17 Spellbinding Things to Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar

There are lots of things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar!

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Visit Stone Town, Zanzibar, and you’ll be gob-smacked by its twisted alleyways, crumbling limestone palaces, mosques and faded mansions.

As the historic heart of Zanzibar’s capital, Stone Town is a mesmerizing blend of Indian, European, Arab, and Swahili influences – all wrapped in a rich UNESCO-listed past.

We explored Zanzibar after a safari in Zambia, spending four nights soaking up Stone Town’s magic.

After a safari in Africa, you may be tempted to head straight to Zanzibar’s beaches.

But trust us… There are so many unique and fascinating things to do in Stone Town that skipping it would be a mistake. This ancient city is well worth your time!

Things to Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar

1) Get lost in Stone Town

There are many fascinating things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar!

Stone Town’s narrow winding lanes and alleys are wonderful to wander.

But trying to follow a map of Stone Town is impossible.

Even though our hotel gave us one, it was too frustrating to use.

Don’t worry though.

One of the best things to do in Stone Town is simply to let your feet follow your curiosity.

See locals shopping, vendors selling food on the streets, the devout going to pray at mosques…

And if you get lost – which you will – you’ll find your way again pretty soon. Stone Town isn’t that large, and it can easily be explored on foot.

Thankfully, we’d gone on a guided morning walking tour our first day in Stone Town, which helped orient us a bit at the beginning of our Stone Town stay.

You might want to do that too – here’s a top-rated private walking tour of Stone Town. In two hours, you’ll discover the best of Stone Town with a professional tour guide.

2) Marvel at the Zanzibari doors

Zanzibar door in Stone Town

When you’re out and about in Stone Town, be sure to make a point of looking at the elaborately carved Zanzibari doors.

Symbolic of Stone Town, these are no ordinary doors – they’re marvelous wooden masterpieces!

Some, reflecting an Indian influence, are decorated with rosettes or brass spikes (originally a defense against elephants).

Others feature geometric Arab designs, with carvings of lotuses and pineapples.

A blue Zanzibari door

3) Learn about sultans at the Palace Museum

The huge white palace on the Stone Town waterfront was once the sultan’s palace in the 19th century.

Now the palace is a museum. Eye the opulent thrones, dining tables and portraits that offer a glimpse into the past privileged lives of the sultan’s family.

The section of the museum dedicated to Princess Salme, daughter of Sultan Seyyid Said, is especially intriguing.

A self-educated young woman and a bit of a feminist, she fell in love with a German merchant, got pregnant and fled Zanzibar with him to settle in Hamburg.

Sadly, her husband died in a tram accident a few years later.

She ended up writing Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar, the first known autobiography of an Arab woman, to help keep her financially afloat. (Originally published in 1886, it’s now available on Amazon.)

4) Weep at the old slave market

One of the saddest places to visit in Stone Town, Zanzibar, is the old slave market and whipping post.

One of the saddest places to visit in Stone Town is the old slave market and whipping post.

Now the purposefully-chosen site of the Anglican Cathedral, it clobbered us with reminders of man’s cruelty.

Zanzibar was once the center for the East African slave and ivory trade.

At its height in the 18th and 19 centuries, some 45,000 slaves, captured on mainland Africa, were shipped from Zanzibar to Brazil, India and Arab countries.

Old slave quarters in Stone Town, Zanzibar

One dank chamber we climbed down to see (smaller than a single car garage) reputedly imprisoned 50 slaves awaiting auction for days at a time.

Rusty shackles and chains are still attached to the stone walls as grisly artifacts.

5) Meander through Darajani Market

Browsing the Darajani Market is one of the best things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar!

Browsing the Darajani Market is a must to put on your list when planning what to do in Stone Town.

To visit the market, we had to gingerly step across dirty wet floors – picking our way around toothless vendors squatting on the ground, weighing yellowfin tuna, ringed by local bidders.

Clouds of flies buzzed around bloody slabs of beef, liver and goat hanging from hooks.

