Where to stay in Zanzibar
Stone Town sits about 10 km from the airport, and every beach area lies 47 to 63 km away by road. The areas differ in what surrounds the hotel: a World Heritage old town, a lively north, a quiet north-east, a kite lagoon in the south-east and dolphin boats at the southern tip.
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How the areas differ
Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, which UNESCO describes as a Swahili coastal trading town with its urban fabric and townscape virtually intact. It suits the first and last nights of a trip, about 10 km from the airport, more than a beach week.
At the northern tip, Nungwi grew from a fishing and dhow-building village into a tourist centre, with resorts, restaurants and bars on its west side and a quieter east side; Kendwa, about 4 km away by road, sits on the west coast. On the north-east coast, Matemwe has the longest beach in Zanzibar, shaped by the tide, and faces Mnemba, a private island whose reefs are a marine conservation area. Kiwengwa lies about 17 km south of it.
On the south-east coast, the Paje lagoon stays shallow at low tide behind a reef and draws kiteboarding learners; Bwejuu is about 4 km north and Jambiani about 7 km south. At the southern tip, boats leave Kizimkazi daily to watch and swim with bottlenose dolphins in Menai Bay, the largest marine protected area in Zanzibar.
Staying with a rental car
Zanzibar drives on the left (via GetCar), and UK travel advice says a visitor needs a local Zanzibar driving permit on top of the licence, which the hire company can arrange. GetCar's guide Driving in Zanzibar covers the permit, the speed limits and camera fines, fuel and the rains.
Road distances from the airport: Stone Town about 10 km, Kiwengwa about 47 km, Paje about 51 km, Matemwe about 56 km, Jambiani about 58 km, Kizimkazi about 60 km and Nungwi about 63 km.
In Stone Town, cars stay outside the lanes of the old town. The conservation authority runs parking at Darajani, Malindi by the port, Forodhani and Vuga, paid by phone app, USSD code or a kerbside agent, and publishes no rates (via GetCar). Parking on a pavement or pedestrian area is a TZS 349,500 fine on the transport authority's 2026 list (via GetCar), so a Stone Town hotel with no parking of its own means a paid space outside the old town.
On the coast, beach hotels at Nungwi have their own car parks and the village lanes are sand (via GetCar). No official parking rules were found for the other beach villages as of September 2026, so ask the hotel or host whether a space comes with the stay. Roads into Nungwi, north of Paje and into Kizimkazi are on the 2026 to 2027 works programme (via GetCar).
Insurance, taxes and licences for a guest
Every visitor to Zanzibar must hold the inbound travel insurance of the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child, covers up to 92 consecutive days, starts on arrival and is sold only on the official portal; the corporation does not accept other insurers' policies. UK travel advice warns that a visitor without it may be refused entry.
Hotel nights carry an infrastructure tax per person per day: USD 5 in 4 and 5 star hotels, USD 4 in 2 and 3 star hotels, USD 2 in 1 star hotels and others, and USD 10 in a hotel on a small island or in an underwater room, payable in dollars or the shilling equivalent. The law sets no cap on nights and no exemption for children.
Operators also owe a hotel levy: 12% of the value of hotel and guest house services, and 15% of the rental value of a home let to tourists, including through online platforms. The law puts the levy on the operator, so check whether a quoted price includes it.
The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism regulates tourism under the Tourism Act of 2009. Press reports from July 2024 describe regulations requiring private homes let as holiday lodgings to register with the Commission; the text of those regulations could not be read, so the rule is unverified as of September 2026. Ask a villa host for the registration.
When to book what
Sort the paperwork first. EU and UK visitors need a Tanzanian Ordinary Visa, USD 50 for up to 90 days, and US citizens the Multiple Visa, USD 100; the immigration service processes online applications within ten days and also issues visas on arrival. Book the ZIC insurance for the exact dates, since it covers at most 92 days.
Compare hotel totals with the infrastructure tax in: two adults in a 3 star hotel owe USD 8 a night. Quub compares and books hotels through its booking partner; check the tax line on the final price.
Which area for which trip
History and a short airport transfer: Stone Town.
Beaches with restaurants on foot: Nungwi and Kendwa.
A quiet beach and the Mnemba reef: Matemwe and Kiwengwa.
Kitesurfing: Paje and Bwejuu.
A quieter base near Paje: Jambiani.
Dolphin trips: Kizimkazi.
Questions
How far is Nungwi from Zanzibar airport?
About 63 km by road, and about 58 km from Stone Town. Kendwa is about 4 km before it. Paje is about 51 km from the airport and Stone Town about 10 km.
Is the infrastructure tax included in the room price?
It depends on the listing. The law sets the tax per person per day, USD 2 to 5 by star rating, so check whether the total includes it before paying.
Can visitors park in Stone Town?
Not inside the old town, where cars do not go. Paid parking is at Darajani, Malindi, Forodhani and Vuga, by phone app, USSD code or a kerbside agent (via GetCar).
Does other travel insurance replace the Zanzibar insurance?
No. The Zanzibar Insurance Corporation says the policy must be its own, and UK travel advice says other international policies are not accepted. It costs USD 44 per adult.
Do visitors need a special driving permit in Zanzibar?
Yes. UK travel advice says visitors need a local Zanzibar driving permit as well as their licence, and the hire company can arrange it.