Mozambique

Mozambique's coastline is the draw: a long stretch of the Indian Ocean lined with dhow sailboats, coral reefs, and archipelagos like the Bazaruto and Quirimbas islands where you can dive or simply do nothing on empty white sand. Inland, Portuguese colonial architecture lingers in cities like Maputo and Ilha de Mocambique, layered with a distinct Afro-Portuguese culture and cuisine built around fresh seafood and peri-peri spice. Travel here rewards a slower, beach-and-island pace over a packed itinerary.

Why go thereBeaches Diving & snorkelling Islands Wildlife Safari Culture & heritage Nature & landscapes Food Nightlife & music Surf Rural traditions

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Frango à Zambeziana

Chicken grilled with coconut milk, lime and piri-piri, from the Zambezi coast.

Matapa

Cassava leaves cooked with peanut, coconut milk and prawn, served with rice.

Xima

Maize flour cooked stiff, the base under every stew and sauce.

Food & drink to try

Frango à Zambeziana

Chicken grilled with coconut milk, lime and piri-piri, from the Zambezi coast.

Matapa

Cassava leaves cooked with peanut, coconut milk and prawn, served with rice.

Xima

Maize flour cooked stiff, the base under every stew and sauce.

Camarões LM

Large Indian Ocean prawns grilled with garlic and piri-piri butter.

Caril de caranguejo

Crab curried in coconut milk with tomato and chilli.

Chamussas

Fried pastry triangles of meat or vegetable, sold on every street corner.

Rissóis

Half-moon pastries of prawn in béchamel, breaded and fried.

Mucapata

Rice cooked with mung beans and coconut milk, a northern dish.

Piri-piri

Bird's eye chilli crushed with garlic, lemon and oil into the national condiment.

Pãozinho

Crusty Portuguese rolls baked fresh every morning and split for breakfast.

Bolo polana

Cashew and potato cake from Maputo's Polana district, dense and moist.

Castanha de caju

Cashews roasted and salted, once the country's largest export crop.

Tipo tinto

Cheap local rum mixed with raspberry soda into the drink called catembe's cousin.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

iec.ch gov.mz iso.org

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping isn't compulsory but is appreciated for good service; in restaurants, tipping is typically around 10-15% of the total bill, depending on the level of service, and some higher-end restaurants may include a service charge, so check the bill before tipping . For taxis and transport services, rounding up the fare is common , and hotel maids or cleaners are typically tipped between US$1 and

Dress modestly away from beach resorts — dress modestly in towns and villages, wearing light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees .
Always ask before taking photos of people — ask permission before photographing people, especially in rural areas .
Carry ID at all times — by law you must be able to show ID to the authorities on request, and police checkpoints are common, especially on the roads .
Greetings and politeness matter — take time to greet people properly before starting a conversation or transaction, as this is valued in Mozambican social interaction.
Use your right hand (or both hands) when giving/receiving items or shaking hands, as is customary in much of southern Africa.
Coastal/beach dress is casual, but cover up when moving into towns, markets or rural communities out of respect for local norms.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Mozambique — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA