17 essential things to do in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is the ideal destination for travelers seeking a vacation to connect with nature and enjoy tranquility in a paradisiacal setting.

Located off the coast of Tanzania, the Zanzibar archipelago has gained fame in recent years among travelers, thanks to its incredible natural beauty and its increasingly comprehensive range of services.

What were once known as the “Spice Islands” still retain strong Arab, European, and, of course, African influences in their cultural and historical legacy.

It’s a fantastic destination for those seeking a few days of relaxation in paradise, but also for intrepid travelers who want to experience an adrenaline rush with adventurous plans or learn about the past of this wonderful corner.

To discover all its wonders, the fastest and most comfortable way is to travel to the country by plane. There are also cruises that make a stop at one of the islands in the archipelago, but if you want to get to know this territory thoroughly, the best option is to dedicate a few days to explore it and calmly enjoy its many charms.

Zanzibar holds countless secrets worth discovering, and next, we are going to tell you about the most important ones.

Stone Town

Located in the old part of Zanzibar City, the capital of the archipelago, Stone Town is the best possible example of Tanzania’s colonial era.

For many years, it was one of the most important commercial ports in the world, which has left a cultural heritage in the area, perceptible in its architecture, as well as in the daily life and customs of its inhabitants.

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, it stands out for its labyrinthine alleys, its buildings with beautiful balconies and intricately carved wooden doors, and its lovely inner courtyards.

Considered one of the last examples of an away Illa commercial city, you cannot leave without visiting the House of Wonders, the Sultan’s Palace, the Old Slave Market, the Arab Fort, or the Forodhani Gardens.

Did you know that this beautiful town was Freddie Mercury’s birthplace? Even today, there is a strong link between the late artist and the city, making it possible to visit his birthplace, now converted into a museum and a shop dedicated to the life of the famous Queen vocalist.

Additionally, Stone Town is the ideal place to try the delicious local cuisine, with popular dishes such as Zanzibar mix, pilau rice, calamari curry, or grilled emperor fish.

A couple of days are more than enough to visit the city in depth, and walking is undoubtedly the most recommended way to do it.

Prison Island

This wonderful island owes its name to an old building, constructed on it in 1890, with the intention of serving as a prison for rebellious slaves. Although it never fulfilled that function, the old prison or the building that was intended to be one can still be visited today.

Truth be told, despite being an interesting place, it’s not the most attractive plan to enjoy in this paradisiacal setting. Also known among locals as Changuu Island, it is a Nature Reserve and has a conservation center for giant tortoises. And of course, if it stands out for anything, it’s for its wild-looking, pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Snorkeling along its shores is a true spectacle.

Although it has a small area, just over 800 meters long and a little less than 250 meters wide, it is one of the most popular excursions among tourists visiting Zanzibar.

To access the island, it’s best to take a boat from Stone Town or book a complete excursion that includes an additional activity like snorkeling.

Pemba Island

A few years ago, it was one of the great unknowns of the Zanzibar archipelago, but today, it stands out for having become one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Many of its tourists are newlyweds who choose this dreamlike setting to enjoy their honeymoon. Although, in truth, it is a highly recommended destination for any type of traveler.

Its coral reefs also make it a temple for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, with unparalleled marine life, including such special species as whales, dolphins, and sharks.

It is popularly known as the “Evergreen Island” due to its lush vegetation, in the form of overpopulated forests, clove and mango plantations, and sprice markets spread throughout its entire extent.

Pemba Island is one of the most special corners of the planet, and a swim in its turquoise waters is enough to discover it. If paradise exists on Earth, it must surely be something like this.

Secret Island

Located an hour by boat from Stone Town, Secret Island is especially known for its famous sandbar, which, depending on the time of day, forms a white sand beach with two shores of crystal-clear waters. A very special place that will immediately become one of the main settings for your selfies and photographs on your vacation.

Another of its main attractions is the possibility of enjoying a barbecue of super fresh fish along its shores at a very good price. Octopuses, lobsters, tuna, cuttlefish… All grilled and with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean as an incomparable backdrop. Can you think of a better plan?

Maalum Cave

Maalum Cave is located in the town of Paje and offers a different plan in Zanzibar, without losing the thread of the natural beauty so characteristic of the territory.

It is an impressive natural pool, whose waters, locals say, possess healing powers.

Again, we are talking about a unique space to enjoy relaxation and establish a direct connection with nature.

We recommend that if you are lucky enough to visit it, you bring everything you need to fully enjoy the experience. This includes towels, diving goggles, a protective case for your cell phone, as it is a place with a lot of humidity, and of course, a swimsuit and a change of clothes.

As you can see, Zanzibar is not just dream beaches. It also offers special plans such as the possibility of enjoying a wonderful swim in a millennia-old freshwater pool.

