Zanzibar and Arusha for AFCON 2027: stadiums, where to stay and the dress code

An island with a strict dress code and a cool safari town: Tanzania’s two venues beyond Dar es Salaam.

Stone Town’s seafront in Zanzibar seen from the water, with small boats moored off a row of white and stone buildings and palm trees.

Zanzibar and Arusha are Tanzania's two AFCON 2027 venues away from Dar es Salaam, and they could hardly be more different. Zanzibar is a hot, mostly Muslim island with a strict dress code and the old streets of Stone Town. Arusha is a cool highland town at the foot of Mount Meru, the gateway to the northern safari parks. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027, and both are an easy domestic flight from Dar es Salaam.

This guide to Zanzibar and Arusha covers the stadiums, the airports, where to stay, getting around, the rules that matter and how to move between the two. CAF has not yet confirmed the venues, so check our hub before you book anything you cannot change.

Zanzibar and Arusha stadiums

Zanzibar: two grounds are in the running. The new Fumba stadium, at the heart of the government's "AFCON City" project on the Fumba peninsula south of Zanzibar City, has 36,500 seats planned and was reported 81% built in October 2026. The Amaan Stadium, minutes from Stone Town, holds about 15,000 and was renovated and reopened in December 2023. Check which one CAF lists when the schedule comes out.

Aerial view of the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, a green pitch inside a red running track, with a white roof over the main stand and houses around it.

Arusha: the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, in the Olmoti area, is built for the tournament, with 30,000 seats planned. Ground was broken in April 2024 and completion was expected in 2026. In September 2026, The Citizen reported that CAF had found Tanzania the most advanced of the three hosts in its preparations.

The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha under construction, with cranes inside its steel frame and green hills behind.

Zanzibar: arriving and getting around

Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ) is just outside Zanzibar City. Official taxis wait outside both terminals and charge fixed fares from a posted price board: about $15 to Stone Town and $50–65 to the beaches on the east and north coasts. Pay in one currency, US dollars, euros or shillings. Photograph the price board when you land, because drivers often ask for more on the way back.

The terminal of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, a low grey building under a cloudy sky.

Uber does not work in Zanzibar, and Bolt offers only motorbikes. Use the official taxis, a car arranged by your hotel, or a driver your hotel recommends. There are no car hire desks at the airport, and driving yourself needs a local permit that costs $20.

A daladala, a small truck with benches in the back, picking up passengers on a quiet road in Zanzibar.

If Zanzibar is your first entry into Tanzania, buy the compulsory government travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation before you land. If you came through Dar es Salaam first, the insurance you bought there covers Zanzibar too.

Zanzibar: where to stay

Stone Town is the best base for match days, with both grounds within about half an hour by car. On the seafront, the Park Hyatt Zanzibar scored 9.4 from guests on Travelocity in November 2026, from about $360 a night, and the Zanzibar Serena is about $300. Smaller places in old houses, such as Emerson Spice, Jafferji House and The Seyyida, by the Forodhani Gardens, start much lower.

The beach resorts at Paje, Kiwengwa, Nungwi and Kendwa are lovely for a holiday but sit 1 to 1.5 hours from the stadium, which makes for a long match night. Stay in Stone Town for the games and move to the coast afterwards.

The Zanzibar dress code

This is the rule that catches visitors out. The UK government's travel advice says Zanzibar fines people at least $700 for clothing judged inappropriate in public. Shorts and sleeveless tops away from the resorts, especially in Stone Town, cause offence.

Cover your shoulders and knees in towns, men and women alike.
Swimwear belongs on the beach and at the pool, not in the streets.
Ask before you photograph people. Some will ask for a small fee.
Expect quieter streets at Friday midday prayers.

Arusha: arriving and getting around

Most international flights land at Kilimanjaro International (JRO), between Arusha and Moshi, about an hour's drive from Arusha. Arusha Airport (ARK), on the west side of town, is small and handles domestic flights, including those from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

The terminal of Kilimanjaro International Airport, between Arusha and Moshi, behind a garden of red shrubs and pine trees.

Book the airport transfer with your hotel, or use the official taxis at JRO and agree the fare before you get in. In town, use Bolt, Uber or your hotel's car, and avoid the dala dala minibuses and motorbike taxis, which have poor safety records across Tanzania.

Brightly painted daladala minibuses parked in a row at a stop in Arusha.

Arusha: where to stay

Between Zanzibar and Arusha, Arusha has more hotel choice, because of the safari trade. Guest favourites on hotels.com in November 2026 include the Gran Melia Arusha (9.6, about $349), the Four Points by Sheraton The Arusha Hotel (8.8, central, about $197) and the Mount Meru Hotel (8.4, central). Cheaper options include the Tulia Boutique (8.6, about $96). Rivertrees Country Inn (9.6), at Usa River, sits on the road towards Kilimanjaro airport, handy for an early flight.

Arusha is the safari capital, and June and July are peak safari months, so lodges fill early. Book as soon as the venues are confirmed. Ratings come from guest reviews in November 2026, before tournament bookings began.

Moving between Zanzibar, Arusha and Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar: fast ferries take about two hours from the city waterfront, or a short flight. Use an established operator and do not board a boat that looks overloaded.
Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam to Arusha: fly. Domestic flights reach Arusha or Kilimanjaro in about an hour and a half. By road, Arusha is about 650 km from Dar es Salaam, a full day.
To Kenya: Arusha is close to the Kenyan border at Namanga, and Nairobi is about 270 km away by road. You need Kenya's own permit and its separate insurance.

Weather and health

The weather in Zanzibar and Arusha is very different. Zanzibar in June and July is warm and mostly dry, with days around 28°C. Arusha, at about 1,400 metres, is much cooler: days around 22°C and nights that can fall near 12°C, so pack a jumper for evening matches. Malaria is a risk in both Zanzibar and Arusha, so take the antimalarials a travel clinic prescribes and use repellent at dusk. Drink bottled water.

Rules for Zanzibar and Arusha

Same-sex activity is illegal in Tanzania, and public displays of affection can lead to arrest.
Filming protests or violence is illegal.
Police fines must come with a government control number. Paying cash on the spot is not the legal process.
Plastic bags are banned, and animal-skin souvenirs are not allowed. Shells and horns need an export permit.
Do not wear camouflage. It is regulated in all three host countries.

What we do not know yet

For Zanzibar and Arusha, CAF has not confirmed which island ground it will use, the ticket prices or the match schedule, and the qualifiers run until March 2027. We will update this guide when it does. Until then, book what you can change, because tournament plans move. Our AFCON 2027 hub tracks every date as it is confirmed.

For the rest of your trip, see our safari guide and our Dar es Salaam guide.

Quick answers

Is Zanzibar an AFCON 2027 venue? Yes. The new Fumba stadium is the front-runner, with the Amaan Stadium near Stone Town as the other option.
Where should I stay in Zanzibar? Stone Town for match days; the beaches afterwards.
Does Uber work in Zanzibar? No. Use the official airport taxis or a car through your hotel.
How do I get to Arusha? Fly to Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK).
What should I wear in Zanzibar? Cover your shoulders and knees in town. The fine starts at $700.