💰 This page covers what you need on the ground: USD vs shillings, card acceptance by area, activity costs, and beach spending. For Tanzanian ATM networks, tipping norms, and currency overview:
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Order TZS →CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Zanzibar?
Yes, a lot. Zanzibar is heavily cash-based outside resort hotels. Card machines are frequently offline or "not working today." Bring enough cash (USD and TZS) to cover your stay without relying on cards. Treat card acceptance as a bonus, not a given. Bring crisp, post-2006 USD bills in $20, $50, and $100 denominations.
Where You Will Need Cash
Forodhani night market (entirely cash, TZS). Spice tours, snorkeling trips, and boat rides (negotiated and paid in USD cash). Taxis (no meters, negotiate in USD or TZS). Dala dalas (minibuses, TZS cash). Local restaurants and bars. Tips: dive instructors, tour guides, hotel staff. Darajani Market and souvenir shops. Scooter rental.
Where Cards Work Fine
Resort hotels (booking and extras). Upscale Stone Town restaurants (Emerson Spice, The Rooftop Tea House). Some boutique hotels. That is about it. ATMs exist in Stone Town and Nungwi but frequently run out of cash. Withdraw everything you need in Dar es Salaam or bring USD.
USD vs Tanzanian Shillings
The Dual Currency System
Zanzibar operates on a practical dual currency system. Hotels, dive shops, tour operators, and upscale restaurants quote prices in USD and prefer dollar payment. Local restaurants, markets, dala dalas, and small shops operate in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). For the best value: pay tourist businesses in USD cash (they give a worse rate if converting from shillings), and pay local businesses in TZS. Bring crisp, post-2006 USD bills in $20, $50, and $100 denominations. Old, torn, or pre-2006 bills are frequently rejected.
Paying by Card in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is heavily cash-based outside resort hotels. Card acceptance has improved but is unreliable. Visa works better than Mastercard. Many businesses that technically accept cards have machines that are often offline or "not working today." Bring enough cash (USD and TZS) to cover your stay without relying on cards working. Treat card acceptance as a bonus, not a given.
Stone Town
The UNESCO World Heritage old town. Upscale restaurants (Emerson Spice, The Rooftop Tea House) and boutique hotels accept cards. Many mid-range restaurants and cafes are cash-preferred even if they have a card machine. The Forodhani Gardens night food market is entirely cash (TZS). Souvenir shops along Gizenga Street and Kenyatta Road are cash for bargaining. Darajani Market is cash. Bring TZS 20,000–50,000 ($8–20) for a Stone Town evening.
Nungwi (North Coast)
The popular beach area. Resort hotels (Z Hotel, Essque Zalu) accept cards. Beach bars and smaller restaurants are mixed: some accept cards, many prefer cash. The Nungwi fish market is cash. Boat trips to Mnemba Atoll for snorkeling ($30–50) are negotiated and paid in cash. There is a CRDB ATM in Nungwi but it frequently runs out of cash. Withdraw in Stone Town before heading north.
Paje & Jambiani (East Coast)
The kite surfing and backpacker coast. Kite schools accept cards for multi-day packages. Beach hotels accept cards. The small restaurants, beach bars, and local shops are cash-preferred. The east coast is more budget-friendly than the north. Paje has an NMB ATM but do not rely on it. Bring cash from Stone Town for your beach stay.
Resort Hotels (All Areas)
Full-service beach resorts (all-inclusive or half-board) accept cards for room charges, restaurant meals, spa treatments, and activity bookings. This is the one reliable card environment in Zanzibar. Even at resorts, cash is needed for staff tips and any services arranged with outside operators (boat trips, village tours). Bring $50–100 in small USD bills for tips during your resort stay.
Forodhani Gardens Night Market
Stone Town's famous waterfront food market operates every evening at sunset. Everything is cash (TZS). Zanzibar pizza (stuffed chapati), grilled seafood skewers, sugar cane juice, and Zanzibar mix are all TZS 2,000–10,000 ($0.80–4) per item. This is one of the best food experiences in East Africa. Bring TZS 15,000–30,000 ($6–12) for a full evening of eating.
Local Transport & Activities
Dala dalas (minibuses) cost TZS 500–2,000 ($0.20–0.80, cash to the conductor). Taxi fares are negotiated in advance (no meters). Stone Town to Nungwi is $25–35 (USD or TZS, cash). Spice tours ($25–40), snorkeling trips ($25–40), and dhow sunset cruises ($25–35) are often booked through your hotel (card) but the guide and crew expect cash tips.
ATMs in Zanzibar
CRDB
NMB
Stanbic⚠ ATMs Run Out of Cash
Zanzibar ATMs, especially outside Stone Town, frequently run out of cash during peak season and over weekends. The most reliable ATMs are CRDB Bank and NMB Bank on Kenyatta Road in Stone Town. Maximum withdrawal is typically TZS 400,000–600,000 ($155–233). Withdraw everything you need in Stone Town before heading to the beaches. Do not rely on Nungwi or Paje ATMs. ATM fees are TZS 5,000–7,000 ($2–2.70) per foreign withdrawal.
Best Strategy
Bring $200–400 in crisp USD cash for hotel payments, tours, and tips. Withdraw TZS from Stone Town ATMs for local spending (food, transport, small purchases). This dual approach ensures you are never stuck without a payment method even if ATMs are empty and card machines are offline.
Activity Costs
What Activities Cost
Spice tour: $25–40 per person (bookable with card through hotel, tip guide $5–10 in cash).
Snorkeling at Mnemba Atoll: $30–50 per person (boat trip from Nungwi, cash negotiation or card through hotel).
Scuba diving: $60–80 per dive at PADI centres (card at established dive shops). Nungwi and Kendwa have the best diving operations.
