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The Zanzibar dress code comes down to one place: where the beach ends and the village begins. Zanzibar is a relaxed island with a clear sense of itself. Around 99 per cent of the population is Muslim, the call to prayer sets the rhythm of the day, and the beaches that visitors treat as a resort are, for the people who live behind them, a working village. None of this asks much of a traveller on holiday. It asks that you notice where you are — and the gap between "resort" and "village" is often just the hotel's back gate. Modest dress is mostly a matter of manners rather than policing.
The detail
Three places, three standards.
- Inside the resort and on the beach: swimwear, shorts, vests — whatever you would wear at any beach. Topless sunbathing and nudity are not allowed, even on hotel beaches.
- In a village, on the road, at a shop: shoulders and knees covered. A T-shirt and knee-length shorts for men; a loose shirt or dress to the knee, or trousers, for women. A kikoi or sarong over swimwear is enough for the walk from the beach to a café. Walking through Nungwi or Paje village in a bikini top is not appropriate, and people notice even if no one says so.
- Stone Town: the same as a village, with a little more care. It is a conservative old town with families in every lane, and loose linen and long trousers are also simply the comfortable choice in the heat.
| Where | What to wear | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and resort | Swimwear, shorts, vests | Topless sunbathing and nudity are not allowed |
| Village, road, shop | Shoulders and knees covered, all genders | A sarong or kikoi over swimwear works |
| Stone Town | As a village; long, loose linen is easiest | The most conservative setting |
| Mosque (if invited) | Shoes off, shoulders and knees covered, women cover hair | No photos inside or of people at prayer |
Mosques. Zanzibar's mosques are places of worship, not sights, and most are not open to non-Muslim visitors. A few in Stone Town admit visitors outside prayer times with a guide; if you are invited in, remove shoes, cover shoulders and knees, and women cover their hair. Do not photograph inside, and never photograph people at prayer.
Photographing people. The rule is one word: ask — a smile and "Naweza kupiga picha?" (may I take a photo?) opens most doors, children need a parent's yes, and a no is a no. Some will expect a small tip, a thousand or two shillings is fair, and the full photographer's view of light, subjects and paying or not is in Zanzibar for photographers.
Drones. Tanzania treats drones as regulated aircraft, and Zanzibar follows Tanzania's rules. A visitor needs a TCAA import permit before arrival — the authority states that without one the drone will be confiscated at the entry point — plus drone registration, operator registration and an operations permit, with applications lodged at least three weeks before travel (TCAA). Fees are set by TCAA and listed on its drone charges page. Some older guidance says one month rather than three weeks, so apply early. In practice: unless you are a professional with the paperwork done weeks ahead, leave the drone at home. Pemba's Manta Resort, for one, requests that guests leave drones behind.
Ramadan. During the fasting month, eat your daytime meals at your hotel and out of sight of anyone fasting, and expect dress rules and outlet closures to tighten. See Visiting Zanzibar during Ramadan for the dates and the full picture.
Alcohol. Drinking in the street or carrying open cans through a village is a real discourtesy, and village shops do not sell alcohol. Keep it to licensed places and your own veranda.
Small things that are noticed. Say jambo or salama before you ask anything. Use your right hand to give and take. Public affection is kept to a hand held, not a kiss, outside resorts. Shoes come off at the door of a home. These are the ordinary manners of the place.
Key facts
Beach and resort: swimwear fine; topless sunbathing and nudity not allowed. Village, road, Stone Town: shoulders and knees covered, all genders. Enforcement: mainly courtesy; authorities have warned of fines for indecent dress. Mosques: mostly closed to visitors; if invited, shoes off, cover up, no photos. People: permission first; children only with a parent's yes. Drones: TCAA import, registration and operations permits required, applied for at least three weeks ahead; confiscated at entry without an import permit. Ramadan 2026 rule: outside-hotel restaurants, bars and food outlets close by day; hotels serve registered guests. Alcohol: licensed hotels and bars only; tighter in Ramadan.
Planning it with Nobu
A good island holiday is one the island is glad you took. We can brief you before you land, and plan Stone Town and village days around your week, including around Ramadan if that is when you travel. → Plan your journey.
Is it right for you?
This matters most if you plan to leave the resort: Stone Town days, village walks, markets, the spice farms. If you will stay inside a self-contained resort with its own beach all week, you can largely skip it — tell us and we will place you somewhere that works. Everyone else should take it seriously: ignoring it costs local goodwill. A sarong in the bag is all it takes. What to actually pack, including reef shoes and after-safari laundry, is on the → Zanzibar packing list; safety, insurance and cash are on → What to know before you go.
Journeys to consider
- Shores of Zanzibar — Stone Town with a local guide, then the coast. → See the Shores of Zanzibar journey
- Southern Safari & Spice — safari linen works just as well in the old town. → See the Southern Safari & Spice journey
