Quick Answer: In Zanzibar, swimwear is fine on the beach, at hotels and on boat trips. Everywhere else, including Stone Town, villages, markets and spice farms, cover your shoulders and knees with light, loose clothing. A T-shirt with knee-length shorts or trousers works for men; a loose dress, long skirt or linen trousers with a top that covers the shoulders works for women.
Every week a guest messages me the night before a tour asking the same thing: “Is what I packed OK for Stone Town?” Usually it is. Sometimes it’s a bikini top and denim shorts, and we have a gentle conversation.
Knowing what to wear in Zanzibar is simpler than many websites make it sound. There’s no strict law you need to fear on the beach, and nobody expects visitors to dress like locals. But Zanzibar is a Muslim island with conservative towns and villages, and what you wear changes how warmly you’re received the moment you step off the sand.
This guide explains the dress code in plain terms, then goes situation by situation: beach, Stone Town, villages and spice farms, boat trips, active tours, safaris and evenings out. You’ll finish with a capsule list for men and women that covers a whole week.
What Is the Dress Code in Zanzibar?
The rule is simple: swimwear at the beach, shoulders and knees covered everywhere else. It applies to men and women, though people notice it more on women.
Why does it matter?
Around 99% of Zanzibaris are Muslim, and modest dress is part of daily life and respect. On the beach and at resorts, locals are used to visitors in swimwear. In town, in villages and in markets, beachwear or very revealing clothes can cause offence. The UK government’s travel advice for Tanzania advises visitors to dress modestly and notes that women in shorts or sleeveless tops away from resorts, particularly in Stone Town, may cause offence.
Is it a law or a custom?
For visitors, it’s mostly a matter of respect and common sense. Zanzibar’s authorities have at times publicly reminded tourists to dress decently in public places such as Stone Town and markets, so it’s worth taking seriously. In practice, if you follow the shoulders-and-knees rule away from the beach, you’ll never have a problem.
What Should You Wear, Situation by Situation?
What you wear in Zanzibar depends on where you’re going that day. Here’s a quick reference you can screenshot.
What should you wear on the beach?
Any normal swimwear is fine on hotel beaches and in front of resorts in Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, Matemwe and elsewhere. Topless sunbathing isn’t acceptable anywhere. If you walk along the beach past a village or fishing area, or leave the beach for a shop or restaurant on the road, throw on a cover-up or kanga. You’ll see local women swimming fully dressed: that’s their choice, not an expectation for you.
What should you wear in Stone Town?
Cover your shoulders and knees in Stone Town. Light trousers, a midi or maxi skirt or dress, knee-length shorts (for men) and a T-shirt or loose shirt are perfect. Avoid low-cut, see-through or very tight clothing. Wear comfortable sandals or trainers, because the streets are narrow and uneven. If you’re doing our Stone Town walking guide route, add a hat and a small bag you can carry in front of you.
What should you wear in villages and on spice farms?
Dress as you would for Stone Town: shoulders and knees covered, light fabrics, closed shoes or sturdy sandals. Villages are the most conservative places you’ll visit, and dressing modestly makes a real difference to the welcome, as our village tour guide explains. Spice farms can be muddy in the rainy season, so don’t wear your best white trainers.
What should you wear to a mosque?
Non-Muslim visitors generally don’t enter mosques unless invited. If you are invited, women should cover their arms, legs and hair, and everyone removes their shoes. Carry a scarf on cultural days; it’s useful for this and for sun.
What Should You Wear on Tours and Boat Trips?
On boat trips, wear swimwear under a loose cover-up; on land tours, light modest clothing and sensible shoes. Here’s what works for each type of excursion.
Boat and snorkeling trips
On Safari Blue, Mnemba, dolphin and sandbank trips, wear your swimwear under a T-shirt or cover-up, with sandals or water shoes. A long-sleeved rash guard is the best thing you can bring: it protects you from sunburn while snorkeling and covers you if the boat stops near a village. Our list of what to bring on a Zanzibar boat trip covers the gear side in detail.
Jozani Forest
Light trousers or long shorts, a T-shirt and closed shoes or sturdy sandals. In the rainy months the paths and mangrove boardwalk can be muddy. Long trousers also help against mosquitoes. Our Jozani Forest guide has more on what the walk is like.
Quad biking and horse riding
For quad biking, wear clothes you don’t mind getting covered in red dust, closed shoes and sunglasses; long sleeves and trousers protect against scratches and sun. For horse riding on the beach, long trousers or leggings are more comfortable than shorts, plus closed shoes or sandals with a back strap.
