Getting around in Zanzibar city is easier.

1. Dala-dala – Best way to see Zanzibar    

Dala-dala is the best and the cheapest way to see the city. They are the local transport and each ride costs about $1.50 per person to get from Stone Town to the South, North, East coasts.

2. Taxis

Shared taxis too operate from Stone Town and cost about $10 per person. Another alternative, comparatively easier to book, is the shared transfer through your hotel/hostel that can be booked online and costs about $10. The transfer is a door-to-door service which means that the pick-up will be done from the current accommodation and the drop off will be at the next accommodation. This makes the alternative more attractive than the other modes of transportation. In other cases, taxis usually run without a meter and renting a driver for a day can cost approximately $100 adding to the woes of the travelers on a budget.

3. Car rentals

There are options for renting cars as well to get around Zanzibar city. However, a few things should be kept in mind while renting a car. Firstly, the car rental should have good reviews as most of the car rentals in Zanzibar City are around twenty years old and provide with very low mileage. Not just that, some car rentals do not provide backup or exchange services which leaves it totally up to you to get the car fixed no matter where it breaks down. Regularly serviced cars, on the other hand, are what you will need to make your travel smoother and hassle-free. Secondly, it is important to have a driver’s permit along with your international license, and insurance. Though not a necessary document, it is advisable to carry your passport, just in case. The permit can be obtained from the local authorities or can be arranged by the car rental at a cost of about $10. It is important to note that traffic rules must not be violated. The speed limits, for example, play a very important role while driving as they differ from place to place say while driving around Stone Town or in villages and on the country roads. Hotels also arrange taxis or rental cars but usually charge a high commission for the same. A good option can be to book a rental car from a reputed car rental service like the kibabucars.com. Based in Stone Town, Kibabu Cars have been the recipients of the best reviews in the business. Not just that they even deliver cars free of charge to the airport and even provide breakdown service free of cost, perhaps one of the only few in line doing that.

4. Scooter rentals

Travelers also rent scooters or sometimes bicycles for shorter distances. Helmets are a must for both driver and pillion riders. Nowadays, there are a variety of other options available like mountain bikes and e-bikes adding to the ease of the travelers.

It can safely be concluded that the cheapest and the best way to see Zanzibar city is through its local transport, the dala-dala.