Dhow sunset cruise: $25–35 per person (cash or card through hotel). Includes seafood BBQ on some trips.
Jozani Forest: $12 entry for foreign adults (cash at the gate). Home to the rare red colobus monkey.
Prison Island: $35–50 per person for boat trip and island entry (negotiate at the Stone Town waterfront, cash).
Dolphin swimming at Kizimkazi: $30–50 per person (cash, negotiated with boat operators).
Kite surfing lessons: $50–80 per session in Paje (card at established schools, cash at smaller operators).
Tipping in Zanzibar
Tipping Is Expected
Hotel housekeeping: $2–3 per day left in the room.
Restaurant: 10% if no service charge included. At local restaurants, rounding up is fine.
Tour guides: $5–10 per person for a half-day spice tour or snorkeling trip.
Boat captains & crew: $5–10 per trip.
Dive instructors: $10–15 per day of diving.
Taxi drivers: not expected, but rounding up is appreciated.
Resort staff: $1–2 per service interaction at all-inclusive resorts.
Tips in USD or TZS are both appreciated. Small USD bills ($1, $5) are most convenient for frequent small tips.
Prices in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is affordable at the local level and mid-range at the tourist level. Resort prices are set in USD.
| Item | Price | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar cane juice | TZS 1,000 | $0.40 |
| Seafood skewer (Forodhani) | TZS 2,000–5,000 | $0.80–2 |
| Zanzibar pizza (Forodhani) | TZS 3,000–5,000 | $1.15–2 |
| Beer (local bar) | TZS 3,000–5,000 | $1.15–2 |
| Pilau rice / biryani | TZS 5,000–10,000 | $2–4 |
| Full Forodhani dinner | TZS 10,000–20,000 | $4–8 |
| Tourist restaurant main | $10–25 | $10–25 |
| Stone Town rooftop dinner | $15–30 | $15–30 |
| Budget guesthouse (night) | $25–50 | $25–50 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | $80–200 | $80–200 |
| Luxury beach resort (night) | $200–800+ | $200–800+ |
Local prices in TZS (approximately TZS 2,600 = $1). Tourist businesses quote in USD. All-inclusive resort packages offer the best value.
Getting Around
Taxis
No meters in Zanzibar. Negotiate every fare before getting in. Stone Town to Nungwi: $25–35. Stone Town to Paje: $30–40. Within Stone Town: $3–5. Airport to Stone Town: $10–15. All cash (USD or TZS). There is no Uber or ride-hailing app in Zanzibar. Your hotel can arrange reliable drivers.
Dala Dalas
Zanzibar's public minibuses cost TZS 500–2,000 ($0.20–0.80) and connect Stone Town to all beach areas. Cash only (TZS), paid to the conductor. They are cheap and frequent but crowded and slow. The route from Stone Town to Nungwi takes about 1.5 hours. An authentic experience but not comfortable with luggage.
Scooter Rental
Renting a scooter costs $15–25 per day (cash). The roads between Stone Town and the beaches are generally paved but can be rough. An international driving permit is technically required. Fuel from roadside vendors costs TZS 3,000–4,000 ($1.15–1.55) per litre. A good option for exploring independently.
Airport to Stone Town
Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) is 7km from Stone Town. Taxi from the airport rank: $10–15 (negotiate, USD or TZS cash). Many hotels include airport transfer in the booking. No public bus is practical for airport arrival with luggage.
Zanzibar Quick Reference
| Activity | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort hotels | ✅ Room charges | $50–100 for tips | Tips are cash, staff depend on them |
| Stone Town restaurants | ✅ Some upscale | TZS 20,000–50,000 | Many prefer cash even with machines |
| Forodhani night market | ❌ Cash only | TZS 15,000–30,000 | Best food experience in Zanzibar |
| Spice tour | ✅ Via hotel booking | $5–10 guide tip | Tour booked by card, tips in cash |
| Snorkeling / diving | ✅ Dive shops | $10–15 crew tips | Established operators take cards |
| Beach bars (Nungwi/Paje) | ❌ Many prefer cash | TZS 20,000–40,000 | Cards unreliable at beach bars |
| Taxis | ❌ Cash | $10–35 per ride | No meters, negotiate before riding |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use USD or shillings?
Both. Pay hotels and tours in USD (they set worse rates for shilling conversion). Pay local restaurants, markets, and transport in TZS. Bring crisp, post-2006 USD bills.
Do I need cash?
Yes. Zanzibar is heavily cash-based outside resort hotels. Card machines are unreliable. Bring $200–400 in USD and withdraw TZS from Stone Town ATMs before heading to beaches.
Are there ATMs?
CRDB and NMB in Stone Town are most reliable. Beach ATMs frequently run out. Withdraw everything you need in Stone Town. Max withdrawal TZS 400,000–600,000 ($155–233).
How much do activities cost?
Spice tour $25–40. Snorkeling $25–40. Diving $60–80/dive. Dhow cruise $25–35. Jozani Forest $12. Most bookable through hotels (card) with cash tips for guides.
Should I tip?
Yes. Hotel housekeeping $2–3/day. Tour guides $5–10. Boat crew $5–10. Restaurants 10%. Tips in USD or TZS. Small USD bills most convenient.
How expensive is Zanzibar?
Local food is very cheap: market food TZS 3,000–10,000 ($1.15–4). Tourist restaurants $10–25. Beer $1–7 depending on venue. Budget guesthouse $25–50/night. Luxury resort $200–800+.
How do I get from the airport?
Taxi from airport rank $10–15 (negotiate, cash). Many hotels include transfers. No Uber in Zanzibar. No practical public bus for airport arrivals.
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