All airports

ZNZHTZA

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Zanzibar, TZ

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Alternatives

Nearby airports

All airports

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Alternatives

Nearby airports

All airports Official site

ZNZHTZAModerate

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Zanzibar, Tanzania · Africa

T3 (2020/2021) is a compact international hall with a 24-hour Priority Pass room by Gates 1–2, but the existing T2 hall is still the domestic door, the new Terminal 2 building is not open, Uber is gone, and every visitor needs ZIC inbound insurance on top of the Tanzania visa.

Airportist Score

6.6/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.8
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.2
Ground access7.4
Reliability6.0
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare ZNZ with another airport

Arrive
3 h
before international flights
Typical security
20 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
10-20 min
Rank taxi
Cheapest to city
Dala-dala 505
$ · 25-35 min
Lounges
3
1 rated worth it
Terminals
3

All airports

ZNZHTZAModerate

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Zanzibar, Tanzania · Africa

Airportist Score

6.6/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.8
Comfort & amenities6.6
Food & retail6.2
Ground access7.4
Reliability6.0
Lounges6.8

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare ZNZ with another airport

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

Flying from Zanzibar?

Enter your flight for a door-to-door plan: when to leave, security, lounges and your gate. Free and no account needed. A free account saves it and sends alerts.

The plan is free. Pro adds leave-now, bag-drop and head-to-gate reminders for a saved flight. See Pro

10 photos

ZNZGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Check-in

Arrive 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3

ZAA does not publish a curb-to-gate HTML clock. Give a T3 long-haul the same 3-hour bag window you would at DAR, and confirm the airline's own cut.

T2 domestic hops to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Arusha are a different building. The new TB2 hall is not live, so do not hunt a second international pier. Peak July–October queues eat the first hour.

Layout

T3 is international — T2 is the existing domestic hall — there is no airside walk

International long-haul uses Terminal 3 (2020/2021). Terminal 2 still handles domestic and some international from the existing hall. Terminal 1 is VIP/GA. The new Terminal 2 building is not open.

The T2–T3 link bridge was 55% complete at the 22 Aug 2026 inspection (target 15 Dec 2026) and is not a passenger corridor yet. An international-to-mainland connection means immigration, bags and a landside hop. Leftover 'T2 closed' and leftover 'TB2 opened 30 Aug 2026' are both leftover-wrong.

Water

Buy a sealed bottle landside in T3 or after passport control — no published fountains

ZAA does not list drinking fountains. The cheap bottle is landside T3 before security; airside T3 has ZOMA / concession kiosks after passport control.

No published TZS bottle tariff — pay at the till. Lounge water is free once you are in Marhaba (T3, Gates 1–2) or the T2 Premium Lounge. Do not sit leftover aggregator refill maps.

Visa

UK and EU need USD 50 — US passports must buy the USD 100 Multiple — plus ZIC insurance

Apply on visa.immigration.go.tz before you fly. Visa on arrival exists at main ports, but immigration recommends the eVisa and FCDO says you cannot get a Multiple on arrival.

Ordinary visa USD 50 / up to 90 days. US and Ireland tourists are not entitled to Ordinary — Multiple USD 100. Print the grant notice, carry a return ticket, passport 6 months + one blank page. Yellow fever only from a listed risk country. Buy ZIC inbound insurance only from visitzanzibar.go.tz — other policies are not accepted at Zanzibar immigration.

Live conditions

Right now at ZNZ

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Beach and Stone Town arrivals onto Unguja
Priority Pass holders using Marhaba in T3 after passport control
Short hops from DAR / JRO if you budget a landside T3↔T2 transfer
Rank taxis or dala-dala 505 instead of Uber

Watch out for

New Terminal 2 building is not live — still construction as of September 2026
No airside walk T3 international ↔ existing T2 hall
Uber exited 30 Jan 2026 — Bolt on Unguja is mainly boda, not a car
ZIC inbound insurance is mandatory for non-residents entering Zanzibar

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

6.8

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.2

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

6.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

6.8

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,437,626 (2025)

Terminals

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for ZNZ.