Dried octopus at the Darajani Market in Stone Town, Zanzibar

But, oh, how interesting!

We saw everything from dried octopus to strange Durian fruits.

It was all very colorful and unchanged from days gone by – but not for the squeamish!

6) Visit the Old Fort of Zanzibar

The Old Fort of Zanzibar in Stone Town

Located on the seafront, the Old Fort of Zanzibar was built in 1700 by the Arabs from Oman after they kicked out the Portuguese.

Later, it was used as a prison, then a railway terminal and a ladies’ club.

It’s the oldest building in Stone Town – and it’s free to wander in and look around.

7) Browse Forodhani Garden’s night food market 

Near the Old Fort is Forodhani Gardens.

At night, Forodhani Gardens comes alive, with strings of tiny overhead lights adding a certain charm.

This is when food sellers hawk their wares from small stalls and carts.

Discover “Zanzibar” pizza, kebabs, roasted corn, freshly-squeezed sugar cane juice and more, geared to locals.

We didn’t eat or drink here – and we’d caution against trying the seafood. But it’s a fun place to check out!

8) Shop for souvenirs

There are dozens of little shops and stalls in Stone Town.

Look for handmade cinnamon-scented soaps, colorful sarongs, palm-leaf bags and coasters, beaded jewelry, hand-crafted wooden animals and spices.

Don’t forget to bargain!

Need some help figuring out where to go? See this highly-rated private shopping tour. Your guide will also show you some of the best attractions in Stone Town too.

9) Hamamni Persian Baths

It only takes a few minutes to look around the first public baths in Zanzibar (they’re also cheap to enter). They were built between 1870 and 1888 and used until 1920.

Use your imagination, and you can picture what a jewel this bathhouse must have been over a century ago!

10) Sip a sunset cocktail at Emerson Spice Tea House

What to do in Stone Town at sunset?

Climb a few flights of stairs, and you arrive at one of the most magical places to be at sunset – the rooftop Tea House at the Emerson Spice Hotel.

(Along with the Emerson on Hurumzi, the Emerson Spice Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Stone Town.)

The rooftop views are incredible, and the cocktails go down easily too.

You might want to stay for a romantic dinner as well. (Reservations recommended.)

Rooftop views from the Emerson Spice Hotel

11) See the Freddie Mercury House

So you loved the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody about Freddie Mercury, the flamboyant lead singer of the rock band Queen. But did you know he came from Stone Town, Zanzibar?

The house where he was born (and where he and his family stayed until they moved to England in 1963) is now the small Freddie Mercury Museum.

The museum covers Freddie’s birth and childhood in Zanzibar, displaying photos of Freddie and his signature yellow jacket atop a piano.

12) Stay in an historic palace hotel

Zanzibar Palace Hotel, Stone Town

True, you can visit Stone Town for a day from a Zanzibar beach hotel.

But then you wouldn’t get to experience staying in one of town’s historic palaces that have been turned into atmospheric boutique hotels.

They seem to be haunted by the fictional Scheherazade – and will have you dreaming of One Thousand and One Nights.

13) Check out the Old Dispensary

On the waterfront, the Old Dispensary is a finely decorated building, complete with wood-carved balconies and stained-glass decorations.

Formerly a charity hospital, it now exhibits handicrafts by local artists.

14) Sample Indian food

Sampling Indian food in Stone Town, Zanzibar

With a strong Indian influence, Stone Town is home to several excellent Indian restaurants.

Here’s your chance to try different, authentically-made, popular Indian dishes like samosas and butter chicken.

15) Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral in Stone Town

If you’ve been to Marseilles, you might think St. Joseph’s Cathedral looks familiar.

That’s because it was designed by the same French architect behind the Notre Dame Basilica in Marseilles – sporting distinctive tall twin spires.

Dating back to the late 1800’s, St. Joseph’s Cathedral is especially worth popping into during mass, as the choir singers have heavenly voices!

