How many days do I need in Zanzibar?

Three to four days is enough to relax on the coast and see Stone Town, while five to seven days allows time for both coasts, a spice tour, and a diving or snorkeling trip. Many travellers add Zanzibar as a 3 to 5 day extension after a Tanzania safari.

Which coast of Zanzibar is best — north, east, or Stone Town?

The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa has swimmable beaches at every tide and the liveliest nightlife. The east coast around Paje, Jambiani, and Michamvi has quieter, more traditional villages and is the centre for kitesurfing, but its beaches empty out at low tide. Stone Town suits travellers who want history and restaurants within walking distance, with a short transfer to the beaches.

Is it easy to combine Zanzibar with a Tanzania safari?

Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, or the Serengeti's airstrips, and most itineraries end a safari with a direct flight to Zanzibar for a beach extension of a few days to a week.

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?

June to October and December to February are the driest, most reliable months. November brings short rains and quieter beaches at lower rates, while April and May are Zanzibar's wettest months and many smaller properties close.

How much does a Zanzibar trip cost?

Guesthouses and budget beach bungalows start around 60 to 100 dollars per person per day. Mid-range beach hotels run roughly 130 to 250 dollars per day, and boutique or luxury resorts start around 300 dollars per day and rise well beyond that for private villas.

Zanzibar: Beaches, Stone Town & Spice Island Travel Guide

The Spice Island

Tanzania's coast, at a different pace

"After a week of early alarms and dust roads, Zanzibar's entire job is to ask nothing of you. That contrast is exactly why the two trips work so well back to back."

Zanzibar is an archipelago off Tanzania's coast, best known for powder-white beaches, warm Indian Ocean water, and Stone Town — a UNESCO World Heritage old town of coral-stone buildings, carved wooden doors, and narrow alleys that trace centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and Indian trade.

Inland, the island's spice farms — the source of its historic clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon trade — are still worked today and open for guided tours. Offshore, coral reefs around Mnemba Atoll and the wider archipelago offer some of East Africa's best diving and snorkeling.

The natural pairing with a safari

Zanzibar's international and domestic airports connect directly to Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and the Serengeti's airstrips, usually in under 90 minutes. Most of our guests treat it as the second half of a trip: safari first, then several days doing nothing more strenuous than choosing a spot on the sand.

What to do

The island's highlights

Zanzibar rewards a slower pace, but there's a genuine list of things worth building a day around.

Stone Town

Wander the old quarter's alleys, visit the House of Wonders and the old fort, and watch the sunset over the harbour from the Forodhani Gardens night market.

Spice tours

Guided walks through working spice farms near Stone Town, tasting cloves, vanilla, cardamom, and cinnamon straight from the plant.

Diving & snorkeling

Mnemba Atoll's reef is the island's best-known dive site, with turtles, reef sharks, and dolphins seen on many trips out of the north coast.

Sunset dhow cruise

A traditional wooden sailing dhow at sunset off Nungwi or Stone Town is one of the island's most-booked half-day activities.

Prison Island

A short boat ride from Stone Town to see giant Aldabra tortoises and snorkel a small coral reef, often combined with a Stone Town morning.

Kitesurfing at Paje

The east coast's steady trade winds and shallow lagoon make Paje one of East Africa's best-known kitesurfing spots, with schools for every level.

Book direct

Zanzibar packages

Three ready-built itineraries, fully customizable on dates, hotel selection, and duration — including as an extension tacked onto any of our safari packages.

Beach bungalow on a 3-day Zanzibar escape

3 Days · Beach Escape

3 Days

Zanzibar Beach Escape

From $480 per person

North coast beach hotel, breakfast included
Half-day Stone Town walking tour
Airport transfers on arrival and departure

Enquire about the 3-day package

Aerial view of a 5-day Zanzibar explorer itinerary

5 Days · Explorer

Our most booked Zanzibar package

5 Days

Zanzibar Explorer

From $820 per person

Two nights in Stone Town, three on the north or east coast
Guided spice tour and sunset dhow cruise included
Best for a first visit wanting culture and beach together

Enquire about the 5-day package

7 Days · Safari + Zanzibar

7 Days

Safari & Zanzibar Combo

From $2,650 per person

4 days on a Northern Circuit safari, 3 days on the coast
Direct flight between the Serengeti and Zanzibar
The most popular way to combine both sides of Tanzania

Enquire about the combo package

Where to stay

Zanzibar's areas, at a glance

The right base depends on what you want from the trip — nightlife and reliable swimming, quiet villages and kitesurfing, or history and restaurants within walking distance.

