10 Best Things to Do in Zanzibar: The Island Edit
From the spice-scented alleys of Stone Town to offshore sandbanks and dhow cruises, discover the absolute best things to do in Zanzibar for your island trip.
In this guide
- Essential Things to Do in Zanzibar: The Top Experiences Ranked
- Sail a Wooden Dhow to Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison Island
- Snorkel the Coral Garden at Mnemba Atoll
- Sample Street Food at Forodhani Gardens
- Smell and Taste Fresh Spices on a Shamba Tour
- Swim at High Tide on Nungwi and Kendwa Beaches
- Cool Off in the Hidden Waters of Kuza Cave
- Short videos
- Questions travellers ask
Stepping off the ferry or plane onto Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, you are hit instantly by warm ocean air carrying the sharp tang of drying cloves and salt spray. Knowing the best things to do in Zanzibar makes all the difference between a generic tropical resort holiday and a deeply memorable journey through East Africa's most storied trading crossroad.
The island is surprisingly diverse. In the morning, you can track through limestone caves or stand under nutmeg trees on an inland farm; by mid-afternoon, you could be cruising on a hand-carved wooden boat across turquoise shallows that look entirely untouched by the modern world.
If you want the straightforward answer: split your stay between the tangled coral-rag alleys of Stone Town and the tide-independent beaches of the northwest. Here are the top experiences to lock into your calendar first, along with practical advice to help you avoid the tour traps.
Essential Things to Do in Zanzibar: The Top Experiences Ranked
Stone Town is the cultural heartbeat of the island, and walking through its labyrinth without a set agenda is mandatory. Built from coralline rock and mangrove timber, this UNESCO World Heritage neighbourhood bears the architectural stamps of Arab sultans, Portuguese traders, Indian merchants, and Swahili builders. Take note of the grand, brass-studded wooden doors: Indian-style arches curve at the top, while Omani doors feature square lintels engraved with Arabic calligraphy.
Give yourself half a day to explore on foot. Stop by the Old Fort, visit the House of Wonders, and pay solemn respect at the Anglican Cathedral, which stands on the site of the former slave market. The tiny, narrow streets block out the midday heat, but you will share the flagstones with passing scooters, neighbourhood cats, and schoolchildren in crisp uniforms.
- When to go: Early morning around 08:00 before the walking tour groups arrive.
- Getting there: Stone Town is only 15 minutes by taxi from the airport.
- How long to allow: 4 to 6 hours, ideally combined with an overnight stay.
Sail a Wooden Dhow to Nakupenda Sandbank and Prison Island
The ocean defines daily life here, and boarding a lateen-rigged wooden dhow is an essential Zanzibar ritual. Most day charters depart from Stone Town's harbour towards Changuu, known locally as Prison Island. While the historical quarantine station and prison buildings hold colonial interest, the main draw on the grounds is the sanctuary of giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are well over a century old.
From Prison Island, boats run out to Nakupenda, a shimmering spit of powdery white sand that only emerges fully during low tide. Crews set up simple shade canopies and grill spiny lobster, tuna, and calamari over coconut coals right on the sand. As the tide turns and the ocean slowly claims the sandbank again, you sail back towards town with the afternoon trade winds filling the triangular sail.
- When to go: Mid-morning, coordinated with the low-tide forecast.
- Getting there: Organise a private boat departure directly from Stone Town beach.
- How long to allow: Full day, roughly 6 hours.
Snorkel the Coral Garden at Mnemba Atoll
Floating just off the northeast coast near Matemwe, Mnemba Island is a privately owned reserve, meaning you cannot set foot on its shores unless you are a resident guest. However, the surrounding coral reef is completely open to the public and offers the clearest water on the island. The visibility regularly exceeds 20 metres, revealing gardens of staghorn coral, clownfish, moray eels, and blue-spotted rays.
The boat ride out can be choppy depending on the monsoon winds, so take a motion sickness tablet if you are prone. Bottlenose dolphins frequently hunt in these channels. While local skippers sometimes chase pods to please tourists, ask your boat captain to maintain a respectful distance and cut the engine so the animals can pass undisturbed.
- When to go: Early morning to beat the flotilla of tour boats from Nungwi.
- Getting there: Drive to Muyuni or Matemwe beach, then take a 20-minute boat transfer.
- How long to allow: Half day, around 4 hours total.
