Your Last Borders15 BEST THINGS TO DO IN ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Indian Ocean. This Tanzanian archipelago boosts beautiful beaches of white sand and azure waters resembling those of the Maldives. While it’s also home to old colonial towns, spice farms, and wild animals. And hosts a dark slave-related past all visitors could learn from. In this post, you’ll find the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar for the perfect Zanzibar holiday.
If you’re worried this piece of paradise might be a bit out of reach, check out this post on how to travel to Zanzibar on a budget. I love traveling to the most wonderful destinations without breaking the bank, and after traveling to the Maldives on a budget, I couldn’t resist doing the same in Zanzibar.
Alternatively, if you’d rather not travel independently to Tanzania, check out these guided tours of Zanzibar. Along with these day trips in Zanzibar. These are perfect to enjoy the best things to do in Zanzibar without having to worry about transfers, cancellations, and language barriers.
Best things to do in Zanzibar near Stone Town
1. Explore the old city of Stone Town
Stone Town is the capital city of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the West coast of Zanzibar’s main island, it makes the perfect base for those interested in history, arts, architecture, and the local Swahili culture. Walking around its historical sites is one of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
This maze of old buildings hosts heritage from the Swahili, Persian, Arabic, Indian, and European cultures that have inhabited the area. If you’d rather visit the city with a guide, check out these guided tours around Stone Town.
Make sure to spot local home doors in Stone Town as these are very unique. While some doors and structures are falling to pieces, many of the ancient doors are still in place. Most of them have been embellished, painted, and have symbolic connotations. They make the perfect photo spot in Zanzibar.
There is also a vibrant market in the city where locals sell and purchase all sorts of products. Here you will find all kinds of meat, fresh fish, tropical fruits and vegetables, clothing, tools, bread, juices, etc. Most vendors speak English so it’s a great place for people watching and chatting with locals.
2. Visit the Old Fort of Stone Town
One of the most historical landmarks of Zanzibar’s capital, Stone Town, is the Old Fort. Also known as Arab Fort, it’s one of Stone Town’s oldest structures and a major tourist attraction.
It was constructed in the 17th century to defend the island from invading Portuguese. And it’s in such well condition that today makes one of the most popular attractions in Zanzibar. You can stroll around the ruins of the last fortress and the central courtyard, where vendors sell various fragrant local goods.
The Old Fort is on the waterfront directly opposite of Forodhani Gardens. It has an open-air amphitheater hosting live dance and music shows most evenings. There is also a restaurant and a tourist information desk. It’s open daily from 8am to 6pm.
3. Learn from the Slave Market in Stone Town
If you can only visit one building in Stone Town, make it the Old Slave Market. Now a museum, this place is a must-see to learn about the tragic past of the Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Africa as a whole. Like those in Dakar Senegal and Tarrafal Cape Verde, visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in Zanzibar.
Now an Anglican Cathedral, here used to lay one of the biggest slave markets in the entire world. Enslaved people from all over East Africa were brought to Zanzibar from the mainland to ensure they would remained isolated and in captivity while being sorted and traded.
Historians place at around 50,000 the number of East African slaves that were sold in Stone Town’s slave market every year in the 18th and 19th centuries. During captivity, families were separated so women and children would stay in the same chamber and men in a different.
The tour around the old slave market will take you to both chambers. You will also visit the square where auctions took place. There now stands a meaningful memorial consisting of stone figures of four people chained by the neck in the same manner as the slaves were presented to auctioneers in the market.
4. Get into Freddie Mercury’s home
Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen, was born in Zanzibar. The former family home of this world famous singer is now a museum in Stone Town and a must-visit spot to all his fans.
The Mercury museum in Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here visitors can find plenty of family photos, the first piano Freddie ever played, and various theatrical costumes worn in Queen shows.
Most of these were donated by the museum’s partner Queen Productions Ltd. They are unique elements which can’t be found elsewhere.
The first ever museum dedicated to Freddie Mercury opens daily from 10am to 6pm. Tickets are available at the entrance. Even if it is closed at the time of your visit, or you decide not to dedicate time to it, make sure you walk by. The entrance is a beautiful old wooden door and the posters at the main wall make a great photo opportunity.
5. Visit the Turtle Sanctuary
From the main beach in Stone Town one can easily spot the island of Changuu, also known as Prison Island. What makes Prison Island famous is the prison that used to stand on it and that is now open to the public. Despite its name, this was not a prison for criminals but a quarantine center for those coming into Zanzibar from overseas. To help prevent the spread of foreign contagious diseases among locals.
The old prison is now a beautiful food court featuring local restaurants and its patio became a sanctuary for endangered gigantic tortoises. Visiting these turtles, inherited from ones transported here from Seychelles a century ago, is certainly one of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
The sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation of these endangered gigantic tortoises. They are kept in a safe environment, fed with vegetables, and supervised 24/7. Visitors can walk around the tortoise, feed them a handful of lettuce each, try petting their tiny heads, and look for the perfect photo opportunities. Chasing and climbing on turtles is strictly prohibited.
