One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
DAR7.0+0.2
ZNZ6.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
DAR7.2+0.6
ZNZ6.6
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
DAR6.4+0.2
ZNZ6.2
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
DAR6.2
ZNZ7.4+1.2
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
DAR6.4+0.4
ZNZ6.0
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
DAR7.4+0.6
ZNZ6.8
Best for
DAR
International arrivals into Tanzania's commercial capitalPriority Pass / DragonPass holders using Twiga opposite Gate C4Bolt or pre-agreed official taxis instead of the curb scrumSame-day domestic connections if you budget a landside T3→T2 transfer
ZNZ
Beach and Stone Town arrivals onto UngujaPriority Pass holders using Marhaba in T3 after passport controlShort hops from DAR / JRO if you budget a landside T3↔T2 transferRank taxis or dala-dala 505 instead of Uber
Watch out for
DAR
No airside walk T3 international ↔ T2 domesticUber exited 30 Jan 2026 — Bolt or green-ribbon TAA taxis onlyUK/EU/US visas are not visa-free; US passports must buy Multiple USD 100DART BRT to the airport is not live
ZNZ
New Terminal 2 building is not live — still construction as of September 2026No airside walk T3 international ↔ existing T2 hallUber exited 30 Jan 2026 — Bolt on Unguja is mainly boda, not a carZIC inbound insurance is mandatory for non-residents entering Zanzibar
Amenities and tips
DAR
Twiga Business LoungeT3 restaurants and duty-freeAirports free wifiOfficial taxi rank + BoltTwiga day beds and prayer room
Arrive 3 hours before international flights at Terminal 3
TAA wants you at the T3 desk 3 hours before an international flight if you are checking bags, 2 hours if not, and 1 hour if you already have a boarding pass.
T3 is international — T2 is domestic — there is no airside walk
International arrivals and departures use Terminal 3 (2019). Terminal 2 is local/domestic scheduled. Terminal 1 is general aviation, charter and VIP, not your Emirates or KLM gate.
Buy a sealed bottle at BAO Café or duty-free — no published fountains
TAA does not list drinking fountains. Landside T3 has BAO Café (photographed December 2025); airside has duty-free, restaurants, bars/cafés and fast food.
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.
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.
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.
DAR · T3 (2019) is a genuinely modern international hall with two strong Priority Pass rooms, but you still land in a three-building split with no airside walk, no rail, no Uber, and a visa queue unless you eVisa'd first.
ZNZ · 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.
