Tanzania

Zanzibar

Stone Town stories, spice farms and turquoise island escapes.

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Know before you go

Welcome to Zanzibar

An island of two halves: Stone Town, a UNESCO-listed maze of coral-stone houses and carved doors built on the spice and slave trades, and a coastline of turquoise water and white sand that could not feel more different. Most visits use both.

Best timeJun–Oct; Dec–Feb

Ideal stay4–7 nights

ClimateHot and humid throughout. Long rains March to May, short rains November. June to October is the dry, breezy season.

Currency & languageTanzanian Shilling (TZS) · Kiswahili, English and local languages

Plan with confidence

Make Zanzibar work for you

Highlights

Stone Town on foot — carved doors, the old dispensary, the market, and the sobering former slave market site
Spice farm tours inland, which are more interesting than they sound when the guide knows the plants
The north and east beaches: Nungwi and Kendwa for swimmable water at all tides, Paje and Jambiani for wind sports
Jozani Forest and its endemic red colobus monkeys, found nowhere else on earth
Sunset dhow sailing and the evening food stalls at Forodhani Gardens

Getting around

Fly into Zanzibar direct or via Dar es Salaam; ferries from Dar take around two hours.
Taxis are the main way between town and the beaches — agree the fare before setting off.
Dala-dalas are the cheap local option but slow and crowded.
Stone Town is walking only in practice; its lanes are too narrow for cars.

Good to know

Four to seven nights. Two or three in Stone Town and the rest on a beach is the pattern that works.
Tides on the east coast are dramatic — at low water the sea retreats a long way. The north coast is more consistently swimmable.
Dress modestly away from the beach. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim and it matters in town and villages.
Ramadan changes daytime opening hours considerably; check dates if you are sensitive to that.
Getting lost in Stone Town is expected. Head downhill and you reach the seafront.

Stone Town is safe to walk but easy to get lost in after dark — stick to lit main routes. Cover up away from the beach, and use licensed operators for diving and boat trips.

Find your base

Zanzibar area by area

Stone Town — history, architecture, restaurants and the ferry port

Nungwi & Kendwa — north coast, swimmable at all tides, liveliest beach scene

Paje & Jambiani — east coast, kitesurfing, long tidal flats, quieter

Matemwe — north-east, low-key, closest to Mnemba for diving and snorkelling

Before you book

Zanzibar questions, answered

Which beach should I choose?

North coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) if you want to swim whenever you like. East coast (Paje, Jambiani) if you want wind sports and a quieter, more local feel and do not mind the tides.

How long in Stone Town?

Two nights is enough to walk it properly, see the historic sites and do a spice farm. Some people happily stay longer.

Curated for your journey