33 Amazing Things to Do in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is one of the favorite places in the world. It has history, culture, gorgeous beaches, tons of activities, and flavorsome food. There are so many things to do in Zanzibar and whether you’re backpacking Zanzibar, on your honeymoon, going for a 2-week holiday, or relaxing for a few days after a Serengeti safari or a trek up Kilimanjaro I’m sure you’ll love it. There’s a Zanzibar for everyone. 

Amazing Things to Do in Zanzibar

1: Wander the Maze of Stone Town

One of the favorite things to do in Zanzibar is just to wander around Stone Town, which is the old town of Zanzibar City, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago. Whether you arrive by air or sea, you’ll pass through the city and I would definitely recommend spending at least two days in Stone Town to soak up the Swahili culture and unique atmosphere. To get the full Zanzibari experience, stay in a real Zanzibar-style hotel. There are tons of great and reasonably priced ones, including this reasonably priced, beachfront hotel which is just a short walk away from Forodhani Gardens, or this seafront hotel, which is really close to the ferry terminal. If you’re looking for somewhere extra special, I’d definitely recommend heading to the Park Hyatt which is set right on the beach, or Emerson Spice, a beautiful and traditional Zanzibar-converted merchant’s house.

2: atch Acrobatics and Capoeira on the Beach

Some evenings, just before sunset some of the local boys perform acrobatics and capoeira on the beach outside the Livingstone Beach Restaurant in Stone Town. The beach in Stone Town, whilst not idyllic like those outside of the city, is usually busy with both locals and tourists enjoying the early evening light and splashing about in the water. A crowd often forms as these amazingly talented young superstars start back flipping and somersaulting all the way down to the water.

3: Buy Spices and Fabrics at Darajani Market

For a truly awesome, immersive, and sensorial shopping experience, head down to Darajani Market, the heartbeat of Stone Town. It’s a great, local experience as well as one of the free things to do in Stone Town (well, that is if you don’t buy anything). Here you’ll find vendors selling all kinds of useful stuff – spices, clothing, mobile phones, oil, plastic goods, cooking utensils, fabric, fresh bread, fruit and veg, meat and if you go early in the day, you may catch the big fish auction. Grab a samosa or chapati from a street food stall to keep your strength up as you wander around and don’t be afraid to have chat and enjoy the bartering process – Zanzibar people are very friendly! Another good place to buy spices is Masa Japanese Restaurant above the Post Office on Shangani Street.

4: Eat at a Zanzibar Pizza at Forodhani Gardens

Each evening, at Forodhani Gardens on the seafront of Stone Town, street vendors set up their stalls, selling seafood and meat kebabs, samosas, urojo soup (Zanzibar Mix), fruit, grilled maize, Zanzibar pizzas, and sugar cane juice to tourists and locals alike. In case you are wondering, “What the hell is a Zanzibar pizza?” – It’s a thin pancake-style dough, filled with pretty much anything and everything and cooked in ghee. You eat it with a cocktail stick and they’re pretty good! You can have sweet ones with bananas and chocolate sauce or savory ones with meat, veg and cheese. In mine, I usually have… mango, avocado, onions, tomatoes, Happy Cow Cheese Triangles and an egg! Head over around sunset, have a walk around, grab some food and a glass of sugar cane juice, sit on the wall, and just take it all in.

5: Shop Til You Drop

Shopping in Stone Town is great, like a tiny version of Marrakech. I love all those little curio shops selling trinkets and Stone Town has plenty. You can buy paintings, jeweler, material, wooden carvings, Maasai bracelets, Zanzibar chests, and tasty spices. A lot of these shops sell the same mass-produced stuff you find all over Africa, but you’ll find the odd unique item and it’s cool to say ‘I bought this in Zanzibar’.

6: Take a Walking Tour of Stone Town

One of the best things to do in Zanzibar, in order to get a true understanding of the island, is to take a walking tour. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been to in my entire life. Seriously.

Whilst I’d say that taking a tour isn’t necessary and it’s absolutely fine to have a wander on your own, having a guide for a few hours will provide a great insight into the island (and save you from being lost in the labyrinth of alleyways… forever – just kidding). What I really love about tours in Stone Town, is that the guides point out all the tiny details of the architecture, things that you would never notice on your own as well as explaining a lot about the culture and the history of the island, the Omani sultans and Princess Salme, a feminist and rebel who wrote Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar.

7: Dine at a Rooftop Restaurant

Eating at a rooftop restaurant is one of the most romantic things to do in Stone Town and they are the perfect place to relax for the evening, enjoy the call to prayer and watch the sun as it sets over copper-coloured rooftops. My favorite is the magical Emerson on Hurumzi, with a beautiful view over the city and live Taarab music. They also have a sister restaurant – the exquisite and romantic Tea House Restaurant on the top floor of the Emerson Spice Hotel. The restaurant is known to be one of the best restaurants in East Africa. The 5-course menu changes daily, depending on what their fisherman catches that morning. Book in advance, both restaurants get very busy and are limited on space.

8: Learn About the Slave Trade

Zanzibar is described as a melting pot, with a blend of Arabic, African, Indian, European heritages, creating a unique cultural mix on the island, rarely seen elsewhere. One of the reasons for this is Zanzibar’s dark past and I think it’s important that people are aware of the atrocities that happened.

Zanzibar was a major trading hub for many things, including slaves. The slave trade was brutal, with hundreds of thousands of people being trafficked through Bagamoyo on the mainland (where I lived for a little while), to be sold in Zanzibar, then shipped to the east or the west, with many passing through Liverpool in the UK, where I am from.

Pay your respects at the Slave Monument and you can also visit the old Slave Market and visit the house of David Livingstone, an important figure in the abolition of the slave trade, who once called Zanzibar home.

9: Ride a Dala Dala

No trip to Zanzibar (or Tanzania) would be complete without a little ride on a dala dala minibus. These tend to be packed, sweaty, and with questionable safety records, but they are an experience and the cheapest way to get around the island.

10: Take a Village Tour

Whilst it’s fine to visit a lot of villages on the island, going on an organized village tour with a guide is a good way to get an insight into daily life whilst contributing to the local economy. Jambiani on the east coast is a great village to visit and the people very welcoming. You can visit the fishermen, local women’s groups, herbalist and seaweed farms. Many tours, like this one, include a traditional Swahili lunch too. Again, taking photos of people without their permission is really not the one thing in Zanzibar (hence why you don’t see a lot of people in my pictures) but on a tour, you should be fine. If you go it alone, please, please, please ask before you take pictures of anyone in the villages.

11: Admire & Photograph the Zanzibar Doors

Zanzibar doors are something else. Whilst some doors and buildings are succumbing to ruin, there are still many of the original doors intact, ornately decorated, and have meanings behind them. The most famous and photographed door is the one at Tippu Tip’s House (above), a Zanzibarian slave and ivory trader from the 18th century.

12: Go to a Festival

Zanzibar hosts 3 major festivals a year:

Sauti za Busara : A music festival in Stone Town, featuring a number of awesome artists from all over Africa and the name means ‘Sounds of Wisdom’. The festival usually takes place in February. I went in 2018 and it was a lot of fun!

The Zanzibar International Film Festival : East Africa’s largest film, music, and arts festival. They showcase some of the best talent around and the theme of the festival for 2017 was ‘Finding Joy’ (I love that).

The Zanzibar Beach and Watersports Festival : This is a community-led not-for-profit festival. They have watersports competitions, music, and food stalls! Sounds delightful! The festival takes place in Jambiani usually in September.

12: Try the Local Foods