Safaris from Zanzibar
If you’re adding a mainland safari, pack neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) and avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies in some parks. Bring a fleece or warm jacket for early morning game drives and for the Ngorongoro highlands, which can be cold. See our safaris from Zanzibar page for trip lengths and parks.
What Should You Wear in the Evenings?
Evenings are relaxed. At resorts, smart casual is the norm: a summer dress or linen trousers and a nice top for women, shorts or chinos with a shirt or polo for men. At beach restaurants anything goes within reason. In Stone Town at night (Forodhani Gardens, rooftop bars), keep the same modest rule as during the day, and bring a light layer: sea breezes can be cool from June to September.
Does the season change what you should wear?
A little. Zanzibar is warm all year, with daytime temperatures typically around 26–32°C. In the cooler months, roughly June to September, evenings and early boat departures can feel fresh, so pack one light jumper or jacket. In the rainy seasons, add a light rain jacket and quick-drying shoes. Our best time to visit Zanzibar guide explains the seasons month by month.
What Should You Pack? A Simple Capsule List
You don’t need a special wardrobe. A small capsule of light, mix-and-match clothes covers every situation on a one-week trip.
Which fabrics work best?
Linen, cotton and lightweight viscose keep you coolest in town. Save synthetics for swimwear, rash guards and active tours. Choose loose cuts over tight ones: they’re cooler and naturally more modest. Pale colours stay cooler in the sun, but avoid white for spice farms and quad biking.
Can you buy clothes in Zanzibar?
Yes. Kangas and kitenge fabric are sold everywhere in Stone Town and near the beaches, and both make great cover-ups, skirts or scarves. Tailors in Stone Town can make simple clothes from kitenge in a day or two. It’s a nice souvenir and supports local businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Wear in Zanzibar
Can you wear shorts in Zanzibar?
Yes, on the beach, at hotels and on boat trips. In Stone Town, villages and markets, knee-length shorts are generally fine for men and acceptable for women if they’re not short or tight, but long skirts, dresses or trousers are more comfortable for women and attract less attention. Avoid short shorts anywhere away from the beach.
Can women wear bikinis in Zanzibar?
Yes. Bikinis and swimsuits are normal on hotel beaches, resort pools and boat trips. Just cover up when you leave the beach, walk through a village area or stop somewhere on land during a tour. Topless sunbathing isn’t acceptable anywhere in Zanzibar.
Do men need to cover up in Zanzibar?
Yes, the same principle applies. Men should wear a T-shirt or shirt (not a vest or bare chest) and knee-length shorts or trousers in Stone Town, villages and markets. Walking around town shirtless or in swim shorts is considered disrespectful.
Do you need to cover your hair in Zanzibar?
No. Visitors don’t need to cover their hair in Zanzibar, even in Stone Town. The only exception is if you’re invited inside a mosque, when women should cover their hair. Carrying a light scarf is useful for this and for sun protection.
What should you wear on a Zanzibar boat trip?
Wear swimwear under a light cover-up or T-shirt, with sandals or water shoes. A long-sleeved rash guard is ideal for snorkeling because it protects you from sunburn. Bring a hat that won’t blow away and a light layer for the ride back. Keep a dry change of clothes in a waterproof bag.
What should you wear during Ramadan in Zanzibar?
The same modest clothing, applied a little more carefully: shoulders and knees covered in town and villages, and loose rather than tight-fitting clothes. Beachwear at hotels and on boats is still fine. Also avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours away from your hotel.
Is it OK to wear traditional clothes like a kanga?
Yes, and locals usually take it as a compliment. Kangas and kitenge wraps are worn by visitors all the time as cover-ups and skirts. Ask the seller to show you how to tie one; it’s a nice way to start a conversation.
Final Thoughts
What to wear in Zanzibar comes down to one easy rule and a little planning.
- Swimwear on the beach, at hotels and on boats
- Shoulders and knees covered in Stone Town, villages, markets and spice farms
- Light, loose linen or cotton, plus one warm layer and a rain jacket in season
- A rash guard for snorkeling and closed shoes for active tours
Dress this way and you’ll be comfortable all day, and welcomed everywhere you go. If you’re not sure what to wear for a particular tour, just ask our team on WhatsApp at +255 773 315 736. We’ll tell you exactly what you’ll need the night before.
