Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice tour & Prison Island with Lunch
Free cancellation · Pickup included
fromUS$55
See dates on GetYourGuide
Plan your trip
This guide is split into hubs, one for each planning decision: what to do, which area suits you, how to fill your days and where to sleep. Start with the one you’re stuck on.
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Reefs, forest and old town
Things to do on Unguja
Unguja’s days split between reef, forest and old town. Clear water and good reefs make the island a fine place for diving and snorkelling, though in some areas reefs are in poor condition and fish populations are low3.
Stone Town: UNESCO World Heritage Site1
Inland, Jozani Forest has nature trails and red colobus monkeys, native to the island and now nearly extinct3. Stone Town carries the old trade history of the Spice Island, and a dhow sunset cruise3 rounds off the day.
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Zanzibar: Jozani Forest & Salaam Cave + Pickup & Entry fees
Free cancellation · Pickup included
fromUS$80
See dates on GetYourGuide
From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure
Free cancellation · Pickup included
fromUS$55
See dates on GetYourGuideBrowse island activities and where to do them, or open the Kizimkazi guide if you’re thinking of staying there.
Flights, ferries and paperwork
Getting there
Airport about 5 km south of the capital3
Dar es Salaam is the easy gateway: it’s well connected by both air and ferry, with many ferries and catamarans3 making the crossing. The airport sits about 5 km south3 of the capital. Before you book, check your passport: it must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive4.
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Sort your visa
The UK government advises applying for a Tanzanian e-visa before you travel; single-entry visas are also sold on arrival at the main ports of entry.
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Buy the entry insurance
Every foreign visitor must buy the compulsory inbound cover, at US$44 per person.
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Fly or sail in
Air France flies from Paris and Air Tanzania from Dar es Salaam, Arusha has direct flights, and many ferries and catamarans cross from Dar es Salaam.
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Land at ZNZ
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is about 5 km south of the capital.
Not sure where Zanzibar sits on the map? Start there, then read the ferry and flight routes in full and the car rental options for getting around the island.
Old town or beach village
Where to stay
Nungwi: resort town on the northern tip3
Your first choice is town or beach. Stone Town is the historic centre of the capital, the base for the island’s history and culture3, while the coast has sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs1.
In the north, Nungwi is a resort town on the northern tip and Kendwa sits a couple of miles from Nungwi3. On the east coast, Paje is known for kiteboarding and Jambiani is a fishing village that stretches along the beach3.
The guide to Zanzibar accommodation areas compares every stay with its price, and the Nungwi guide covers the north in detail. If you’re still choosing an island, read the Zanzibar or Mauritius comparison.
Kiwengwa, Zanzibar (Unguja)
Meliá Zanzibar
- Families: family rooms and kids' club
- Honeymooners
- Private pool villas (The Level)
- All-inclusive package: breakfast, lunch and dinner at selected restaurants
- Local and international drinks included; some premium items cost extra
- Airport shuttle extra: USD 78 per person one way
From €344 or US$410 a night (booking-site quotes, dates vary)
City tax USD 5.00 per person per night. Gala dinner fees are compulsory on 24 and 31 December. Zanzibar travel insurance costs USD 44 per person.
halalbooking.com (booking agent) · Priceline (booking agent) · HRS (booking agent) · Blue Bay Travel (booking agent) · myboutiquehotel.com (booking agent)
Kendwa Beach, Unguja (Zanzibar)
Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel
- Beach Houses for families and groups
- 2 family-sized bungalows
- Full Moon Parties
- Breakfast included
- Airport shuttle on request, extra fee
US$187–252 per night for 2 (Nov 2026, agents differ)
City tax USD 4.00 per person per night; extra-person charges vary by season
Priceline (booking agent) · halalbooking.com (booking agent) · Kendwa Rocks (resort)
Nungwi Beach, Unguja (Zanzibar Island)
Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
- Families: RIU Land kids' club
- 24-hour all-inclusive
- Airport transfers available (price not listed)
US$195–550 on riu.com (Jr. Suite courtyard view to Villa; dates not given); agents US$343–344 a night for 2
City tax US$5 per person per night
RIU (resort) · Priceline (booking agent) · HalalBooking (booking agent)
Weather through the year
When to go
Any month works for warmth: Unguja is warm all year round1 because it lies near the equator, and the capital averages 26.9 °C2. Heat won’t rule a month out, so the thing to check before you fix your dates is rain.
Capital averages 26.9 °C2
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
- Warm all year
See when the rains fall through the year before you book flights.
Questions people ask
Is Zanzibar part of Tanzania?
Yes. It's a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, and it united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Is the island LGBT friendly?
No. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal across Tanzania, the islands included, and public affection such as holding hands or kissing can lead to arrest.
What should you wear away from the beach?
Cover your legs and arms away from the resorts, especially in Stone Town. A bikini on a resort beach is fine.
Can you eat in public during Ramadan?
Avoid eating or drinking in public outside hotels and restaurants during Ramadan.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. Authors and licences: image credits
Checked against 7 sources · last checked October 2026
- Wikipedia · checked October 2026
- Wikipedia · checked October 2026
- Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
- GOV.UK (official) · checked October 2026
- us.tzembassy.go.tz (official) · checked October 2026
- jp.tzembassy.go.tz (official) · checked October 2026
- GOV.UK (official) · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 21 October 2026
- First written
Plan the rest
Zanzibar travel guide: where to stay on Unguja, visa and insurance rules, the warm months, Stone Town and tours worth booking.