Sample Street Food at Forodhani Gardens
As the sun dips below the Indian Ocean, Stone Town's waterfront park converts into an open-air food market. Kerosene lanterns flicker across dozens of wooden tables laden with skewered kingfish, octopus tentacles, crab claws, and stacked Zanzibar pizzas. The famous Zanzibar pizza is not Italian at all: it is a thin sheet of dough folded around minced beef or seafood, egg, cheese, mayonnaise, and hot chilli sauce, fried crisp on a flat griddle.
Watch your order being cooked freshly in front of you over hot coals rather than picking pre-cooked seafood that has been sitting out. Wash everything down with a glass of freshly pressed sugar cane juice crushed with lime and spicy raw ginger. It is noisy, smoky, and genuine Swahili street culture at its best.
- When to go: Arrive around 18:30 as the lanterns are lit for sunset.
- Getting there: Located along the waterfront promenade in Stone Town.
- How long to allow: 1 to 2 hours for dinner and people-watching.
Smell and Taste Fresh Spices on a Shamba Tour
Zanzibar was built on the spice trade, once supplying the world with the lion's share of its cloves. Taking a guided walk through an organic spice farm in the fertile central belt around Kizimbani is illuminating. Cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamon, and turmeric grow intercropped with jackfruit and papaya in deep red earth.
Your guide will carve bark from a cinnamon tree for you to sniff, slice open green nutmeg husks to reveal the bright red webbing of mace, and invite you to taste freshly plucked lemongrass. The experience is tactile and educational. Avoid the aggressive tip-hustles at the end by agreeing on guide fees upfront with your lodge or driver.
- When to go: Morning before the midday tropical heat builds up.
- Getting there: 30 minutes drive north of Stone Town via the main rural roads.
- How long to allow: 2 to 3 hours including tasting.
Swim at High Tide on Nungwi and Kendwa Beaches
The eastern coast of Zanzibar is heavily tidal: during low tide, the sea retreats up to a kilometre, exposing coral flats and seaweed farms. While fascinating for nature walks, it makes spontaneous swimming tricky. If continuous turquoise water is your priority, head to the far northern tip at Nungwi and Kendwa.
Here, the shoreline drops off quickly into the ocean, allowing you to swim comfortably all day long. Kendwa has wide, powdery white sands and a laid-back daytime vibe, while Nungwi features traditional boatyards where local carpenters hand-chisel wooden hulls using iron spikes and wild timber. Order fresh passion fruit juice, settle into a lounger, and watch the water shift from light aquamarine to deep indigo.
- When to go: Late afternoon for uninterrupted swimming and front-row sunset views.
- Getting there: 90 minutes drive north from Stone Town.
- How long to allow: Minimum 2 to 3 days to fully unwind.
Cool Off in the Hidden Waters of Kuza Cave
Tucked into the bush near the village of Jambiani along the southeast coast, Kuza Cave is an ancient limestone sinkhole filled with crystal-clear, mineral-rich freshwater. A wooden staircase leads you down into a shadowy subterranean chamber framed by stalactites, where the water maintains a crisp, cooling temperature regardless of how hot the sun gets above.
The cave holds spiritual significance for the local Swahili community, who have used it for ceremonies and offerings for generations. Above ground, a community-run cultural centre offers drumming workshops, cooking lessons, and Swahili language exchanges. It is an easy, refreshing stop when travelling between the beach towns of Paje and Jambiani.
- When to go: Midday, when external temperatures peak and the cave offers relief.
- Getting there: 5 minutes by taxi from Jambiani or Paje.
- How long to allow: 1 to 2 hours.
Zanzibar in 60 seconds
Short clips from travellers who have been. Tap to play.
Questions travellers ask
How many days in Zanzibar is enough?
A stay of 7 to 10 days is ideal. Spend two nights in Stone Town soaking in the history, architecture, and food markets, then move to a beach base in Nungwi or Paje for 5 to 7 days of marine trips, watersports, and relaxed coastal exploration.
Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?
Yes, Zanzibar is generally safe and welcoming. Exercise standard precautions in Stone Town: keep valuables out of sight, do not wander quiet beach stretches alone after dark, and book day tours through certified operators rather than unlicensed touts on the beach.
Which side of Zanzibar has the best beaches?
The northwest beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa are widely considered the best for swimming because they are not affected by extreme low tides. The eastern coast around Paje and Jambiani features wider, dramatic tidal flats and strong winds that make it an international hotspot for kitesurfing.
What is the best month to visit Zanzibar?
The dry months from July to October and from December to February offer ideal beach weather with sunny skies and minimal rain. April and May bring the long rains, during which some boutique lodges close for maintenance.
Written by the RateCheck.travel travel desk with AI assistance. Videos belong to their creators and are embedded from YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. Check opening times, entry rules and prices with official sources before you travel.