Updated Sep 23, 2026

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (IATA ZNZ / ICAO HTZA) sits on Unguja, about 5 km south of Zanzibar City on Kisauni Road. Operator Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA, Act No. 8 of 2011), not Tanzania Airports Authority. Official site zaa.go.tz — leftover taa.go.tz is the mainland operator. Elevation ~54 ft / 16 m. Formerly Kisauni Airport / Zanzibar International Airport; renamed in 2010 for the island's first president.
OCGS Statistical Abstract 2025 Table H.1.3, AAKIA only: 2,437,626 passengers in 2025 (embarked 1,230,007 / disembarked 1,207,619) plus 262,139 in transit. 2024 AAKIA was 2,152,254. Combined Unguja+Pemba 2025 is 2,554,590 (Pemba 116,964) — do not sit that combined total as ZNZ traffic. Do not sit leftover Wikipedia 2,694,149. Do not sit leftover EGIS 2,463,234 as 2024 AAKIA. Do not sit leftover ZAA DG 2.8 million 2025 projections. T3 leftover 3.2 million is handling capacity.
Live campus 23 Sep 2026: Terminal 3 international (inaugurated 2020, operations early 2021; 21,153 m², 6 stands, 4 bridges, 27 check-in desks) + existing Terminal 2 for domestic and some international + Terminal 1 refurbished VIP/GA. The new Terminal 2 building (TB2, USD 34 million, 1.4 million design) is not live — 90% at the 22 Aug 2026 board inspection, scheduled 30 Aug 2026, still reported as under construction in September 2026. T2–T3 link bridge 55% / expected 15 Dec 2026 — not live. New apron 25% / 1 Aug 2028 — not live. No metro. No airport rail.
One airliner runway 18/36, 3,022 × 45 m asphalt, lighted (OurAirports 20 Feb 2026 + EGIS). Do not sit leftover Wikipedia 3,007 m. Do not sit leftover PilotNav 8,077 ft (pre-extension). South approaches and departures are over water.
ZAA HTML does not print a curb-to-gate clock. Plan 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3 with hold luggage; 2 hours is a typical T2 domestic window — confirm with the airline. Uber exited Tanzania on 30 January 2026. Bolt on Unguja is live mainly as boda / tuk-tuk, not a reliable car. Rank taxis are unmetered; traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is not a ZAA HTML tariff.
UK/EU ordinary passports need a USD 50 Ordinary visa (eVisa or VOA at main ports). US and Ireland must take the USD 100 Multiple even for one trip. FCDO: no Multiple on arrival. Passport 6 months after arrival + one blank page. Yellow fever only from a listed transmission-risk country or a >12 h transit. Every non-resident entering Zanzibar also needs ZIC inbound travel insurance from visitzanzibar.go.tz / inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz (from 1 Oct 2024). Embassy FAQ leftover USD 44 — the live landing page does not print the tariff.

7 official sources

Full guide

Explore the ZNZ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Terminal 3 is the live international passenger hall (inaugurated 2020, operations early 2021). 21,153 m², six stands, four boarding bridges, 27 check-in desks. Dnata/ELR ZOMA is the live T3 concession.
Terminal 2 is the existing domestic / some-international hall. It is still in passenger service. The new Terminal 2 building (TB2, USD 34 million, 1.4 million design, 90% on 22 Aug 2026, scheduled 30 Aug 2026) is not a scheduled door as of 23 Sep 2026.
Terminal 1 has been refurbished for heads of state, VIP and private aviation. It is not your T3 long-haul gate.
The T2–T3 pedestrian bridge was 55% complete at the 22 Aug 2026 board inspection (target 15 Dec 2026) and is not a passenger walkway yet.
The new apron was 25% complete, target 1 Aug 2028 — not live.
Do not hunt leftover T4. Do not treat leftover Wikipedia 'T2 serves both domestic and some international' as a second T3.
Wayfinding is short: T3 airside is one concourse. Marhaba is on the right after passport control next to Gates 1–2. T2 Premium Lounge is 1st floor between immigration and the spice shop.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

