What is the best currency to take to Tanzania?

The Tanzanian shilling is the finest money to have on hand and use when visiting Tanzania because it is the native currency and you will have no problem purchasing products with it.

If you must bring other money, the US dollar is a safe pick because it is widely exchangeable at Tanzanian banks and currency exchange offices, despite the fact that it is neither official nor widely used across the country.

You may see the predominance of some of Tanzania's most popular tourist currencies below:

US dollars in Tanzania

Although US dollars are not accepted in Tanzania, you can occasionally pay with them at the airport, hotels, or shops and restaurants in important tourist areas. It should be noted that US dollar bills issued before 2009 may be denied. If you are from the United States, we recommend utilizing Chime's debit card, which has no foreign currency costs, to make low-cost card payments in Tanzania.

British pounds in Tanzania

You cannot pay in British pounds when in Tanzania. You may, however, withdraw lira from Tanzanian ATMs or swap pounds for Tanzanian shillings at a local bank or currency exchange agency. If you are from the United Kingdom, we recommend using Starling Bank's debit card, which has no foreign currency costs, to make low-cost card payments in Tanzania.

Euros in Tanzania

Although the Tanzanian shilling is the best currency to use, and the US dollar can be useful at times, exchanging currencies in cash almost always results in poor exchange rates for tourists (we've seen up to 20% commissions, although the average is between 5% and 15% of the amount exchanged).

As a result, it's often a preferable option to use your credit or debit card to pay at local points of sale whenever feasible, or (if cash is really needed) to withdraw money from a nearby ATM. This allows your credit card company to manage the conversion, which is typically, but not always, a better value than carrying foreign cash into Tanzania and converting it there.