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2 hours
Stone Town
Mji Mkongwe
Stone Town, also called Mji Mkongwe, is the historic heart of Zanzibar City on Unguja Island, Tanzania.
- Must see
- Historic monument
City guide · Tanzania
Zanzibar City
Zanzibar City is centred on Stone Town, a compact historic quarter of narrow lanes beside the harbour. The Old Fort, palace museums, markets and seafront gardens fit into a walking route, while Ng'ambo and the wider urban area extend east beyond the old town. Island beaches, spice farms and forest reserves are separate excursions rather than city-centre stops, so distinguish a Stone Town itinerary from a wider Zanzibar stay.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Swahili and English
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +255
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 112
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type D and G · 230 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Not recorded
- No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded
Turn this list into a plan
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walk in Stone Town; taxi beyond it
- January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- April: recurring difficult conditions
- May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- June: best time to visit
- July: best time to visit
- August: best time to visit
- September: best time to visit — current month
- October: good time to visit
- November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- December: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- www.mofzanzibar.go.tz Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
36 places match
36 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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02 1 hr 30 minOld Slave Mart
Old Slave Market
The Old Slave Market, at the site now associated with Christ Church Cathedral in Mkunazini, is both an active Anglican cathedral and a place of historical remembrance in Stone Town.
- Must see
- Museum
-
03 1 hr 30 minOld Fort of Zanzibar
Old Fort
Old Fort, also called Ngome Kongwe and Arab Fort, is a substantial coral-rag fortress on Stone Town’s waterfront. Omani Arabs built it after removing the Portuguese in the late seventeenth century, incorporating material from earlier Portuguese construction.
- Must see
- Museum
-
04 1 hourForodhani Park
Forodhani Gardens is a public waterfront park in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. The open space faces the Indian Ocean and sits beside Old Fort and the House of Wonders, making it one of the historic quarter’s easiest meeting points.
- Must see
- Nature site
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05 1 hr 30 minHouse of Wonders
The House of Wonders, known locally as Beit al-Ajaib, stands as a ceremonial palace and former royal residence on Stone Town's waterfront.
- Must see
- Museum
-
06 1 hr 30 minPalace Museum
Sultan's Palace
Palace Museum, known as Beit al-Sahel, occupies a former waterfront residence of Zanzibar’s sultan in Stone Town. The museum focuses on the Omani royal court and palace life during the nineteenth century.
- Must see
- Museum
-
07 45 minDarajani Market
Soko la Darajani
Darajani Market, known locally as Soko la Darajani, is Zanzibar City's principal covered market and a vital commercial hub. It serves as the boundary between Stone Town's historic core and Ng'ambo, the newer part of the city.
- Must see
- Market
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08 1 hourPrison Island
Changuu Island
Prison Island, locally known as Changuu Island, sits offshore from Stone Town in Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
09 45 minOld Dispensary
The Old Dispensary, also called Ithnasheri Dispensary, is a restored nineteenth-century building in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. Its ornate facade reflects Indian-influenced mercantile architecture and the commercial world created by Indian Ocean trade.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
10 45 minHamamni Persian Baths
Hamamni Persian Baths are a preserved nineteenth-century bath complex in Stone Town. The building reflects Persian and Omani influence on Zanzibar’s architecture and social life, and it lies within the Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
11 30 minSt. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar
St. Joseph's Cathedral
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral is a twin-spired Catholic church in Stone Town, Zanzibar City. It stands as the most prominent Roman Catholic landmark in the historic district and contributes significantly to the area's multi-faith skyline.
- Must see
- Place of worship
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12 1 hr 30 minFreddie Mercury Museum
The Freddie Mercury Museum, also known as Mercury House, is a Stone Town attraction connected with Farrokh Bulsara, the Zanzibar-born musician who became Freddie Mercury.
- Must see
- Museum
-
13 30 minMalindi Mosque
Malindi Bamnara Mosque
Malindi Mosque, also called Malindi Bamnara Mosque, is one of Stone Town’s oldest mosques in Zanzibar City. Its conical minaret is an unusual and memorable feature within the historic district.
- Must see
- Place of worship
-
14 45 minMtoni Palace Ruins
Mtoni Palace Ruins, also called Magofu ya Kasri la Mtoni, preserve the remains of an early nineteenth-century waterfront palace north of Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
15 45 minMaruhubi Palace
Maruhubi Palace Ruins are the remains of a nineteenth-century royal residence built for Sultan Barghash bin Said. The palace served primarily as a residence for the sultan’s harem and formed part of the architecture of Zanzibar’s sultanate era.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
16 1 hr 30 minLivingstone House
Livingstone House, locally called Nyumba ya Livingstone, is a historic building on the northern approach to Zanzibar City. During the nineteenth century it served as both a palace and a mission house.
- Must see
- Museum
-
Nakupenda Sandbank 17 1 hourNakupenda Sandbank
Nakupenda Sandbank is a slender, shifting sandbar located off the coast of Zanzibar City, near Stone Town. It emerges from the Indian Ocean at low tide, creating a temporary island of pure white sand surrounded by turquoise water.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
18 1 hourChumbe Island Coral Park
Chumbe Island Coral Park is a private marine protected area and nature reserve located off the coast of Zanzibar City. It encompasses a coral rag forest and surrounding coral reef ecosystem.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
19 45 minЗаказник Мейсинини Нэчурал Форест Masingini Natural Forest Reserve
Forest
Masingini Forest is a green natural area within Zanzibar City, offering a change of rhythm from Stone Town’s dense historic streets. The mapped site represents forested urban landscape rather than a conventional museum or monument.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
Kizimbani Spice Farms 20 2 hoursKizimbani Spice Farms
Kizimbani Spice Farms is a working agricultural area near Zanzibar City where visitors observe cultivation of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and other aromatic crops.