ZAA: about 5 km south of Zanzibar City. Stone Town (city-centers.json) is ~6.7 km great-circle from the airport coordinates — a 10–20 minute taxi, not a Dar-style hour.
No metro. No airport rail. No airport-branded bus. Dala-dala 505 is the public option (TZS 500, ~30 minutes to Darajani / Stone Town, dawn to dusk).
Rank taxis wait outside both T2 and T3. No meters. Traveler-typical board: Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000; Nungwi/Kendwa/Jambiani USD 65 / TZS 156,000. Pay cash (USD, EUR or TZS). Agree the fare before you sit down. This board is not published on zaa.go.tz.
Uber exited Tanzania on 30 January 2026 (The EastAfrican). Bolt on Unguja is live mainly as boda / tuk-tuk; cars are rare. Grab and Careem are not a Zanzibar product.
Hotel and tour-operator transfers pick up ~50 m to the right of the terminal if your package includes one.
EGIS lists 393 parking spaces. ZAA HTML does not print the tariff — ask the attendant. Do not invent a TZS grid.
International rental desks are not sitting in the terminal; Europcar / Green Motion style partners meet you landside if pre-booked. A leftover local driving-permit fee of USD 20 is a traveler report, not a ZAA HTML fee.

Ride to Zanzibar

Pickup at ZNZ. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Zanzibar city center for a live price.

To city center

Zanzibar

~6.7 km

Typical fare

$15

From Rank taxi notes

On-demand apps

Bolt

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Zanzibar — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

Dala-dala 505

Shared minibus from ~250 m right of T2 / ~500 m from T3 to Darajani / Stone Town. TZS 500 cash to the conductor, dawn to dusk.

Time to city

25-35 min

Cost

Tip: No timetable — it leaves when full. Awkward with a suitcase. Other lines (516/526/535/536) only reach the edge of town.

FastestBest for luggage

Rank taxi

Unmetered official rank outside T2 and T3. Traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000. Cash in USD, EUR or TZS.

Time to city

10-20 min

Cost

Tip: Photograph the board on arrival and show it on the way back. Agree the number before you sit down. Not a ZAA HTML tariff.

Bolt (boda / tuk-tuk)

Bolt is live on Unguja mainly as motorcycle and tuk-tuk. Cars are rare. Uber is not live.

Time to city

10-25 min

Cost

Tip: Do not open Uber — service ended 30 Jan 2026. A boda is not a luggage product from T3 international arrivals.

Airport parking

EGIS lists 393 parking spaces on campus. ZAA HTML does not print the tariff.

Time to city

on site

Cost

Tip: Ask the attendant. Do not treat leftover unofficial TZS grids as ZAA-confirmed.

Check your lounge access at ZNZ

Skip it

Paradise Arrival Business Lounge

Terminal 2Arrivals

T2 arrivals only, left of immigration. Useful for Fast Track on the way in — skip for any departure. Showers not listed.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Amenities: Wi-Fi · Soft drinks · Prayer room · Newspapers / magazines · Disabled access · Telephone / fax extra

Best for: T2 arrivals who want Fast Track

Full access guide

Add a photo

Skip it

The Premium Lounge (Departures)

Terminal 2Departures

T2 departures-only room between immigration and the spice shop. Skip it for a T3 long-haul. Showers not listed. No DragonPass.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Amenities: Wi-Fi · Alcoholic drinks (standard, complimentary) · À la carte menu (extra payment) · Fast track lane (extra payment) · Complimentary luggage storage · Flight information / TVs · Newspapers / magazines

