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Experience the best of Zanzibar City

Zanzibar City is the main town of Zanzibar island, and its old Stone Town of carved doors and narrow lanes carries Swahili, Arab and Indian history.

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Stone Town is the old heart of Zanzibar City, a maze of narrow lanes, coral-stone houses and carved wooden doors, shaped by centuries of Arab, Indian, Persian and European traders. The House of Wonders, the Old Fort and the Sultan's Palace face the seafront, and Forodhani Gardens fills with food stalls at dusk. The Anglican cathedral stands on the site of a former slave market, with a sobering memorial nearby.

Freddie Mercury was born in Stone Town in 1946. Spice farms inland show cloves, vanilla and cinnamon growing, and Jozani Forest shelters the rare red colobus monkey. Prison Island, a short boat ride away, has giant tortoises. Zanzibar's beaches are along the coast, with white sand at Nungwi and Kendwa in the north and at Paje in the east. Dhow boats and snorkelling trips set out from the shore.

Swahili cooking draws on spices: pilau rice, coconut curries, grilled octopus and fish, and the 'Zanzibar pizza' of stuffed, pan-fried dough. Freshly squeezed sugarcane juice with lime is sold in the lanes. Temperatures are warm throughout the year; the driest months are June to October and January to February, while heavy rains fall from March to May.

  • Free cancellation on 95% of experiences
  • 4.7 across the top 24

Top experiences in Zanzibar City

Special offers in Zanzibar City

Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

Day trips from Zanzibar City

252

Cruises and boat trips in Zanzibar City

10

Guided tours in Zanzibar City

186

Walking and bike tours in Zanzibar City

15

Food and drink experiences in Zanzibar City

21

Outdoor and adventure activities in Zanzibar City

33

Nature and wildlife tours in Zanzibar City

43

Desert and safari experiences in Zanzibar City

19

For kids in Zanzibar City

21

For couples in Zanzibar City

9

Signature experiences in Zanzibar City

Go beyond Zanzibar City

  1. Diani Beach · 215 km

    Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest

    4 hr4.710 reviewsfrom $31
  2. Mombasa · 242 km

    Fort Jesus

    6–8 hr4.8893 reviewsfrom $29
  3. Mombasa · 242 km

    Haller Park

    8 hr4.6249 reviewsfrom $40
  4. Moshi · 376 km

    Materuni Waterfall

    10 hr4.9121 reviewsfrom $30
  5. Moshi · 376 km

    Lake Chala

    8 hr4.966 reviewsfrom $95
  6. Arusha · 417 km

    Lake Manyara National Park

    5 days5.012k reviewsfrom $20
  7. Arusha · 417 km

    Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre

    6 hr4.9643 reviewsfrom $15
  8. Amboseli National Park · 446 km

    Observation Hill

    3 days4.8723 reviewsfrom $52
  9. Nairobi · 604 km

    Nairobi National Park

    6 hr4.87k reviewsfrom $25
  10. Nairobi · 604 km

    Giraffe Centre

    7 hr4.84k reviewsfrom $25
  11. Naivasha · 680 km

    Hell's Gate National Park

    2 days4.93k reviewsfrom $30
  12. Naivasha · 680 km

    Crater Lake Game Sanctuary

    12 days4.47 reviewsfrom $3,400

Questions about Zanzibar City

What is there to do in Zanzibar City?
We list 760 experiences in Zanzibar City. The largest groups are day trips (311), city tours (34).
What is the most popular experience in Zanzibar City?
By number of traveller reviews it is "4h Quad Adventures in Zanzibar: Nungwi / Kendwa Transfer inclus", rated 4.9 out of 5 from 528 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Zanzibar City take?
The typical experience in Zanzibar City lasts about 6.5 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 9 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Zanzibar City?
The operator lists free cancellation on 95% of the 760 experiences we hold for Zanzibar City. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

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