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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 garden...
Photograph · Paul Brockmeyer from Chicago, USA · CC BY 2.0
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Places
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walk in Stone Town; taxi beyond it
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.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
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.
Checked 2026-08-26
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
Planning a visit
September · September remains dry in Zanzibar City with 33 mm of rainfall and a 29.9°C mean maximum.
- 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
13 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
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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
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04 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
-
05 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
-
06 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
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.