16) People watch at Jaws Corner

Located near St. Josephs Cathedral, Jaws Corner is a mini square in Stone Town – said to be the “heart” of Stone Town – where men gather to sip coffee and play bao (an East African board game).

You’ll know you’re there when you see rows of red flags strung above, looking somewhat like Tibetan prayer flags.

17) Experience a sunset dhow cruise

Sunset dhow cruise in Stone Town, Zanzibar

So you’ve had sunset cocktails on a rooftop. Another way to catch the glorious pumpkin-orange sunset in Stone Town is to take a dhow cruise.

Traditional wooden sailing vessels, dhows were used by Arab traders to sail across the Indian Ocean to East Africa.

Sure, a sunset cruise is a bit touristy.

But then again, why not?

The boats are timeless, and listening to the white sails flap in the breeze, as you gaze at Stone Town from the sea, is something you won’t regret.

What to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar? Stroll along the seaside.

Where to stay in Stone Town, Zanzibar

We stayed at the boutique Zanzibar Palace Hotel in Stone Town – and loved it.

This restored 9-room palace is tucked away among the tangled alleyways of Stone Town.

It features Arabic-style arches, lattice woodwork, steep staircases and carved doors.

Each room is individually decorated with antiques, Persian rugs and locally-crafted four-poster beds with colorful silk covers and cushions.

Have you visited Stone Town, Zanzibar?

What was your experience? Let us know in the Comments section below!


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Top things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Our top travel tips and resources

General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.

Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)

Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)

Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!

Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.

eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.

Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.

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Photo credits: 2, 3, 5 to 7, 9 to 18, 23, 31 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 21, 22, 24 Emerson Spice Hotel | 25 to 27 Zanzibar Palace Hotel


About the authors

Janice and George Mucalov are award-winning travel journalists who’ve explored all seven continents. They share destination guidesluxury hotel reviewscultural adventurescruise insightstravel tips and more on their luxury travel blog, Sand In My Suitcase. See About.

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12 Comments

  1. I was born in Zanzibar, and Stone Town is where I grew up and attained my primary education at Tumekuja primary/secondary school, near the High Court. The premises faced the west by the Indian Ocean where the sunset can be viewed very clearly. On Sundays, you could do early morning trips to Funguni where fish are sold in bundles or packs. Vibua, kowana, dagaa and Changu were my best choices for fish. After completion of my primary education, I moved to Dar es Salaam where I completed my secondary and higher secondary education. During the long holidays I visited Unguja.

    But for almost 30 plus years now, I have not visited Zanzibar… The main reason is our family has shifted to mainland Tanzania, and friends and neighbors are no longer there… Some have passed away and some have migrated to different parts of the world.

    In short, I feel it’s boring to visit my home place?.

    1. Thanks for sharing!

      You know, the places we know best (where we grew up or where we currently live) often seem the least exciting — because we’re so familiar with them. Zanzibar was not boring for us. On the contrary, we found it so exotic!

      Now you might come to Canada and marvel at snow, ice skating and skiing, pancakes with maple syrup, bear sightings and the Rocky Mountains. All of which we’re so used to :-).

  2. No, I have not visited Stone Town but would dearly love to. It has always sounded so mysterious and romantic. I long to walk through those streets, photograph those doors and palaces, and write about it all one day, present and past.

  3. Love reading anything about Zanzibar. I think in total I spent several years on Zanzi in the last 6 years and each time I stayed there, I found something new. It’s like a box with no bottom, always something fun to do and see.

    1. Zanzibar was one of the most exotic places we’ve visited – so we can imagine that each time you visit, you’d discover new and different things to experience :-).

    1. So true – so many wonderful places in the world to visit. And when you scratch the surface, even “ordinary” places often reveal fascinating sides.

  4. Beautiful pictures- I love all the details you capture in them. It’s hard to look at the slave chamber photo. Truly hard to imagine a life of being chained and sold.

    1. Thanks for your kind comments :-). Zanzibar’s slave history is definitely a dark part of its past. Hard to imagine that all over the world – from North America to the Far East – man shared in keeping the slave trade going.