Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania, and the name most travellers use for its main island, Unguja. It is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania with its own government, separated from the mainland by a channel about 36 km wide at its narrowest. Close to two million people live across the islands, most of them Swahili-speaking Muslims.
Visitors come for two very different experiences: the coral-stone lanes of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by African, Arab, Persian, Indian and European influences, and the white-sand beaches of the north and east coasts, sheltered by reefs. It suits couples, divers, kitesurfers and families who want culture and beach in one trip. Vacation rentals range from restored townhouses with carved doors in Stone Town to beach houses and bungalows in villages such as Nungwi, Paje and Jambiani.
Stone Town is the place for history, markets and evening food stalls by the sea; two or three nights in a restored townhouse or apartment make a good start or end to a trip. It is also the hub for ferries, buses and the airport, which lies just south of Zanzibar City.
Nungwi, at the northern tip of Unguja, has beaches where the tide matters less than elsewhere, a lively village and sunset views, and suits travellers who want to swim at most times of day. On the south-east coast, Paje is the kitesurfing centre, with a young, relaxed atmosphere, while Jambiani, just south, is a long, quieter village of guesthouses and beach homes. Many visitors split a stay between Stone Town and one beach area.
Stone Town, the old heart of Zanzibar City on the island's west coast, takes its name from the coral stone used for its houses, which gives the walls a warm reddish tone. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its mix of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian and European architecture, best seen in its elaborately carved wooden doors.
Landmarks include the Old Fort, built by the Omanis in the 17th century; the Palace Museum, a former sultan's palace; and Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, built on the site of the former slave market, which is a sobering and important visit. The House of Wonders, built in 1883, partly collapsed during renovation in December 2020. At sunset, the Forodhani Gardens on the seafront fill with stalls selling grilled seafood and local snacks.
Zanzibar's coasts are protected by coral reefs, with powder-white sand and turquoise water, but the experience varies with the tide. On the east coast, around Paje, Bwejuu and Jambiani, the sea retreats a long way at low tide, leaving a wide, shallow lagoon with a sandy bottom. That is ideal for learning to kitesurf, walking the flats and watching seaweed farmers at work, though swimming is only possible around high tide.
In the north, around Nungwi, the water stays deeper close to shore, so swimming is easier at most times of day. Nungwi is also a traditional fishing and dhow-building village, with a small sea-turtle aquarium. Check tide tables when choosing a beach base, wear shoes on the reef flats and follow local advice about currents beyond the reef.
Zanzibar has long been known as a spice island: cloves are still one of its main exports, and guided spice-farm tours inland let visitors see and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla growing.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, created in 2004, protects about 50 square kilometres of forest and mangroves in the centre-south of the island. It is the best place to see the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else in the world, and boardwalks lead through the mangroves fringing Chwaka Bay. On the coast, boat trips go out for snorkelling over the reefs, and in Jambiani and other east-coast villages, seaweed farming, once a large part of the local economy and still worked mainly by women, can be seen at low tide.
Zanzibar's location on Indian Ocean trade routes made it a meeting point for African, Arab, Persian and Indian merchants for centuries. The Portuguese arrived in 1498, and from the late 17th century Oman extended its influence; in the first half of the 19th century the Omani sultan moved his capital to Stone Town. Cloves and the slave trade made the island rich until British pressure ended the slave trade in 1873. Britain made Zanzibar a protectorate in 1890, and the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 is often called the shortest war in history.
Zanzibar became independent in December 1963, a revolution followed in January 1964, and in April 1964 it united with Tanganyika to form Tanzania. Nearly all residents are Muslim, and Swahili, spoken here in its Kiunguja dialect, is the everyday language.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), about 5 km south of Zanzibar City, has flights from mainland Tanzania, Kenya, the Gulf and Europe. Ferries also cross the channel from Dar es Salaam to the port in Stone Town. Since October 2024, foreign visitors to Zanzibar have been required to hold inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, covering emergencies such as medical evacuation, so check the current rules before you travel.
On the island, taxis and pre-booked transfers are the easiest way to reach the beaches: Nungwi is about 56 km north of Stone Town, roughly an hour's drive, and the south-east coast is a similar distance. Local daladala minibuses, shared vans that leave from the Darajani station in Stone Town, are cheap but slow. Car hire is possible, but check the permit rules for foreign drivers before you go; traffic drives on the left.
Zanzibar has a tropical monsoon climate, warm all year, with two rainy seasons. The heavier rains usually fall from March to May, and shorter rains come in November and December. The driest periods, from June to October and again from January to February, are the most popular times to visit, with sunny days and steady trade winds that suit kitesurfing on the east coast.
The rainy months bring lush scenery, fewer visitors and lower demand, but some beach businesses close in April and May. Respect local customs throughout the year: dress modestly in Stone Town and the villages, covering shoulders and knees away from the beach, and during the holy month of Ramadan be discreet about eating and drinking in public during daylight hours.
Spend two or three nights in Stone Town for history, markets and food, then move to the coast. Nungwi suits swimmers because the tide matters less there; Paje suits kitesurfers and a relaxed social scene; Jambiani suits travellers who want a long, quiet village beach.
June to October and January to February are the driest and most popular months. The main rainy season runs from March to May, with shorter rains in November and December. It is warm all year, and the east coast is windiest, good for kitesurfing, in the dry seasons.
The east coast, around Paje and Jambiani, has a wide, shallow reef lagoon, so at low tide the water retreats a long way and leaves sand flats. Swimming there is best around high tide. In the north, around Nungwi, the water stays deeper close to shore.
Yes. Since 1 October 2024, foreign visitors to Zanzibar have been required to buy inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, even if they hold other cover. Since October 2026 mainland Tanzania has a similar rule, so check which policy your route needs. Rules can change, so confirm current requirements with official sources before travelling.
Nungwi is about 56 km north of Stone Town, usually around an hour by taxi or transfer. The airport is just south of Zanzibar City, so add a little time from there. Daladala minibuses also run north but take considerably longer.
Five to seven days is a common length: two or three nights in Stone Town with a spice tour and a visit to Jozani forest, then several days on the beach. Many travellers add Zanzibar to a mainland Tanzania safari for a week of rest at the end.
Zanzibar is a mostly Muslim society, so in Stone Town and the villages it is respectful to cover shoulders and knees. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at your rental, but cover up when walking through villages. Be especially discreet during Ramadan.
Zanzibar uses the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), the currency of Tanzania. In tourist areas cards are accepted in some places, but carry cash in shillings for taxis, markets, small shops and village restaurants, especially outside Stone Town.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .