Zanzibar Travelers Recommend

With some planning, three days give you ample time to experience the best of Zanzibar City, from historical tours to street food stalls, rural spice farms to nature reserves. Here are our top tips for optimizing your time in and around the Zanzibari capital.

Day 1: Hit the Historical Highlights

On your first day, a tour of Stone Town is a must. The UNESCO-listed port town boasts a range of landmarks that spans centuries, including the Old Fort, Malindi Mosque, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. For deeper insight into the town’s rich and diverse heritage, opt to explore with a guide: zip among attractions by bike, stroll the scenic streets on a walking tour, or take advantage of full-day packages with round-trip transport to save time. Day tours typically combine a wander through Stone Town with visits to rural or offshore attractions such as Changuu Island.

Day 2: Get Curious About Culture

Spend your second day widening your perspective of modern Zanzibar on a cultural tour. Learn about the island’s famous spice trade at a rural farm, get a taste of Zanzibari cuisine at a cooking class, or visit local villages for a glimpse of daily life outside the capital. Most half- and full-day tours offer round-trip transport, and some also include lunch. Later, take refuge from the daytime heat in a city museum, or admire city vistas from the Karume Monument tower while learning about the revolution. When evening falls, head to the waterfront night market at Forodhani Gardens to sample local specialties, such as samosas, sugarcane juice, and Zanzibar pizza.

Day 3: Unwind in Nature

After a busy couple of days, it’s time to immerse yourself in Zanzibar’s natural surroundings. Snorkel and swim off tropical beaches, cruise to secluded islets, or observe native flora and fauna in nature reserves, taking advantage of hassle-free tours with round-trip transport included. Once you’re back in town, head to a hotel terrace for a sunset aperitif overlooking the ocean, or enjoy dinner and drinks in a beachfront restaurant. If you’re flying out the same evening, private transfer services offer customizable departure times to suit your schedule, allowing you to make the most of your last hours in the capital.

A visit to Zanzibar’s capital is a must-do for travelers in the region, though checking off the city’s highlights in two days can be tricky. From Stone Town tours to islet day trips, here are our top tips for optimizing 48 hours in Zanzibar City.

Day 1: Sightsee in the City

**Morning:**Start off in Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s oldest district, to discover landmarks such as the Old Dispensary, Old Fort, and House of Wonders. Guided tours offer immersive insight into the UNESCO-listed town’s history; opt to zip around by bike or wander around on foot for a more intimate experience.

**Afternoon:**Now that you’re familiar with the past, widen your perspective with a glimpse of present-day life in Zanzibar City. Whether you’re curious about local cuisine or interested in the city’s modern industries, you have options. Half-day cultural tours typically include meals and round-trip transport.

**Night:**Unwind with a curry dinner in the old town, followed by an evening stroll along the waterfront. Or, sip a sunset aperitif on a hotel terrace overlooking the ocean. Bars, clubs, and lounges offer revelry into the wee hours, though be respectful of the local Islamic culture.

Day 2: Explore the Island

**Morning:**Spend your second day taking advantage of the capital’s convenient connections to wider-archipelago attractions. Relax on tropical beaches, sail to scenic islets, watch wildlife in nature reserves, or explore rural villages, benefiting from a range of half- or full-day tours available from Zanzibar City.

**Afternoon:**Many tours continue into the afternoon, though not all include lunch. If you find yourself back in town with time to spare, pick up fresh snacks at Darajani Market, or spend a few hours checking out alternative city attractions, such as the Princess Salme Museum or the Cultural Arts Centre.

**Night:**Take in your final sunset views across the Zanzibar Channel as you sample street food at the Forodhani Gardens night market. If you’re flying out the same evening, private transfer services offer customizable departure times to suit your schedule, allowing you to optimize your last hours in the Zanzibari capital.

Located on the west coast of Unguja, Zanzibar’s capital city boasts historic architecture, tropical culture, and a unique culinary scene, as well as convenient links to the wider island. With some planning, it’s possible to experience the compact city’s major highlights in just one day. Here’s how.

