Is Zanzibar Expensive? What a Trip Really Costs in 2027

The short answer is: it depends on your travel style. Zanzibar can be an affordable getaway in guesthouses and local restaurants, or a luxury 5-star resort experience — the archipelago caters to both extremes, and everything in between.

A return flight between Lisbon and Zanzibar, with one stopover, typically costs between €750 and €1,300 per person, depending on season and airline. From Porto, prices usually run €100 to €250 above the Lisbon fare. Seasonal charter deals (flight + hotel) occasionally appear for around €1,900, but these are one-off offers, not guaranteed, so it's best not to count on them when planning far in advance.

For daily spending once in Zanzibar, a budget traveller spends roughly €40 to €90 per day (simple guesthouse, local food, shared transport); a mid-range budget runs €120 to €250 per day (3-4 star resort, half board, a few excursions); and a luxury budget easily exceeds €300 to €600 per day, in 5-star all-inclusive resorts with private tours.

Looking at fixed 7-9 day packages (flight + hotel + most meals) per person: the most affordable options, often charter-based, run around €1,800 to €2,200; mid-range packages at 4-star resorts fall between €2,200 and €3,200; and luxury packages at top-tier 5-star resorts (such as Meliá Zanzibar) start at €3,200 and can exceed €4,800.

The biggest drivers of final price are the season (high season, June to October plus Christmas/New Year, carries higher rates), the resort category and meal plan (half board costs considerably less than all-inclusive), and how far ahead you book — flights and packages booked several months out tend to be cheaper.

Outside the resort, day-to-day costs in Zanzibar are relatively low: a meal at a local restaurant costs just a few euros, private airport-to-beach transfers run around €20 to €40, and most excursions (Jozani, spice tours, diving) cost between €25 and €80 per person.

To save money without giving up the experience, the best strategies are travelling in low or shoulder season (outside July-August and Christmas), choosing half board over all-inclusive and eating out occasionally, and booking flights and accommodation at least 3-4 months ahead.

Compared with destinations like the Maldives or the Caribbean, Zanzibar remains a tropical beach option with a notably better price-to-experience ratio — it's not the cheapest destination in the world, but it's far from being reserved only for high budgets.

At Vamos Fugir we help you find the right balance between price and experience, with tailor-made Zanzibar packages for 2027. Get in touch for a personalised quote.

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Discover more about Zanzibar at zanzibar.pt. Vamos Fugir is a travel agency licensed by Turismo de Portugal (RNAVT no. 4155). Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.