North Coast

Nungwi & Kendwa

Swimmable beaches at every tide, the island's liveliest bars and restaurants, and easy boat trips to Mnemba.

East Coast

Paje & Jambiani

Quieter villages, powder-soft sand, and the island's kitesurfing centre — beaches empty out at low tide here.

East Coast

Michamvi & Pingwe

A quieter stretch of the east coast, home to the well-known "Rock" restaurant perched just offshore.

Old Town

Stone Town

History, markets, and restaurants on your doorstep, with a 30 to 60 minute transfer out to the beach areas.

Making the choice

North Coast vs. East Coast vs. Stone Town

Factor	North Coast	East Coast	Stone Town
Beach at low tide	Swimmable at every tide	Water recedes far out	Not a beach base
Atmosphere	Lively, more restaurants and bars	Quiet, traditional villages	Historic, urban
Best for	First-time visitors, easy swimming	Kitesurfing, a quieter pace	Culture, food, walkable history
Transfer from airport	45–60 minutes	60–75 minutes	15–20 minutes
Our pick for first-timers	Nungwi or Kendwa	—	2 nights, then the coast

Many itineraries combine two of the three — a couple of nights in Stone Town followed by several days on a coast — rather than choosing just one.

What it costs

Zanzibar pricing, by tier

Prices are per person, per day, based on two travellers sharing a room. All tiers include accommodation and breakfast; airport transfers and activities are typically arranged separately or as add-ons.

Guesthouse / Budget

$60–100 pp/day

Simple beach bungalows or Stone Town guesthouses, fan or basic air conditioning, walk to the beach or old town.

Mid-Range Beach Hotel

$130–250 pp/day

En-suite beachfront rooms, pool, restaurant on site, and easy booking of tours and water sports.

Boutique & Luxury Resort

$300+ pp/day

Private villas or suites, spa facilities, and dedicated concierge for diving, dhow cruises, and private dining.

Not included in any tier: international or domestic flights, the Tanzania tourist visa (approx. $50, valid for the mainland and Zanzibar), travel and medical insurance, and gratuities for hotel staff and guides.

When to go

Best months for Zanzibar

Months	Conditions	Rating	Notes
Jun – Oct	Dry, cooler, steady breeze	Excellent	The most reliable window, and peak season for pairing with a safari — book ahead for the best beach hotels
Nov	Short rains	Good	Brief afternoon showers, quieter beaches, and lower hotel rates
Dec – Feb	Hot and dry	Excellent	Warm water and reliable sun, popular over the holiday season — book early for December
Mar – May	Long rains	Low season	Zanzibar's wettest months; many smaller boutique properties close for renovations

Sea temperatures stay warm year-round, so the real trade-off is rainfall and hotel availability rather than water conditions.

In their words

What our Zanzibar guests say

★★★★★

"Flying straight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar the same afternoon still feels unreal. Dust to turquoise water in about an hour."

NATALIE B. — AUSTRALIA · JULY SAFARI & ZANZIBAR TRIP

★★★★★

"Two nights in Stone Town before the beach was the right call — the spice tour and the old town alone were worth the stop."

SAMUEL & GRACE K. — KENYA · SEPTEMBER ZANZIBAR TRIP

★★★★★

"We snorkeled Mnemba on our second day and saw dolphins on the boat ride out before we'd even reached the reef."

LUCA M. — ITALY · FEBRUARY ZANZIBAR TRIP

Expert answers

Frequently asked questions

Three to four days is enough to relax on the coast and see Stone Town, while five to seven days allows time for both coasts, a spice tour, and a diving or snorkeling trip. Many travellers add Zanzibar as a 3 to 5 day extension after a Tanzania safari.
The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa has swimmable beaches at every tide and the liveliest nightlife. The east coast around Paje, Jambiani, and Michamvi has quieter, more traditional villages and is the centre for kitesurfing, but its beaches empty out at low tide. Stone Town suits travellers who want history and restaurants within walking distance, with a short transfer to the beaches.
Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, or the Serengeti's airstrips, and most itineraries end a safari with a direct flight to Zanzibar for a beach extension of a few days to a week.
June to October and December to February are the driest, most reliable months. November brings short rains and quieter beaches at lower rates, while April and May are Zanzibar's wettest months and many smaller properties close.
Guesthouses and budget beach bungalows start around $60 to $100 per person per day. Mid-range beach hotels run roughly $130 to $250 per day, and boutique or luxury resorts start around $300 per day and rise well beyond that for private villas.