Best for: T2 domestic or regional departures

Full access guide

Add a photo

Worth it

Marhaba Zanzibar (South) Y3

Terminal 3International

The only Priority Pass room in Terminal 3. 24/7, max 3 hours, right of Gates 1–2 after passport control. DragonPass is not listed at ZNZ.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey · Amex Platinum

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Amenities: Wi-Fi · Alcoholic drinks (standard) · Soft drinks · Air conditioning · Flight information / TVs · Digital card accepted · Disabled access · Complimentary laptop subject to availability

Best for: T3 long-haul departures · Transit

Full access guide

Add a photo

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Marhaba Zanzibar (South) Y3 is the T3 room: after passport control, right by Gates 1–2, 24/7, PP 3.4/453, max 3 hours, under-2 free, alcohol and Wi-Fi, showers false. LoungeKey ZNZ3. Amex Platinum via Priority Pass. DragonPass explore/airport/ZNZ is empty.
The Premium Lounge (Departures) is T2 only: 1st floor between immigration and the spice shop, 24/7, max 3 hours, under-2 free, à la carte and Fast Track extra. Skip for T3 long-haul.
Paradise Arrival Business Lounge is T2 arrivals only, left of immigration, PP 3.0/66, children under 12 free, prayer room, Fast Track from inside the lounge. Skip for departures.
Do not add leftover 2014 Dhow Lounge. Do not add an unverified Auric Air room as a public Priority Pass product.
Food: T3 landside bistro plus airside ZOMA / duty-free / kiosks. T2 has a spice shop landmark next to the Premium Lounge. No published ZAA restaurant map. No Starbucks / McDonald's map.
Wi-Fi: traveler reports of free T2/T3 coverage. ZAA HTML does not print the SSID — do not sit leftover named networks.
Water: no ZAA fountain map. Buy sealed landside in T3 or airside after passport control. Lounge water is the quality pick once you are in Marhaba.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Fly international long-haul out of T3 and most mainland hops out of the existing T2 hall. There is no airside corridor. Budget a full landside transfer (immigration + bags + walk) for any international-to-domestic connection.
Priority Pass: go to Marhaba in T3 first (Gates 1–2, 3.4/453, 24/7, max 3 hours). The T2 Premium Lounge is the existing-hall backup, not a T3 shortcut. Paradise Arrival is arrivals-only.
Photograph the taxi price board on arrival and show it on the way back. Rank taxis are unmetered. Traveler-typical Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is the board figure, not a ZAA HTML tariff.
Dala-dala 505 is the cheap ride into Stone Town (TZS 500 cash to the conductor) — ~250 m to the right of T2, ~500 m from T3, dawn to dusk, no luggage rack.
Open Bolt only if you will take a boda or tuk-tuk. Do not open Uber. Hotel/tour-operator buses pick up about 50 m to the right of the terminal if your package includes a transfer.
Buy ZIC inbound insurance on visitzanzibar.go.tz before you land. Other travel policies are not accepted at Zanzibar immigration.
If you only remember one thing: T3 is the international door, Marhaba is the lounge, and the new Terminal 2 building is still a construction site.

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Give Terminal 3 a full 3 hours with bags

ZAA does not publish a curb-to-gate HTML clock. Plan 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3 if you are checking bags.

Peak July–October European banks and weekend charters back up immigration. T2 domestic is a different building and a shorter typical window — confirm the airline.

Upside

T3 airside is one short concourse once you are through passport control.

Watch-out

Several checkpoints even when each line looks short.

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Treat T3 and T2 as two airports

International long-haul is T3. The existing T2 hall is domestic and some international. There is no airside walk, and the new TB2 building is not open.

The T2–T3 bridge was 55% complete on 22 Aug 2026 (target 15 Dec 2026). T1 is VIP/GA. Do not hunt leftover T4.

Watch-out

A tight international-to-mainland connection will miss.