Morning: Explore Stone Town

Start your day early in Stone Town, opting to explore the UNESCO-listed trading town with a guide for deeper insight into its rich and diverse heritage. Notice the range of African, Asian, Arabic, and European influences as you wander the historic streets by foot or bike, checking off landmarks such as the Old Fort, House of Wonders, and Malindi Mosque before the crowds arrive.

Afternoon: Widen Your Perspective

Empowered with an overview of the old town and its history, it’s time to widen your perspective of Zanzibar. Experience bustling city markets like a local, or take a glimpse into rural life beyond Ng’ambo. Nature lovers wanting a break from the capital can visit a coastal village, such as Uroa, where the low tide offers calm conditions for snorkeling and swimming. Half-day tours typically include meals and round-trip transport.

Night: Unwind on the Waterfront

After a busy day, relax with a sunset aperitif at one of the waterfront bars. Then, take a stroll through the night market at Forodhani Gardens, where food vendors sell Zanzibari specialties such as urojo soup and Zanzibar pizza. If you’re flying out the same evening, private transfer services offer customizable departure times to suit your schedule, allowing you to optimize your last hours in the Zanzibari capital.

Though the first cloves were planted in Zanzibar in the 18th century, it was the establishment of widespread clove plantations by Sultan Seyyid Said in the 19th century that helped ignite this tropical archipelago’s flourishing spice trade. Here are a few ways to explore the history of Zanzibar’s spice industry.

Experiences

• Observe workers in action during the annual harvest at a local shamba (spice farm).

• Find out more about spice cultivation during tours of rural farms where cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, chili, saffron, and curry leaves are grown.

• Take a walking tour of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn about how the spice trade attracted a multitude of different cultures to this port city.

• Inhale the heady scent of countless spices and experience local haggling culture at Stone Town’s bustling Darajani Market.

• Try dishes prepared using locally grown spices, such as Zanzibar biryani or pilau (spiced rice dishes served with meat and vegetables) or octopus curry, which is typically made using coconut cream and spice blends.

• Feast on spiced street-food specialties such as urojo (chili-spiked mango-and-tamarind stew) at the night market at Stone Town’s Forodhani Gardens.

This Tanzanian island known for its prominent place in the ancient spice trade, is a dream destination for travelers who want to bear witness to the melding of cultures and the influence of history—all while taking in some serious tropical sun. While far-flung beaches may be worth a longer stay, three days in Zanzibar allows visitors just enough time to sample what makes this island one of East Africa’s most popular destinations. 

Day 1: Explore Stone Town on Foot

Often referred to as Mji Mkongwe—the Swahili word for old tone—Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar and home to some of the island’s most historic sites. Wander the narrow streets lined with pastel-colored mosques and old-school structures that showcase Persian, Indian and European influences. Sample tangy tamarind juice from one of the local vendors serving cold glasses from street carts before getting lost in the maze of cobble streets too tiny for cars to pass through. 

Day 2: Delve Into History

After wandering Stone Town, spend a day exploring some of Zanzibar’s most historic sites. Hire a guide and venture into the birthplace of princess Salme. Follow in the footsteps of her royal Arabian family while visiting what remains of the Persian baths, courtyard and botanical gardens in this ruined wonder. Afterwards, head to House of Wonders, where artifacts from the island’s long and colorful history are on display. Get a better sense of how the long ago past, as well as the present culture, have shaped Zanzibar as a unique destination. Then head to the Old Fort for a live performance of traditional dance and music. 

Day 3: Tour the Spice Island

Zanzibar is known for its spices, so no trip to this East African island is complete without embarking on one of the famous spice tours. Take a guided journey to some of the famous plantations that produce cloves, henna, rose apples, guava, cinnamon and vanilla. Learn about the medicinal purposes of potent herbs and how the history of the spice trade influenced the development of modern Zanzibar. Take in rural scenery while talking to local farmers and sample a traditional home-cooked meal as part what will likely be a memorable part of any visit to Zanzibar.