Things to Do in Zanzibar
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Zanzibar. Spice island, Stone Town's alleys narrow enough to touch both sides at once, an East African island that grew wealthy on the global clove trade, holds a UNESCO-listed old town reflecting centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and European influence, and was ruled as an independent sultanate until a 1964 revolution led to union with mainland Tanganyika. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Zanzibar: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits deserve real understanding. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Spice Island
Zanzibar is historically known worldwide for its trade in spices, earning it the nickname the 'Spice Island', cloves in particular made the island hugely wealthy during the 19th-century trade boom, worth a proper spice tour, several farms just outside Stone Town offer guided walks through active plantations, worth trying the local, casual approach of guessing spices by smell before being told what each one is.
This trade history, and the wealth it generated, shaped much of Zanzibar's architecture and culture directly, worth appreciating this context as you explore Stone Town's grander merchant buildings, many built directly on clove-trade fortunes.
Getting there Most spice farms about 20–30 minutes from Stone Town
Stone Town's Blended Heritage
Zanzibar's Stone Town is recognised by UNESCO for its blend of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and European cultural influences, centuries of trade produced a properly distinctive architectural and cultural mix in the old quarter, worth a slow, unhurried wander through the narrow alleys, ornately carved wooden doors, a real local craft tradition, are worth seeking out specifically, each door's carving style historically reflected the wealth and status of the household.
This same trading history includes Zanzibar's role as a significant hub in the East African slave trade, a difficult chapter worth engaging with directly rather than only admiring the architecture, the former slave market site, now home to a memorial and Anglican cathedral, is worth visiting for this essential, sobering context.
Best time Morning or evening, avoiding the midday heat
Address Stone Town, Zanzibar
Zanzibar's Sultanate History
Zanzibar was, until the 1960s, ruled as an independent sultanate before merging with mainland Tanganyika, a revolution in 1964 ended the sultanate and led directly to the union forming modern Tanzania, worth understanding this recent, significant political history, the House of Wonders, a former sultan's palace, and the Old Fort, both in Stone Town, are worth visiting for direct context on this era.
This history, alongside the island's semi-autonomous status within modern Tanzania today, is worth appreciating as you explore, a properly distinct political and cultural identity that persists well beyond just the historic buildings.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–6pm
Address Stone Town, Zanzibar
Best time to visit Zanzibar
June through October is the dry season and the most comfortable window, less rain than the rest of the year for the amount of walking and touring this list involves.
The wet seasons (roughly March-May and November) bring heavier rain, still workable if you plan around it, though the dry season remains the more pleasant choice overall, particularly for the spice farm tours.
Getting around Zanzibar
Stone Town is entirely walkable, though properly maze-like, worth embracing getting a little lost. Taxis and organised tours cover the spice farms and destinations further out.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Zanzibar worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, Stone Town's blended Swahili, Arab, Persian, and European heritage is properly distinctive, and the spice trade history and sultanate-era sites add real depth alongside the island's famous beaches.
- How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
- Three days covers Stone Town, a spice tour, and the former slave market memorial comfortably, many visitors also extend their stay for the island's beaches.
- Is Zanzibar expensive?
- Moderate, spice tours and historic site entry are the main planned costs, food and local transport remain reasonably affordable.
- What is Zanzibar famous for?
- Its historic clove and spice trade, Stone Town, a UNESCO-listed old town blending Swahili, Arab, Persian, and European influences, and being ruled as an independent sultanate until a 1964 revolution.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