Spice Farm

The excursion to the Spice Farm is an absolute must-see in Zanzibar if you wish to thoroughly learn about the local culture and gastronomy during your trip.

If you book it, you will enjoy a 3-hour guided tour through one of the most important spice farms in the country. During the excursion, you will discover local production methods, touching, smelling, and tasting each product, and even making coconut milk yourself or cooking to observe firsthand the influence of each spice on the flavors of the country’s native cuisine.

As expected, the tour usually ends with a good feast, where you will have the opportunity to try some of the most famous typical dishes.

Don’t forget that the Zanzibar archipelago was known in antiquity as the Spice Islands, and even today, it continues to be one of the largest producers worldwide. This excursion is the best way to discover their production methods, explore part of the country’s history through those special smells and flavors, and learn the secrets that make their cuisine one of the most delicious on the planet.

Jambiani and Jambiani Beach

More than a village, Jambiani could be said to be an island that includes a set of small hamlets, whose tourist offering covers practically everything you might need to design a dream vacation.

Its fishing tradition makes it one of the best places in Zanzibar to enjoy fresh seafood and grilled fish. Its wild and paradisiacal beaches are included in the lists of the best beaches in the world thanks to their imposing natural beauty. And its range of leisure plans includes diving in one of the most beautiful coral reefs on Earth, surfing, kitesurfing, or deep-sea fishing, among many others.

A safe and welcoming place, which stands out for the kindness of its people and especially for its beaches, which over the years have become true temples of relaxation for those seeking to escape the noise and stress and get lost, even if only for a few days, in paradise.

Nakupenda Beach

Nakupenda Beach is one of the most famous in all of Zanzibar, and considering that we are talking about one of the places that concentrates several of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this is saying a lot.

Although it is enough to set foot on its soft white sand to easily understand why. The reason is none other than the beauty radiated by its simplicity, with that special combination of colors created by its pristine white sand and the turquoise tones of the Indian Ocean.

This chromatic simplicity turns into an impressive palette of colors at sunset, with red, orange, pink, and violet hues scattered across the sky and the sea, which together form one of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet every evening.

Snorkeling along its shores is an almost obligatory plan, allowing you to enjoy thousands of different fish species around the coral reef on its seabed.

A truly idyllic landscape, which you can enjoy by booking an excursion from Stone Town. Many tourist packages include a stop at Prison Island prior to visiting Nakupenda Beach. Without a doubt, it is one of the best plans for an unforgettable day on vacation in Zanzibar.

Paje Beach

Just over an hour from Stone Town airport is the coastal village of Paje, one of the most visited locations in Zanzibar due to its spectacular beaches.

Again, we are talking about that infallible combination that characterizes all Zanzibar beaches: fine white sand, crystal-clear waters, marine depths full of life, and astonishing sunsets.

Despite its wild appearance, Paje beach offers a wide variety of activities and services, making it the perfect setting for a day of family or couple’s vacation. Its range of leisure plans includes all kinds of water sports, diving, snorkeling, or even the possibility of booking a ride on the typical Dhow boats, a traditional Swahili vessel still used by the island’s inhabitants for fishing.

Nungwi Beach

Nungwi Beach competes with Nakupenda Beach for the prestigious top spot among Zanzibar’s most famous beaches.

What makes Nungwi Beach so special is when the tide goes out, revealing its impressive expanse of white sand with small fishing boats stranded everywhere, and turning the Indian Ocean waters into a marvelous transparent mirror. Along its shores, giant puddles of crystal-clear water form, where it’s common to find starfish and other local marine life.

Another one of its main attractions lies in the turtle rehabilitation center located at one end of the famous beach, where it’s possible to enjoy swimming alongside these incredible animals.

It’s a huge beach where you can always find completely secluded areas, giving you unique sensations.

Nungwi is possibly the most special beach in Zanzibar, a paradise everyone should visit at least once in their life.

Pingwe Beach

Pingwe Beach is another reason why Zanzibar is one of the most recommended vacation destinations in the world.

Its presumed attractions include an impressive expanse of fine, light sand, turquoise waters, exuberant marine life, and sunsets that will stay in your memory forever.

Tidal changes expose part of its spectacular coral reef for a few hours a day, although what’s truly surprising is discovering each of its corners while snorkeling along its shores.

The town of Pingwe is also one of Zanzibar’s richest cultural showcases, and just a few meters from the beach, you can visit bustling local markets or dance to the rhythm of traditional Swahili music.

We are not exaggerating when we say that Pingwe and its beach constitute one of the most special places one can visit on the face of the Earth.

Jozani Chwaka Bay Park

When we say Zanzibar is pure natural beauty, we’re not just talking about its lush and alluring beaches. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is the best example of this, with a natural space, formed by the dense rainforest, that concentrates an enormous diversity of fauna and flora in just 50 square kilometers.