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Marhaba in T3 first — skip the T2 rooms for long-haul

Marhaba is after passport control on the right by Gates 1–2 (PP 3.4/453, 24/7, max 3 hours). The Premium Lounge and Paradise Arrival are T2 products.

Paradise Arrival is arrivals only. DragonPass /explore/airport/ZNZ is empty. None of the three rooms list showers. Walk-in tariff unpublished.

Upside

Both departure rooms are listed 24/7.

Watch-out

Marhaba PP stay caps at 3 hours and the rating is a modest 3.4.

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Photograph the taxi board — do not open Uber

Uber left Tanzania on 30 January 2026. Rank taxis are unmetered; dala-dala 505 is TZS 500 in daylight. Bolt on Unguja is mainly boda.

Traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is not a ZAA HTML tariff. Hotel buses pick up about 50 m to the right if your package includes a transfer.

Upside

Stone Town is 10–20 minutes.

Watch-out

Bolt cars are rare; late-night dala-dala does not run.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

Compare ZNZ vs DAR

Alternatives

Nearby airports

ZNZGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Check-in

Arrive 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3

ZAA does not publish a curb-to-gate HTML clock. Give a T3 long-haul the same 3-hour bag window you would at DAR, and confirm the airline's own cut.

Layout

T3 is international — T2 is the existing domestic hall — there is no airside walk

International long-haul uses Terminal 3 (2020/2021). Terminal 2 still handles domestic and some international from the existing hall. Terminal 1 is VIP/GA. The new Terminal 2 building is not open.

Water

Buy a sealed bottle landside in T3 or after passport control — no published fountains

ZAA does not list drinking fountains. The cheap bottle is landside T3 before security; airside T3 has ZOMA / concession kiosks after passport control.

No published TZS bottle tariff — pay at the till. Lounge water is free once you are in Marhaba (T3, Gates 1–2) or the T2 Premium Lounge. Do not sit leftover aggregator refill maps.

Visa

UK and EU need USD 50 — US passports must buy the USD 100 Multiple — plus ZIC insurance

Apply on visa.immigration.go.tz before you fly. Visa on arrival exists at main ports, but immigration recommends the eVisa and FCDO says you cannot get a Multiple on arrival.

Live conditions

Right now at ZNZ

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Beach and Stone Town arrivals onto Unguja
Priority Pass holders using Marhaba in T3 after passport control
Short hops from DAR / JRO if you budget a landside T3↔T2 transfer
Rank taxis or dala-dala 505 instead of Uber

Watch out for

New Terminal 2 building is not live — still construction as of September 2026
No airside walk T3 international ↔ existing T2 hall
Uber exited 30 Jan 2026 — Bolt on Unguja is mainly boda, not a car
ZIC inbound insurance is mandatory for non-residents entering Zanzibar

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

6.8

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

6.2

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

6.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

6.8

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,437,626 (2025)

Terminals

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for ZNZ.

