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Thatched beach loungers and dhow boats anchored in turquoise water off Zanzibar
Tanzania · Zanzibar Archipelago

Zanzibar, an Island Built on Spice

Stone Town's carved doors and clove-scented lanes sit an hour from powder-white beaches: a place traders came for cinnamon and travelers now come for the water.

4.7 (2.8k travelers)·Best for: beaches, history, diving
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Best Time to Visit
Jun – Oct
Flight Time
1 Stop (16h 45m)
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling
Language
Swahili, English

Overview

Zanzibar splits neatly into two trips: a couple of days getting lost in Stone Town's alleys and courtyards, then the rest of the week on the east or north coast beaches.

Spice tours through the island's clove and vanilla farms fill the gap between the two nicely, and dhow boats still work the coast the way they always have. Five days covers both without feeling rushed; a week adds time to dive the reef.

Thatched beach loungers and dhow boats off Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar

Things to Do

Curated moments that make Zanzibar unforgettable

The Rock Restaurant Lunch
From £40
The Rock Restaurant Lunch
A dining room perched on a coral outcrop just offshore
Spice Farm Tour
From £20
Spice Farm Tour
Clove, vanilla, and cardamom on the island that named the trade
Stone Town Heritage Walk
From £18
Stone Town Heritage Walk
Carved doors, the House of Wonders, and the old slave market site
Prison Island Tortoise Visit
From £35
Prison Island Tortoise Visit
Giant Aldabra tortoises, some over a century old

Handpicked Stays

Hotels our travel experts vouch for

A traditional dhow sailing off the coast of Zanzibar at sunset
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Book by November 15 and add a sunset dhow cruise to any 5-night Zanzibar itinerary.

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Travel Guide

What our travel experts want you to know before you go

01
Dress Modestly in Stone Town
Shoulders and knees covered go a long way in the old town, even away from the mosques.
02
East Coast Tides Swing Wide
Paje and Kendwa can go from swimmable to a long walk to the water in a few hours. Check tide times.
03
Bring Cash Off the Beaten Path
Card readers are common at hotels but rare at spice farms and smaller Stone Town shops.
04
When to Go
June through October is dry season and the most reliable stretch for beach days and diving visibility.