This wonderful environment owes its fame, in addition to its beauty and peculiarity, to the presence of red colobus monkeys, endangered primates that can only be spotted in this magical place.

Exploring the trails of this spectacular setting will allow you to discover mangrove forests, panoramic wetlands, coral rag thickets, and a multitude of animal and plant species.

Furthermore, if you book a guided walk through the park, you can learn a lot of details about the rich local culture, or learn about the different animal and plant species that make up this protected area.

It’s the ideal plan to add a day of hiking and adventure to your Zanzibar vacation, without losing that special connection with nature that the country offers to all its visitors.

Rock Restaurant

The Rock is the most popular restaurant in all of Zanzibar, both for its wonderful culinary offerings and for its location, situated on an islet, offering a complete and unforgettable experience to its diners.

It is one of the best places in the entire archipelago to try local fish and seafood.

If you plan to have lunch or dinner there during your stay in Zanzibar, we recommend that you contact the restaurant in advance to guarantee your reservation. If you wish, you can do so directly from their website.

Among its many specialties, we suggest you don’t miss their stewed rock lobster, their coconut tiramisu, or their grilled fish fillets, which always offer fresh catch of the day.

The Rock is a true gastronomic oasis, lost in the middle of nature, offering the possibility of enjoying an unforgettable meal, with the incomparable beauty of the Indian Ocean, its transparent waters, and Zanzibar’s paradisiacal beaches behind you.

Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation

We already mentioned it when we talked about the wonderful Nungwi beach. Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation is a turtle conservation project, located at one end of the famous beach, which allows you to discover firsthand all the secrets of the fabulous marine ecosystem of the area, through a kind of natural aquarium, focused on the protection and conservation of turtles.

It is a marine lagoon located a few meters from the Indian Ocean and connected to it through ancient reef rocks thanks to the ebb and flow of the tides.

At the center, you can also visit several small pools, dedicated to the protection of hatchlings, where marine turtles or sick turtles are also treated.

The best time to visit this fantastic place is in February, when the rehabilitated turtle release festival is held, returning all recovered specimens to their natural habitat, the wonderful Indian Ocean.

Mnemba Marine Reserve

We continue our list of essential places to visit in Zanzibar with a marine reserve located on a small, as exclusive as it is paradisiacal, island.

Its surroundings constitute one of the best spots on the entire planet for snorkeling and especially diving, where it’s common to regularly spot large underwater animal species, such as whale sharks, dolphins, and humpback whales.

However, to visit it, you will have to pay an entrance fee in advance, as it is a completely private island.

Mnemba is an authentic natural paradise, with wild beaches and incomparable flora and fauna.

Furthermore, among the plans available in the area, you can even book a yoga session, which will allow you to establish a magical connection with your body and the incredible natural environment that surrounds you.

Kuza Cave

The excursion to Kuza Cave is one of the best things to do in Zanzibar, and it will take you inside a mysterious and beautiful cave, located in the middle of the jungle and filled with completely crystal-clear turquoise water.

A different option for enjoying snorkeling, with slightly cooler waters than the warm Indian Ocean, and with the opportunity to discover truly amazing geological formations.

As part of the excursion, you can take a local cooking class and enjoy a delicious Swahili lunch.

If you prefer, you also have the option of combining the visit with a traditional drumming and dance class, or a Swahili history and music lesson in a truly unique setting.

Swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar

We conclude this very special list with what for us is surely the most magical experience among the many unforgettable plans offered by this wonderful place.

There are several places in the archipelago where you can book this fabulous activity, but our favorite, without a doubt, is the recently mentioned Mnemba Natural Reserve, as in addition to dolphins, you can discover many other species of tropical fish during the duration of the experience.

When booking the activity, you will be provided with all the necessary equipment to enjoy it to the fullest, and you will have the company of several experienced guides during the 4 or 5 hours it usually lasts.

Furthermore, it includes snorkeling in the vibrant Mnemba Atoll, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot larger marine species, such as the incredible and immense whale shark. The perfect finishing touch to a vacation you’ll remember your entire life.

Frequently Asked Questions Zanzibar

What shouldn't you miss in Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is one of the most comprehensive tourist destinations you can choose today. Among its many attractions, we recommend you don’t miss Stone Town, Nungwi and Nakupenda Beaches, Pemba Island, and Maalum Cave. But if you truly want to fully enjoy your stay in this dreamlike place, you can’t return without completing all the stops included in our particular guide.

How many days are needed to visit Zanzibar?

Considering its distance and the large number of highly recommended tourist attractions you’ll find in Zanzibar, our recommendation is to dedicate at least 10 days to visiting the country. And if you can stay there for two weeks, even better.

We assure you that every day in this idyllic territory is worth its weight in gold.