Updated Sep 23, 2026

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (IATA ZNZ / ICAO HTZA) sits on Unguja, about 5 km south of Zanzibar City on Kisauni Road. Operator Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA, Act No. 8 of 2011), not Tanzania Airports Authority. Official site zaa.go.tz — leftover taa.go.tz is the mainland operator. Elevation ~54 ft / 16 m. Formerly Kisauni Airport / Zanzibar International Airport; renamed in 2010 for the island's first president.
OCGS Statistical Abstract 2025 Table H.1.3, AAKIA only: 2,437,626 passengers in 2025 (embarked 1,230,007 / disembarked 1,207,619) plus 262,139 in transit. 2024 AAKIA was 2,152,254. Combined Unguja+Pemba 2025 is 2,554,590 (Pemba 116,964) — do not sit that combined total as ZNZ traffic. Do not sit leftover Wikipedia 2,694,149. Do not sit leftover EGIS 2,463,234 as 2024 AAKIA. Do not sit leftover ZAA DG 2.8 million 2025 projections. T3 leftover 3.2 million is handling capacity.
Live campus 23 Sep 2026: Terminal 3 international (inaugurated 2020, operations early 2021; 21,153 m², 6 stands, 4 bridges, 27 check-in desks) + existing Terminal 2 for domestic and some international + Terminal 1 refurbished VIP/GA. The new Terminal 2 building (TB2, USD 34 million, 1.4 million design) is not live — 90% at the 22 Aug 2026 board inspection, scheduled 30 Aug 2026, still reported as under construction in September 2026. T2–T3 link bridge 55% / expected 15 Dec 2026 — not live. New apron 25% / 1 Aug 2028 — not live. No metro. No airport rail.
One airliner runway 18/36, 3,022 × 45 m asphalt, lighted (OurAirports 20 Feb 2026 + EGIS). Do not sit leftover Wikipedia 3,007 m. Do not sit leftover PilotNav 8,077 ft (pre-extension). South approaches and departures are over water.
ZAA HTML does not print a curb-to-gate clock. Plan 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3 with hold luggage; 2 hours is a typical T2 domestic window — confirm with the airline. Uber exited Tanzania on 30 January 2026. Bolt on Unguja is live mainly as boda / tuk-tuk, not a reliable car. Rank taxis are unmetered; traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is not a ZAA HTML tariff.
UK/EU ordinary passports need a USD 50 Ordinary visa (eVisa or VOA at main ports). US and Ireland must take the USD 100 Multiple even for one trip. FCDO: no Multiple on arrival. Passport 6 months after arrival + one blank page. Yellow fever only from a listed transmission-risk country or a >12 h transit. Every non-resident entering Zanzibar also needs ZIC inbound travel insurance from visitzanzibar.go.tz / inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz (from 1 Oct 2024). Embassy FAQ leftover USD 44 — the live landing page does not print the tariff.

7 official sources

Full guide

Explore the ZNZ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Terminal 3 is the live international passenger hall (inaugurated 2020, operations early 2021). 21,153 m², six stands, four boarding bridges, 27 check-in desks. Dnata/ELR ZOMA is the live T3 concession.
Terminal 2 is the existing domestic / some-international hall. It is still in passenger service. The new Terminal 2 building (TB2, USD 34 million, 1.4 million design, 90% on 22 Aug 2026, scheduled 30 Aug 2026) is not a scheduled door as of 23 Sep 2026.
Terminal 1 has been refurbished for heads of state, VIP and private aviation. It is not your T3 long-haul gate.
The T2–T3 pedestrian bridge was 55% complete at the 22 Aug 2026 board inspection (target 15 Dec 2026) and is not a passenger walkway yet.
The new apron was 25% complete, target 1 Aug 2028 — not live.
Do not hunt leftover T4. Do not treat leftover Wikipedia 'T2 serves both domestic and some international' as a second T3.
Wayfinding is short: T3 airside is one concourse. Marhaba is on the right after passport control next to Gates 1–2. T2 Premium Lounge is 1st floor between immigration and the spice shop.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

ZAA: about 5 km south of Zanzibar City. Stone Town (city-centers.json) is ~6.7 km great-circle from the airport coordinates — a 10–20 minute taxi, not a Dar-style hour.
No metro. No airport rail. No airport-branded bus. Dala-dala 505 is the public option (TZS 500, ~30 minutes to Darajani / Stone Town, dawn to dusk).
Rank taxis wait outside both T2 and T3. No meters. Traveler-typical board: Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000; Nungwi/Kendwa/Jambiani USD 65 / TZS 156,000. Pay cash (USD, EUR or TZS). Agree the fare before you sit down. This board is not published on zaa.go.tz.
Uber exited Tanzania on 30 January 2026 (The EastAfrican). Bolt on Unguja is live mainly as boda / tuk-tuk; cars are rare. Grab and Careem are not a Zanzibar product.
Hotel and tour-operator transfers pick up ~50 m to the right of the terminal if your package includes one.
EGIS lists 393 parking spaces. ZAA HTML does not print the tariff — ask the attendant. Do not invent a TZS grid.
International rental desks are not sitting in the terminal; Europcar / Green Motion style partners meet you landside if pre-booked. A leftover local driving-permit fee of USD 20 is a traveler report, not a ZAA HTML fee.

