Cheap flights to Zanzibar

Quick summary

Identity

A Swahili trading post turned postcard beach destination

This Zanzibar travel guide has to start with a small correction: Zanzibar isn't one island but an archipelago, and Unguja — often just called "Zanzibar Island" — is the main one, with Stone Town as its historic core and former capital of the 19th-century Sultanate of Zanzibar. As a trading hub for spices, ivory and, for a long stretch of its history, enslaved people between Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India, the old town kept a maze of narrow lanes, houses with carved wooden balconies and ornate doors that blend Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences — an urban ensemble that's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Not to miss

Stone Town, from the House of Wonders to Darajani market

The House of Wonders, the former ceremonial palace of Sultan Barghash built in 1883, was one of the first buildings in East Africa fitted with electricity and an elevator — it still dominates the waterfront today, even after a partial collapse in 2020 that's currently being repaired. Right next door, the 17th-century Old Fort, built by Omani forces over the ruins of a Portuguese chapel, now hosts craft markets and open-air concerts. Darajani covered market remains the old town's beating heart: fresh fish, spices sold loose and tropical fruit change hands there from first light.

Freddie Mercury and the Forodhani Gardens

Born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town in 1946, the future Queen frontman spent his early childhood in these same lanes before his family left the island; a house-museum near the market is now dedicated to him. As evening falls, Forodhani Gardens, right on the waterfront in front of the Old Fort, turn into a buzzing night food market — grilled octopus skewers, samosas and tamarind toffee are all part of the ritual, shared between residents and travellers watching the sunset.

Museums

House of Wonders, Palace Museum and the memory of slavery

House of Wonders

Completed in 1883 for Sultan Barghash, it is the largest and tallest building in Stone Town and housed the Museum of History and Culture of Zanzibar and the Swahili Coast (Wikipedia EN). It partly collapsed in 2020 and is being restored: check whether it is open before you visit.

Palace Museum (Beit el-Sahel)

Another former sultan's palace on the seafront north of the House of Wonders, built in the late 19th century. It shows the daily life of the royal family, including items belonging to Sayyida Salme, a Zanzibar princess who left to live in Europe (Wikipedia EN).

Slave market and Anglican cathedral

The site of the old slave market in central Stone Town now holds Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, built at the end of the 19th century: the altar stands where the whipping post used to be. A monument to the slaves and a museum on the history of slavery are next to it (Wikipedia EN); cellar chambers can be visited, with little explanation according to Wikivoyage EN.

Old Fort

The oldest building in Stone Town, built by the Omanis in 1699; it hosts craft stalls and performances.

Beyond Stone Town

Northern beaches and a spice-tasting detour

About an hour's drive north of Stone Town, Nungwi and Kendwa have the whitest sand and the clearest turquoise water on the archipelago, and are far less affected by tides than the rest of the east coast — they're also where most sunset dhow trips and snorkeling excursions out to Mnemba Island depart from. Inland, the well-known spice tours take visitors through a working plantation of spices and tropical fruit (clove, cinnamon, vanilla, ylang-ylang), often wrapped up with a local cooking lesson — a nod to the archipelago's old nickname, the Spice Island.

Jozani, home of the red colobus

Southeast of Stone Town, the Jozani-Chwaka Bay forest, the island's only national park, shelters the Zanzibar red colobus, an endangered endemic primate that can be spotted in the wild on a short guided walk through the canopy.

Food

Forodhani, Zanzibar pizza, sugar cane juice and spices

Zanzibar's cuisine is more varied than the mainland's, especially in Stone Town (Wikivoyage EN). Forodhani Gardens, facing the Old Fort, turn after sunset into a busy street food market: grilled fish and seafood, samosas, cassava and sweet potato (Wikipedia EN). It is also the place to try the 'Zanzibar pizza', a kind of savoury crêpe filled, in its basic version, with beef, egg and salad.

Drinks

Freshly pressed sugar cane juice and coconut milk are not to be missed in Stone Town; tangawizi is a spicy ginger soda; on the beaches there are local beers and the Dawa cocktail (Wikivoyage EN).

Spices

Zanzibar is the old Spice Island: cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger and saffron grow on the island, and spice tours often end with a local meal.

Good to know

The archipelago is mostly Muslim: drink alcohol discreetly, especially during Ramadan. Beach hotels also serve more international food.

Getting to Zanzibar

An airport close to Stone Town and ferries from Dar es Salaam

Approximate distances and times from Wikipedia EN and Wikivoyage EN; check entry conditions, as Zanzibar has its own immigration service.

Fast ferries and catamarans link Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in about 1 h 30 to 2 h (Wikivoyage EN and DE), while the slow Flying Horse ferry takes up to 4 h 30.

Even from the mainland you need a valid passport in Zanzibar: the archipelago keeps a separate immigration service (Wikivoyage EN).

Getting around

On foot in Stone Town, taxi or dala-dala on the island

In Stone Town walking is the most practical option: the alleys are narrow. To leave town, taxis and cars with a driver are the most comfortable; prices are negotiated before departure, and private cars are often 10 to 20 per cent cheaper than official taxis (Wikivoyage EN).

Dala-dala

Minibuses and pickups serving every village on the island at very low prices; allow about two hours to Nungwi and note that no line links north and south directly: you change at Stone Town (Wikivoyage EN).

Shared taxi and rental

A shared taxi to be booked online runs on the island. Driving yourself can be hard: roads are sometimes in poor condition, there are obstacles, many police checks and a temporary Zanzibar driving permit; avoid driving at night (Wikivoyage EN).

Respect

The island is mostly Muslim; away from the beaches, cover arms and legs and avoid public displays of affection (Wikivoyage EN).

When to go

When to visit Zanzibar?

Tropical monsoon climate: near the equator the archipelago is warm all year; there are two rainfall peaks, March-May and November-December (Wikipedia EN). Best period: June to October for the dry season, December to February for the heat.

By length of stay

What to do in Zanzibar depending on how long you stay

Budget

A mid-range stay, pricier by the beach

Zanzibar is not a cheap destination for lodging: according to Wikivoyage EN, budget hotels are scarce, beach hotels are often pricier than those in Stone Town, and rates fall in the low season, when some places close. Street food, dala-dalas and markets remain affordable, while excursions, spice tours and entry to Jozani can cost foreign visitors more. We do not publish precise prices here.

Keeping costs down

Visit in the low season, negotiate taxis and excursions before setting off, and compare several offers before booking. Avoid paying on the street: beware of touts in Stone Town.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Zanzibar