damaged bills are often refused or changed at a poor rate — that is a local convention rather than a rule, and it applies across East Africa.
The insurance you must buy before you fly
Since October 2024 every foreign visitor needs Zanzibar's own inbound insurance, bought from the official portal before arrival — and it does not replace your own travel policy. The full detail, with current costs and where not to buy it, is here: the mandatory Zanzibar insurance explained.