Ride to Zanzibar

Pickup at ZNZ. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Zanzibar city center for a live price.

To city center

Zanzibar

~6.7 km

Typical fare

$15

From Rank taxi notes

On-demand apps

Bolt

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Zanzibar — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

Dala-dala 505

Shared minibus from ~250 m right of T2 / ~500 m from T3 to Darajani / Stone Town. TZS 500 cash to the conductor, dawn to dusk.

Time to city

25-35 min

Cost

Tip: No timetable — it leaves when full. Awkward with a suitcase. Other lines (516/526/535/536) only reach the edge of town.

FastestBest for luggage

Rank taxi

Unmetered official rank outside T2 and T3. Traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000. Cash in USD, EUR or TZS.

Time to city

10-20 min

Cost

Tip: Photograph the board on arrival and show it on the way back. Agree the number before you sit down. Not a ZAA HTML tariff.

Bolt (boda / tuk-tuk)

Bolt is live on Unguja mainly as motorcycle and tuk-tuk. Cars are rare. Uber is not live.

Time to city

10-25 min

Cost

Tip: Do not open Uber — service ended 30 Jan 2026. A boda is not a luggage product from T3 international arrivals.

Airport parking

EGIS lists 393 parking spaces on campus. ZAA HTML does not print the tariff.

Time to city

on site

Cost

Tip: Ask the attendant. Do not treat leftover unofficial TZS grids as ZAA-confirmed.

Check your lounge access at ZNZ

Skip it

Paradise Arrival Business Lounge

Terminal 2Arrivals

T2 arrivals only, left of immigration. Useful for Fast Track on the way in — skip for any departure. Showers not listed.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Amenities: Wi-Fi · Soft drinks · Prayer room · Newspapers / magazines · Disabled access · Telephone / fax extra

Best for: T2 arrivals who want Fast Track

Full access guide

Add a photo

Skip it

The Premium Lounge (Departures)

Terminal 2Departures

T2 departures-only room between immigration and the spice shop. Skip it for a T3 long-haul. Showers not listed. No DragonPass.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Best for: T2 domestic or regional departures

Full access guide

Add a photo

Worth it

Marhaba Zanzibar (South) Y3

Terminal 3International

The only Priority Pass room in Terminal 3. 24/7, max 3 hours, right of Gates 1–2 after passport control. DragonPass is not listed at ZNZ.