- Must see
- Activity
-
21 1 hourJozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is a protected area on Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. It encompasses Jozani Forest, the largest remaining tract of indigenous forest on the island, alongside mangrove ecosystems and coastal waters.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
22 1 hr 30 minPrincess Salme Museum
Princess Salme Museum is a small heritage museum inside Emerson on Hurumzi, a historic hotel in Stone Town. It focuses on Sayyida Salme, a nineteenth-century Zanzibari princess whose memoirs offer an unusual woman’s perspective on royal life.
- Must see
- Museum
-
23 1 hr 30 minNatural History Museum
Zanzibar Natural History Museum occupies Beit el-Amani in Stone Town, the historic centre of Zanzibar City. The building’s name means House of Peace, and its architecture forms part of the quarter’s distinctive Swahili coastal heritage.
- Must see
- Museum
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Dhow Countries Music Academy 24 1 hourDhow Countries Music Academy
Dhow Countries Music Academy, commonly called DCMA Zanzibar, is a music institution in Zanzibar City devoted to the musical traditions of the dhow countries around the western Indian Ocean.
- Must see
- Art and culture venue
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25 45 minTippu Tip's House
Tippu Tip's House is the historic residence of Hamed bin Mohammed al-Murjebi, the notorious nineteenth-century Zanzibari merchant whose trading empire spanned Central and East Africa.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition 26 1 hr 30 minEast Africa Slave Trade Exhibition
East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition is a heritage centre at the former Slave Market Site beside Christ Church Anglican Cathedral on Mkunazini Road in Stone Town, Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Museum
-
27 30 minIjumaa Mosque
Ijumaa Mosque, also known as the Friday Mosque, is a living religious landmark in Stone Town, the historic heart of Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Place of worship
-
28 45 minOld Customs House
Old Customs House, known locally as Forodha ya Zamani, stands on the harbourfront of Stone Town in Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
29 45 minBharmal Building
Bharmal Building is a historic structure on Stone Town’s reclaimed civic edge in Zanzibar City. Its architecture belongs to the layered urban character created by Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
30 2 hoursNg'ambo
Ng'ambo is the larger, modern half of Zanzibar City, located across the creek from the historic Stone Town. Its name means 'the other side' in Swahili, reflecting the historical social and physical division of the city.
- Must see
- Activity
-
31 45 minMichenzani
The Michenzani Apartment Blocks are a monumental housing ensemble in Zanzibar City, constructed with East German assistance following the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
32 45 minCheetah's Rock
Cheetah’s Rock is a wildlife rescue and education centre north of Zanzibar City. It combines conservation-focused care with guided animal encounters, giving travelers a structured way to learn about rescued wildlife.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
Bawe Island 33 1 hourBawe Island
Kisiwa cha Bawe
Bawe Island, known locally as Kisiwa cha Bawe, is a small island lying west of Stone Town in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It sits within the Menai Bay Conservation Area and offers coral reef environments and sandy beach areas.
- Must see
- Nature site
-
Chapwani Island 34 1 hourChapwani Island
Kisiwa cha Chapwani
Chapwani Island is a small island located near Zanzibar harbour, offering a compact natural and historical destination within reach of Zanzibar City.
- Must see
- Nature site
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35 2 hoursMenai Bay Conservation Area
Hifadhi ya Ghuba ya Menai
Menai Bay Conservation Area is a protected marine zone on the southwest coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago.
- Must see
- Activity
-
Kwale Island 36 1 hourKwale Island
Kisiwa cha Kwale
Kwale Island, known locally as Kisiwa cha Kwale, is a wooded island situated in Menai Bay southwest of Zanzibar City. It forms a central stop on excursion itineraries operating from the city into the protected marine area.
- Must see
- Nature site
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
How the city is laid out
Stone Town occupies the western waterfront and is organised around the harbour, Forodhani Gardens, the Old Fort and Darajani Market. Its narrow lanes are best understood through a few fixed landmarks rather than a road grid. Ng'ambo begins beyond Creek Road and contains the newer city. The airport lies south of the centre, while beach villages and nature sites spread far beyond Zanzibar City across Unguja and require road transfers.
Checked 2026-08-26
Getting around
Walk inside Stone Town, where many lanes are too narrow for ordinary vehicle access. The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism lists taxis, buses and rental cars among the island's transport options. For movement beyond the old town, arrange suitable road transport and confirm the pickup point, because vehicles generally meet passengers on wider perimeter roads rather than inside the historic lanes. Check current operator terms before making a longer journey.
Checked 2026-08-26
Common questions
How many days should I plan for Zanzibar City?
No fixed stay length is recorded. Separate the Stone Town walking programme from any spice-farm, beach, forest or island excursion elsewhere on Unguja.
Is Stone Town walkable?
Yes. Its principal seafront, market and heritage sites sit within a compact network of narrow lanes, and walking is the practical way to move between them.
How do I reach places outside Stone Town?
The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism lists taxis, buses and rental cars. Choose the suitable option for the distance and confirm the operator terms and return arrangement before departure.
Where should a taxi meet me in Stone Town?
Use an agreed point on a wider perimeter road or near a recognised landmark. Many interior lanes do not provide normal vehicle access.
Are Zanzibar beaches part of the city walking route?
No. Zanzibar City and Stone Town form the urban base; the island's principal beach villages and nature areas require separate road or boat excursions.