Zanzibar Travel Guide 2026

The Spice Island. Zanzibar's white-sand beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town, the scent of cloves in the market air, and some of East Africa's finest diving. This is the complete guide.

Zanzibar at a glance

Zanzibar (Unguja Island) lies 25 km off the Tanzanian coast in the Indian Ocean. Its history spans Arab sultanates, Portuguese colonial rule, the Omani Empire, British protectorate, and revolution, all leaving architectural and cultural traces visible today. The Old Stone Town of Zanzibar City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the finest examples of Swahili-Arab coastal architecture in the world.

Outside town, Zanzibar is coral sand, turquoise water, dhow sailing boats, coconut palms and an Indian Ocean horizon. It is one of Africa's most beloved travel destinations, and deservedly so.

Stone Town: what to do

Give Stone Town at minimum 1 full day, preferably 2. The maze of narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, Omani-influenced architecture, the Old Fort, the Freddie Mercury Museum (Mercury was born here), and the evening food market at Forodhani Gardens all deserve time.

• Forodhani Gardens Night Market: Zanzibar's great evening institution. Dozens of seafood stalls set up as the sun sets. Try Zanzibar pizza (a street food pancake with egg, vegetables and meat), fresh crab claws, octopus, and sugar cane juice.
• Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe): the oldest surviving building in Stone Town, built by Omani Arabs in 1699. Free entry. Excellent views from the ramparts.
• The House of Wonders (Beit Al-Ajaib): the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an elevator. Museum of Swahili and Zanzibar culture.
• Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral: the former slave market, now a cathedral built by Bishop Steere in 1873. The underground slave chambers remain. One of Zanzibar's most sobering and important historical visits.
• Spice Tour: half-day tour through Zanzibar's spice plantations north of town. Smell and taste vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper. USD 15–25 including lunch.

Best Zanzibar beaches by type

Tidal flats important note: Zanzibar's east coast beaches (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu) have tidal flats, at low tide, the sea retreats hundreds of metres and swimming is impossible. This is why Nungwi (protected reef, permanent water) is most popular for swimming. Always check tide times before choosing your beach and accommodation.

Activities in Zanzibar

• Scuba diving: Zanzibar has excellent coral reef diving. Mnemba Atoll (north-east coast) is East Africa's finest dive site: reef sharks, turtles, rays, abundant fish. Dive operators in Nungwi and Kendwa. Entry dives from USD 60.
• Kitesurfing: Paje is East Africa's kitesurfing capital. Constant trade winds (June–October and January–March), flat lagoon at high tide, several excellent kite schools. Lessons from USD 70/hour.
• Dolphin tour: dolphin pod boat trips from Kizimkazi (south-west coast). Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are reliably present. USD 20–35/person including snorkelling.
• Prison Island (Changuu): 20 minutes from Stone Town by boat. Former British prison, now home to giant Aldabra tortoises (some over 100 years old). Day trip USD 30 including boat.
• Spice tour: half-day plantation tour from Stone Town. Essential cultural experience. Book through your guesthouse.

Getting to Zanzibar

• By ferry from Dar es Salaam: Fast ferry (Azam Marine, Sea Express), 90 minutes. Multiple daily departures from Dar port. USD 35–60 each way. The most common route for overlanders and budget travellers.
• By air from Dar es Salaam: 20 minutes. Multiple daily flights on Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, ZanAir. From USD 80–150 one way. Worth it for time saving.
• By air from Nairobi: Direct flights on Kenya Airways, Jambojet, 1.5 hours. Increasingly popular. From USD 100–200 one way.
• International direct: Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) receives direct flights from Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Istanbul and other hubs, especially in peak season.

When to visit Zanzibar