The Turtle Sanctuary opens daily from 9am to 6pm. Tickets are inexpensive and available for purchase at the entrance. Several fishermen and local guides patrol de main beach in Stone Town and offer transfers to Prison Island. If you’d rather visit with a guide, check out these guided tours to Prison Island.
Best things to do in Zanzibar North
6. Enjoy Zanzibar’s best beach life in Nungwi
Nungwi is a town at the northernmost side of Zanzibar known as the top beach destination of the island. Here you will find the nicest beaches in Zanzibar, those with the soft white sand and warm azure waters you came looking for.
Once a fishermen village and dhow boat building center, now it’s a popular tourist destination awarded one of the 100 best beaches of the world by CNN. Thus, enjoying the beach life in Nungwi is one of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
Here you will find the best beach resorts in Zanzibar. And most of Zanzibar’s beach clubs, restaurants with sea views, and international bars. Likewise, no other place is the area is a better hub for water sports, cruises, diving centers, snorkeling trips, and deep-sea fishing excursions.
Make sure to spend a few days in Nungwi if you’re looking for the best beach holiday in Zanzibar. Here you can sunbathe, swim, explore the ocean, go shopping, enjoy a different restaurant for every meal, and stay in the accommodation of your dreams. Moreover, there’s lots of fun activities and tours in Nungwi.
7. Diving and snorkeling in Mnemba island
One of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar is to embark on diving or snorkeling trip off the coast of Nungwi to Mnemba Island. Most of the diving and snorkeling centers in Nungwi will take you on a full or half day trip to Mnemba Island so you can enjoy its diverse underwater ecosystem.
Tours to Mnemba island usually also offer lunch consisting on local Swahili dishes and plenty of fruit and refreshments.
Mnemba Island is a luxurious private island home of one of the fanciest resorts in Zanzibar. Only guests can disembark on its shore, yet everyone can explore its waters and you should definitely do it when on vacation in Zanzibar.
The deep coral reefs in Mnemba are home of multiple spices of tropical fish and turtles. Dolphins are also usually spotted in the area and you will most likely get to swim with them.
I would recommend using lots of sunscreen to prevent sunburnt when going on a snorkeling trip. Taking pills to avoid getting seasick is also advisable, as travelers sped many hours in the ocean when on diving and snorkeling trips.
8. Walk from Nugwi to Kendwa
One of the most beautiful walks one can take when exploring Zanzibar is the beach walk from Nungwi beach to Kendwa beach. This can also be done cycling on a rented bicycle. Either way it will certainly be remembered as one of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
The walk between Nungwi and Kendwa is 3 kilometres long. It takes a bit over half an hour if done non-stop. Bear in mind that although this is an easy walk at low tide, it’s impossible to compelte at high tide as the path is completely covered by the ocean.
It would be too dangerous to try finishing this walk at high tide. Seriously, please do check tides carefully before venturing out. If caught by the high tide the way back can be completed by boat or taxi. It is also possible to spend the day at the beach and return once the tide is low again.
On the walk, one can enjoy the soft withe sand and the turquoise waters so abundant in this side of Zanzibar. Bending palm trees full of coconuts will also make the delights of walkers. The walk can start on either side. If caught by the high tide the way back can be completed by boat or taxi. It is also possible to spend the day at the beach and return once the tide is low again.
Best things to do in Zanzibar South
9. The Rock Restaurant
Stop everything you are doing and place your booking into this restaurant. Yes, you need to book it now. No, you cannot wait until your holiday comes and risk forgetting about it. This restaurant is a must-visit, an experience on itself, Zanzibar’s pride, and a delicious activity.
The Rock Restaurant is an Italian style restaurant located on a rock off the coast of Zanzibar. You can walk in during low tide, but it’s only accessible by boat in hide tide. Due to its tiny dimensions and the requirement to keep enough available seats on their boat, the restaurant is only accessible to customers with a valid dinning booking.
The views from the dining tables are mesmerizing both during day and night time, yet I would recommend going in for lunch to appreciate the azure colour of the waters and the changes on the tide.
The restaurant is really beautiful, made out of wood and local plants, and accessible through a steep staircase. It also features and terrace with a bar, excellent for a pre-meal snack or an after food drink.
I loved their vanilla ravioli and aubergine spaghetti. Desserts were out if this world, especially their chocolate salami and vanilla ice-cream. You can see more of it on my Instagram and Tiktok pages.
10. Watch the sunset swimming at Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is one of the few places on the island were one can see the sun set over the horizon. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a sunset over the ocean in Zanzibar, the Blue Lagoon is your go-to beach.
The Blue Lagoon is also a snorkeling paradise, home of multiple species of colorful tropical fish accessible from the beach. There is also a sand bank from where you can feel as if you were in a deserted island.