Access: Priority Pass · LoungeKey · Amex Platinum

Hours: 00:00-23:59

Best for: T3 long-haul departures · Transit

Full access guide

Add a photo

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Marhaba Zanzibar (South) Y3 is the T3 room: after passport control, right by Gates 1–2, 24/7, PP 3.4/453, max 3 hours, under-2 free, alcohol and Wi-Fi, showers false. LoungeKey ZNZ3. Amex Platinum via Priority Pass. DragonPass explore/airport/ZNZ is empty.
The Premium Lounge (Departures) is T2 only: 1st floor between immigration and the spice shop, 24/7, max 3 hours, under-2 free, à la carte and Fast Track extra. Skip for T3 long-haul.
Paradise Arrival Business Lounge is T2 arrivals only, left of immigration, PP 3.0/66, children under 12 free, prayer room, Fast Track from inside the lounge. Skip for departures.
Do not add leftover 2014 Dhow Lounge. Do not add an unverified Auric Air room as a public Priority Pass product.
Food: T3 landside bistro plus airside ZOMA / duty-free / kiosks. T2 has a spice shop landmark next to the Premium Lounge. No published ZAA restaurant map. No Starbucks / McDonald's map.
Wi-Fi: traveler reports of free T2/T3 coverage. ZAA HTML does not print the SSID — do not sit leftover named networks.
Water: no ZAA fountain map. Buy sealed landside in T3 or airside after passport control. Lounge water is the quality pick once you are in Marhaba.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Fly international long-haul out of T3 and most mainland hops out of the existing T2 hall. There is no airside corridor. Budget a full landside transfer (immigration + bags + walk) for any international-to-domestic connection.
Priority Pass: go to Marhaba in T3 first (Gates 1–2, 3.4/453, 24/7, max 3 hours). The T2 Premium Lounge is the existing-hall backup, not a T3 shortcut. Paradise Arrival is arrivals-only.
Photograph the taxi price board on arrival and show it on the way back. Rank taxis are unmetered. Traveler-typical Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is the board figure, not a ZAA HTML tariff.
Dala-dala 505 is the cheap ride into Stone Town (TZS 500 cash to the conductor) — ~250 m to the right of T2, ~500 m from T3, dawn to dusk, no luggage rack.
Open Bolt only if you will take a boda or tuk-tuk. Do not open Uber. Hotel/tour-operator buses pick up about 50 m to the right of the terminal if your package includes a transfer.
Buy ZIC inbound insurance on visitzanzibar.go.tz before you land. Other travel policies are not accepted at Zanzibar immigration.
If you only remember one thing: T3 is the international door, Marhaba is the lounge, and the new Terminal 2 building is still a construction site.

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Give Terminal 3 a full 3 hours with bags

ZAA does not publish a curb-to-gate HTML clock. Plan 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3 if you are checking bags.

Peak July–October European banks and weekend charters back up immigration. T2 domestic is a different building and a shorter typical window — confirm the airline.

Upside

T3 airside is one short concourse once you are through passport control.

Watch-out

Several checkpoints even when each line looks short.

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Treat T3 and T2 as two airports

International long-haul is T3. The existing T2 hall is domestic and some international. There is no airside walk, and the new TB2 building is not open.

The T2–T3 bridge was 55% complete on 22 Aug 2026 (target 15 Dec 2026). T1 is VIP/GA. Do not hunt leftover T4.

Watch-out

A tight international-to-mainland connection will miss.

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Marhaba in T3 first — skip the T2 rooms for long-haul

Marhaba is after passport control on the right by Gates 1–2 (PP 3.4/453, 24/7, max 3 hours). The Premium Lounge and Paradise Arrival are T2 products.

Paradise Arrival is arrivals only. DragonPass /explore/airport/ZNZ is empty. None of the three rooms list showers. Walk-in tariff unpublished.

Upside

Both departure rooms are listed 24/7.

Watch-out

Marhaba PP stay caps at 3 hours and the rating is a modest 3.4.

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Photograph the taxi board — do not open Uber

Uber left Tanzania on 30 January 2026. Rank taxis are unmetered; dala-dala 505 is TZS 500 in daylight. Bolt on Unguja is mainly boda.

Traveler-typical board Stone Town USD 15 / TZS 36,000 is not a ZAA HTML tariff. Hotel buses pick up about 50 m to the right if your package includes a transfer.

Upside

Stone Town is 10–20 minutes.

Watch-out

Bolt cars are rare; late-night dala-dala does not run.

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Flying from Zanzibar?

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Flying from Zanzibar?

Know before you go

Right now at ZNZ

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the ZNZ guide

Map

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

Give Terminal 3 a full 3 hours with bags

Treat T3 and T2 as two airports

Marhaba in T3 first — skip the T2 rooms for long-haul

Photograph the taxi board — do not open Uber

What travelers say

Nearby airports

Nearby airports

Know before you go

Right now at ZNZ

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the ZNZ guide

Map

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

Give Terminal 3 a full 3 hours with bags

Treat T3 and T2 as two airports

Marhaba in T3 first — skip the T2 rooms for long-haul

Photograph the taxi board — do not open Uber

What travelers say

Nearby airports