Things to Visit in Zanzibar: Spice Island, Beaches, and Stone Town

This UNESCO World Heritage Site has over 1,700 historic buildings with intricately carved wooden doors, coral stone walls, and overhanging balconies blending Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences. The streets are intentionally maze-like and getting lost is part of the experience. Hire a local guide for $15-20 to learn the history.

The Christ Church Cathedral was built directly over the site of the last open slave market in East Africa, which closed in 1873. The underground chambers where enslaved people were held are preserved beneath the church. Entry is $5 and includes a guided tour.

The Beit-al-Ajaib was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an elevator. Now a museum of Swahili culture and Zanzibari history, it sits on the waterfront facing the dhow harbor. The adjacent Palace Museum shows the lifestyle of the Omani sultans. Entry is $3-5 each.

Every evening at sunset, this waterfront park fills with food vendors grilling fresh seafood, Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice, and skewered meats. Most items cost $1-3. The mix of grilling smoke, ocean breeze, and the silhouette of dhow sails against the orange sky is quintessentially Zanzibar.

The best swimming beach on the island with minimal tidal variation, meaning you can swim at any time of day. The white sand stretches for 2 km and the sunset views over the water are the finest on the island. Budget rooms start at $30-50 per night.

Just south of Nungwi, Kendwa has the widest stretch of sand and the most consistent turquoise water color. It is the party beach of Zanzibar, hosting full-moon parties with bonfires and DJs. Lounger rental costs $5-10 per day.

The east coast experiences extreme tidal swings, exposing hundreds of meters of sand flats at low tide where seaweed farmers work. Paje is also Zanzibar's kitesurfing capital, with consistent winds from June through February. Kitesurfing lessons cost $60-80 for a 2-hour session.

This quieter east coast beach has a more authentic village atmosphere than the northern beaches. The offshore reef is visible at low tide and small dhow boats dot the turquoise shallows. Budget guesthouses with ocean views start at $25-40 per night.

Zanzibar earned its Spice Island name from centuries of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper cultivation. Guided tours of working farms let you see, smell, and taste spices growing in their natural state. Half-day tours cost $20-35 per person including transport, guide, and lunch.

This protected forest is the last habitat of the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on earth. Guided walks through the forest take about 45 minutes and almost guarantee monkey sightings. Entry is $12 for foreign visitors.

This underground freshwater pool in a limestone cave on the east coast is a hidden gem. Crystal-clear water fills the cave, and you can swim in the cool pool while looking up at tree roots penetrating the cave ceiling. Entry is $5. Bring water shoes as the steps down can be slippery.

This private island off the northeast coast is surrounded by a coral reef teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Boat trips from Nungwi or Matemwe cost $30-50 per person including snorkeling gear. The visibility regularly exceeds 20 meters.

These wooden sailing vessels have plied the Indian Ocean for centuries. Sunset cruises from Stone Town or Nungwi last 1-2 hours and cost $20-35 per person, often including snacks and drinks. The experience of gliding silently under a lateen sail while the sun sets is deeply peaceful.

A 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town reaches this small island with a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some over 100 years old. You can feed and photograph the tortoises up close. Boat trips cost $15-25 per person including island entry.

Despite the name, this is nothing like Italian pizza. A thin crepe-like dough is folded around minced meat, egg, vegetables, and cheese, then fried on a griddle. Each one costs $1-3. Watch the vendor make it fresh on the flat griddle.

This tangy, spiced soup mixes potato, lentil fritters, cassava, and coconut into a complex layered bowl. It is street food unique to Zanzibar and costs $1-2 per bowl at market stalls in Stone Town. The tangy mango sauce on top is the signature touch.

Classes teach dishes like coconut fish curry, pilau rice, and chapati bread, starting with a market tour to buy fresh ingredients. Half-day classes cost $25-40 per person including the meal. The cooking uses firewood and traditional methods that give the food its distinct smoky flavor.