The Blue Lagoon offers several restaurants, bars, and beach clubs. It’s one of the most popular tourist spots in Zanzibar South. And the perfect spot to spend a chilled afternoon after nice lunch at the Rock Restaurant.
If you’d rather visit during the day and go snorkelling, check out these snorkelling tours of the Blue Lagoon in Zanzibar.
11. Ride the Safari Blue
The best boat ride to take in Zanzibar is Safari Blue. This tour on a traditional dhow boat in Zanzibar is designed to showcase this beautiful area’s outstanding features and marine life.
Safari Blue will take you on a day trip around the beautiful waters of Zanzibar, in the Menai Bay. Dolphins usually swim in the area and tourists spot them daily. In this tour you will have the opportunity to explore the islands while swimming and snorkeling around the mangroves, dolphins, turtles and plenty of tropical fish.
Safari Blue offers private and group day trips, all including lunch based on traditional Swahili dishes and seafood barbeque. Drinks and refreshments are also provided. No wonder Safari Blue is one of the most famous activities among the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
12. Local beaches in Paje and Jambiani
Paje and Jiambiani are the main towns in the South Eastern coast of Zanzibar and best bases in the area. All of their beaches are clean and vibrant, filled with restaurants and beach clubs. And plenty of cows and local kids.
Here you will find some local markets serving fresh fruits, arts and crafts, and souvenirs. These towns are a great place to unwind as not many tourists make it here and even less spend the night around. Make sure to come down if you are into discovering the real Zanzibar away from the crowds.
Best things to do in Zanzibar’s Midlands
13. Jozani Forest
The Jozani Forest is home to the endangered red colobus monkeys. While strolling around the forest, you will get a close-up view of the monkeys. It’s the perfect place to learn about the many flora and creatures that call this place home.
The forest opens daily from 7.30am to 5pm. To ensure the proper protection of local species and safe interactions with colobus monkeys, it can only be visited with a guide. Entrance fee including the guided tour is about €7 and takes around an hour. If you’d rather go wit a tour including transfers and additional activities, check out these tours of Jozani Forest.
14. Spice Farm
Zanzibar is also known as the Island of Spices as many different types of species are grown in this land and traded worldwide. Spices were first introduced in Zanzibar by the Portuguese in the 16th century, when transported from Goa to Brazil. Back in the day, slaves were forced to cultivate spices in the midlands of Zanzibar.
The combination of slave trade and spices trade made the island and its capital, Stone Town, one of the richest areas in the entire African continent. Spices are still the price of Zanzibar and nowadays almost every local family in Zanzibar grows its own favourite spices. Likewise, there are many spice farms on the island.
On these, local communities look after the growing, trade, and development and many different spices. Most of the farms offer guided tours to tourists and feature tasting areas.
These tours are great to learn about tropical species and to help out communities by purchasing the ultimate Zanzibar souvenir. I got plenty of red curry, vanilla, and cinnamon from my visit. Their delicious taste really made my days when back home.
Tours are inexpensive, usually tip-based, run during all day and can be arranged at request. If you’d rather go wit a tour including transfers and additional activities, check out these Zanzibar spice farm tours. Taking a tour of spice farm is, undoubtedly, one of the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar.
15. Traditional Cooking Class
The tastiest among the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar is taking a traditional cooking class with a local family. Almost every hotel and tour agent in Zanzibar offers it as part of their tours and you should definitely sign up for same. Expect to pay around $25 per person for the full experience.
The cooking class experience will always stay in your memory, as it is not everyday that we get too cook barefoot on the floor using African-grown vegetables. In the class you will most likely make coconut milk from scratch, learn why locals value palm oil, and appreciate the differences among dozens of spices.
It also makes the perfect occasion to chat with locals, take unique photos and videos, and enjoy a freely cooked meal in good company. Make sure to let them know of any allergies or strong food preferences in advance, so you can fully enjoy the experience.
I still dream of that vegetable curry I prepared with a young family in Zanzibar. You can see more of it on my Instagram and Tiktok pages.
Recap on the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a pice of paradise. Home to wonderful beaches of soft white sand and warm are waters, Zanzibar makes a wonderful beach holiday destination. However, the island has much more to offer besides the marine life and vibrant beach clubs of its coastline.
Zanzibar is an ancient island with UNESCO World Heritage towns, unmissable salve markets, old mosques, tasty spices, and vibrant markets. Therefore, regardless of whether you spend a few relaxing days on the island following a safari in Kenya or mainland Tanzania or make it a vacation on itself as I did, Zanzibar is a must see destination. And it is certainly possible to travel to Zanzibar or a budget.
This post on the 15 best things to do in Zanzibar aims to help you tailor your ideal Zanzibar itinerary. Please leave a comment below with any questions or reach out via my Instagram or Tiktok. I am always happy to help you travel more and better. Enjoy Zanzibar.
