Nungwi Beach

Best time to travel: Jan-Feb, Dec
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • Nungwi was traditionally a fishing village and dhow-building center, but is now a popular tourist destination with numerous resorts, restaurants, bars, and stores
  • Beach and large village located in the far northern end of the island of Zanzibar

Old Fort of Zanzibar, Stone Town

Best time to travel: June-Nov
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Also known as the Arab Fort and by other names, the structure is a fortification located in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar
  • It is the oldest building, and major visitor attraction of Stone Town
  • It was built by Omani Arabs after expelling the Portuguese in 1699

Sultan’s Palace, Stone Town

Best time to travel: June-Oct
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • The Sultan’s Palace is one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town, it is a 3-story building with merlon-decorated white walls, on the seafront
  • It stands on the site of the previous palace, called Bait As-Sahel that was destroyed in the Anglo Zanzibar war of 1896
  • The present palace was built in late 19th century to serve as a residence for the Sultan’s family
  • After the Zanzibar Revolution, in 1964 it was formally renamed to People’s Palace and used as a government seat
  • In 1994, it became a museum about the Zanzibari royal family and history
  • Several of the furniture items and other belongings to the sultan’s family are in exhibition to give visitors an idea of how was the life in Zanzibar during the 19th century

Chumbe Island

Best time to travel: Jan-Feb, July-Dec
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Small privately owned island a few kilometres off the main island of Zanzibar, known for its ecological innovation and exceptional coral reefs
  • At least 90% of all hard coral species that have been recorded in Eastern African reefs have been found near Chumbe Island

Forodhani Gardens, Stone Town

Best time to travel: June-Aug
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Small park in the historical city of Stone Town, the gardens are located along the main seawalk of Stone Town
  • The Gardens are especially busy after sunset, when tourists and local alike gather in a popular food street market in the main square, to have dinner enjoying Swahili and Zanzibari cuisine delicacies such as grilled seafood, samosas, cassava and sweet potatoes

Nakupenda Beach

Best time to travel: June-Oct
Ease of travel: Hard
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • White sand bank in the Indian Ocean, with crystal blue waters, which requires a tour boat to get to

Darajani Market

Best time to travel: March, June-July, Sept-Oct
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Main bazaar in Stone Town, the structure of the market was built in 1904 for Sultan Ali bin Hamud
  • Darajani Bazaar is mainly a food market (seafood, meat, fruits, grains, spices), but there are also shops selling a number of different goods, from consumer electronics to clothing