Top places to visit in Zanzibar (Stone Town)

• Nungwi Beach

  beach · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Postcard white-sand beach at the island's northern tip with year-round swimming, dhow builders and sunset bars.

• Forodhani Gardens

  food_market · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Seafront park that transforms each evening into a famous street-food night market of Zanzibari snacks and grilled seafood.

• Darajani Market

  bazaar · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bustling central bazaar for spices, tropical fruit, fish and everyday Zanzibari life.

• Hamamni Persian Baths

  historic_site · 3.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  19th-century Persian-style public bathhouse, the first in Zanzibar, built for Sultan Barghash.

• Jozani Forest (Jozani-Chwaka Bay NP)

  national_park · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Zanzibar's only national park and last refuge of the endemic red colobus monkey, with mangrove boardwalks.

• Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market

  cathedral · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Anglican cathedral built on the site of the former East African slave market, with a moving memorial and museum.

• Changuu (Prison) Island

  island · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Small island off Stone Town famed for its colony of giant Aldabra tortoises and snorkelling reefs.

• Freddie Mercury House

  landmark · 4.0 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Stone Town birthplace of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, now a small museum to the Zanzibar-born singer.

• Paje Beach

  beach · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Long east-coast beach with a wide tidal lagoon, Zanzibar's premier kitesurfing spot.

• Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

  fort · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Zanzibar's oldest building, a 17th-century Omani coral-stone fortress now housing craft stalls and an open-air amphitheatre.

• Kendwa Beach

  beach · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Wide, tide-free swimming beach just south of Nungwi, known for full-moon parties and calm waters.

Things to do

• Stone Town Walking Tour Tour · 3 h · from USD 25 per person
• Spice Farm Tour Tour · 4 h · from USD 30 per person
• Safari Blue Full-Day Dhow Cruise Tour · 8 h · from USD 75 per person
• Prison Island & Snorkelling Tour Tour · 5 h · from USD 35 per person
• Jozani Forest Red Colobus Tour Nature · 3 h · from USD 30 per person
• Nungwi Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour · 2 h · from USD 30 per person

Day trips and tours

• Stone Town & Spice Farm Full Day 8 h · from USD 55
• Prison Island & Nakupenda Sandbank 6 h · from USD 60

Where to stay in Zanzibar (Stone Town)

• Stone Town about TZS 180 per night

  Historic UNESCO heart with boutique hotels in restored merchant houses, walkable to museums, markets and the seafront.

• Nungwi about TZS 200 per night

  Lively northern beach village with white sand, dhow builders, resorts and dive centres.

• Paje about TZS 120 per night

  Kitesurfing capital on the calmer east coast with laid-back beach lodges.

Hotels

• Emerson Spice Hotel 4-star
• Essque Zalu Zanzibar 5-star
• Zanzibar Serena Hotel 5-star
• The Z Hotel Nungwi 4-star
• Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel 3-star
• Dhow Palace Hotel 4-star

Where to eat

• Archipelago Cafe & Restaurant Swahili, Seafood, International · about TZS 25,000 per person
• Radha Vegetarian Restaurant Indian, Vegetarian · about TZS 15,000 per person
• Passing Show Hotel Swahili, Local · about TZS 10,000 per person
• Livingstone Beach Restaurant Seafood, International · about TZS 28,000 per person
• Maru Maru Rooftop Restaurant Swahili, Indian · about TZS 30,000 per person
• Beit al-Chai (Zanzibar Coffee House) Cafe, Swahili · about TZS 18,000 per person
• The Rock Restaurant Zanzibar Seafood, Italian · about TZS 90,000 per person

Getting to Zanzibar (Stone Town)

Airport: Zanzibar (ZNZ)

How visitors arrive in Zanzibar (Stone Town)

• Flight to Zanzibar International Airport By air from International and Tanzania · most visitors

  The island's only airport, with domestic and international connections. Source: thecitizen.co.tz

• Boat from Dar es Salaam or Pemba By ferry from Dar es Salaam · common

  Boats reach Stone Town from the mainland and Pemba. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Zanzibar Airport

  Taxis wait outside the terminal of Abeid Amani Karume Airport, about 5 km south of Stone Town. Posted price lists are negotiable, so agree the fare first. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Hotel airport shuttle

  Some Stone Town hotels run their own airport shuttle. Ask your hotel before arrival. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Dala-dala from the airport gate unconfirmed

  Local dala-dala minibuses stop just outside the airport gate. They are awkward with large luggage; look for the Ndege (airport) sign in town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• Ferry from Dar es Salaam

  Several operators, including Azam Marine, Sea Express, Sea Star and Kilimanjaro, run ferries from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town port. A Tanzania arrival card is needed at immigration. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Porters at the Dar es Salaam terminal may push you to overpriced ticket offices. Go straight to your ferry operator's own ticket office. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Ferry

  Regular ferries connect Stone Town harbour with Dar es Salaam on the mainland and with Pemba island.

  Book Azam Marine ferry

• Minibus

  Dala-dala share minibuses leave from the main station near Darajani Market for villages and the airport around the island.

• Taxi useful for some trips

  Outside Stone Town, a taxi or private car is a comfortable way to reach the beaches and villages across the island.

• Tuktuk
• Walking

Paying

• Fares quoted in US dollars can cost more when paid in shillings, so exchange money beforehand where you can. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake "papasi" tour touts

  Stone Town streets & ferry port

  Aggressive freelance touts offer tours, taxis or accommodation at inflated prices or take commissions, sometimes collecting money for tours that never happen.

  How to avoid it: Book tours through your hotel or a registered operator; agree all prices in advance and avoid handing over cash to street agents.

Best time to visit Zanzibar (Stone Town)

• Jan 32°C
• Feb 32°C
• Mar 32°C
• Apr 31°C
• May 30°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 29°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 32°C

More in Tanzania

• Serengeti (Seronera)
• Ngorongoro (Karatu)
• Moshi (Kilimanjaro)
• Arusha
• Dar es Salaam

Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar (Stone Town)

What are the top-rated places to visit in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

The highest-rated places in our Zanzibar (Stone Town) guide are Paje Beach, Nungwi Beach, Forodhani Gardens, Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market, Changuu (Prison) Island.

Where should I stay in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Zanzibar (Stone Town): Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje.

How do I get around Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

Ways to get around Zanzibar (Stone Town) covered in our guide: Ferry, Minibus, Taxi, Tuk-tuk.

What scams should I watch out for in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

Scams reported to us for Zanzibar (Stone Town) include Fake "papasi" tour touts. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

Average daytime highs in Zanzibar (Stone Town) run from 29°C in Jun to 32°C in Jan.

Which airport is nearest to Zanzibar (Stone Town)?

The nearest airport to Zanzibar (Stone Town) has the code ZNZ.