Abeid Amani Karume International Airport serves the island of Zanzibar, on the island of Unguja, approximately 5 km from the historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gateway to the tropical beaches of the archipelago and its rich history linked to the spice trade.
How to get to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to ZNZ
Parking near Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
A reduced-size parking area is available in front of the terminal.
Rates are consistent with standards for an East African tourism destination.
How to get to Zanzibar City from ZNZ
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Zanzibar: Airport Private Transfer to/from Hotel
Zanzibar: Airport Transfer
Zanzibar: Airport Transfers
Zanzibar: Private Airport Transfer to Nungwi Hotels
Car rental at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Only a few car rental operators are active in the arrivals area.
Bring your driver's license, passport, and credit card with you: an IDP is almost always an additional requirement.
Hotels near Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Airport area
Both hotels are within 1-1.2 km of the terminal, 3-5 minutes by car or taxi; the Premier Hotel also offers a paid shuttle.
Best for: One-night layovers, late-evening arrivals or dawn departures, when nothing more is needed than a bed a few minutes from check-in.
- No risk of missing the flight due to traffic, unlike the beach areas an hour or more away
- Lower rates than the resorts of Stone Town or the coast
- A residential area with no tourist attractions: seeing anything of the island still requires a taxi
- Few restaurants nearby, so dinner is often at the hotel
Recommended hotels
- Premier Hotel Zanzibar Airport About 1 km from the terminal in the Kiembesamaki district, with a paid airport shuttle on request; rooms with balcony and an in-house restaurant with halal options, handy for those arriving with no time to find a place in town. View availability
- LUCA & IRINA Airport Hotel A small property about 1.1 km from the airport in the Mazizini area, with a shuttle service to the terminals; a budget option for those who just need to sleep between one layover and the next. View availability
Stone Town
9 km from the airport, 15 minutes by taxi; the Dalla-dalla (the local shared minibuses) take about 45 minutes and cost a fraction of the taxi.
Best for: Those who want the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre, the alleys of Forodhani and the seafront within walking distance, with the airport still a quarter of an hour away.
- The House of Wonders, the Anglican cathedral and Darajani market within walking distance of the central hotels
- Restaurants and bars along the Forodhani Gardens seafront open until late
- Narrow alleys often without signage, easy to get lost the first evening
- No swimmable beach in town: for the sea you still need to leave Stone Town
Recommended hotels
- Emerald Palm Courtyard Hotel On Mkunazini Street, steps from the Anglican cathedral and the former slave market-museum; reviews mention welcoming staff and an atmosphere immersed in Stone Town's local culture. View availability
- Antonio Garden Hotel On Kajificheni Street, a few metres from the Hamamni Persian Baths and the House of Wonders; outdoor pool, inner garden and regular yoga classes, rare among the hotels of the historic centre. View availability
Nungwi and Kendwa, the north coast
About 55-60 km from the airport, 1 hour 15-30 minutes by car along the coast road; there are no direct trains or buses, only a private taxi or a resort-arranged shuttle.
Best for: Those who want the island's most photographed beaches, sunsets at the northern tip and resort life with few trips into town.
- White-sand beaches among the widest and busiest on the island, swimmable at every tide
- A concentration of dive centres and kitesurfing schools, handy for those who want to be in the water every day
- Over an hour's transfer from the airport, to be planned for if the flight lands late at night
- A tourist area pricier than the island's average, especially at the beach resorts
Recommended hotels
- Riu Palace Zanzibar - All Inclusive On Nungwi beach: RIU bought and renovated the former Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa in 2018, hence the name still attached to the address on some platforms. Adults only, all-inclusive, with a pool, dive centre and two themed restaurants. View availability
- Ames Nungwi Also known as Kihori Beach Bungalows, about 2 km from Kendwa: simple bungalows close to the beach, a budget option for those who want the north coast without the price of all-inclusive resorts. View availability
Kiwengwa, Pwani Mchangani and the southeast coast
Kiwengwa and Pwani Mchangani are about 45-47 km from the airport (40-50 minutes by car); Jambiani, further southeast, is about 50-57 km away (50-60 minutes). No direct bus, only taxi or a resort shuttle.
Best for: Those who want wide beaches and organised resorts on the northeast coast, or the fishing-village atmosphere of Jambiani further south, accepting transfers of 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Wide, uncrowded beaches compared with Nungwi, with a coral reef that softens the waves
- In Jambiani, fishing-village life still prevails, with seaweed farming visible at low tide
- Different distances between the villages in the area: a taxi booked for Kiwengwa doesn't cover Jambiani at the same price
- Few shops or services outside the resorts: you depend on the property for meals and activities
Recommended hotels
- Meliá Zanzibar On the coral cliff of Kiwengwa, about 45 km from the airport; a 40-acre resort with a private beach, among the largest on the northeast coast. View availability
- AHG Waridi Beach Resort & SPA In Pwani Mchangani, about 40 km from the airport on the northeast coast; a family-run resort with a private beach, spa and staff noted in reviews as especially attentive. View availability
- Art Hotel Zanzibar A minute's walk from Jambiani beach, on the southeast coast: rooms decorated with works by local artists, outdoor pool and bike rental included, in a village still devoted to fishing and seaweed farming. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, expanded in recent years, handles intense seasonal tourist traffic.
The recommended advance for international flights is 3 hours.
Map of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do you need a visa for Tanzania when arriving in Zanzibar?
Yes, most nationalities need a tourist visa on arrival or an eVisa applied for online in advance, valid for direct entry at Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume Airport too, not only at those of Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro.
Q. Is Zanzibar known for spices?
Yes, historically an important center of the clove, cinnamon and other spice trade, still grown on the island today and sold at the airport.
Q. How much does the transfer to the northern resorts cost?
The trip to Nungwi or Paje takes 1-1.5 hours, with higher fares than to Stone Town: always agree in advance with your hotel.
Q. Is Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes, the historic center of Zanzibar City, with its Swahili-Arab architecture, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
