Zanzibar
Stone Town: Zanzibar's old town
In the morning the lanes of Stone Town are so narrow the sun never reaches the ground. As the day goes on they fill with bicycles, spice traders and schoolchildren. This is how to get the most from a day or two in the old town.
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In short: what is Stone Town?
Stone Town is the old quarter of Zanzibar City and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Building traditions from Africa, Arabia and India meet in a web of narrow lanes. Allow one full day and two nights, and stay inside the old town if you want to walk everywhere. Our first choice is Emerson Spice Hotel, rated 9.6 out of 10 by guests on Hotels.com.
Our first choice: Emerson Spice Hotel in the old town. Check availability and prices
Picolo has been to Zanzibar several times. The hotels and sights below are our own selection.
What to see in Stone Town
The lanes and the carved doors
Stone Town is made for getting lost in. The houses are built of coral stone, and many have heavy wooden doors with carvings and brass studs, some in Indian style, others in Arab style. Walk without a map one morning, and use the sea as your compass to find your way back.
Forodhani Gardens at night
When the sun goes down, cooks set up their grills in the park by the water. Here grilled octopus and lobster sit beside "Zanzibar pizza", a fried pancake with a filling. Prices are not always written up, so ask before you order.
The old slave market
Zanzibar was one of the largest slave markets in East Africa. The Anglican cathedral was built on the site of the last open slave market after it closed in 1873. The exhibition beside the cathedral is a powerful and necessary stop.
Stained glass
Rooms at Emerson Spice have coloured glass and four-poster beds, as in the old merchant houses.
Darajani Market
The town's main market is at its liveliest in the late morning. Fish and spices are sold side by side, and you see everyday life in Zanzibar City, not just the tourist version.
The Old Fort and Beit al-Ajaib
The Old Fort by the harbour was built by the Omanis in the late 17th century and is now used for culture and crafts. Next door, Beit al-Ajaib, the "House of Wonders", partly collapsed in 2020 and is under restoration.
Freddie Mercury's birthplace
Freddie Mercury was born in Stone Town in 1946 as Farrokh Bulsara. A small museum in Shangani tells the story of his childhood before the family moved on.
Boat trip to Prison Island
Boats leave from the beach at Stone Town for Prison Island, or Changuu, a ride of around half an hour. Today the island is best known for the giant tortoises that live there.
Where to stay in Stone Town
Stay inside the old town and you can walk to everything. Hotels outside have more space and a pool, but you will need a taxi to reach the lanes.
Emerson Spice Hotel
Emerson Spice occupies an old merchant's house in the heart of the old town, with a courtyard framed by carved wooden galleries. Rooms have stained glass and four-poster beds, breakfast is included, and there are two restaurants. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10. Best if you want to stay inside the history, not just look at it.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
The Serena sits on the water in the Shangani quarter, with a pool facing the sea. Forodhani Gardens and the Freddie Mercury museum are a few minutes' walk away. It is rated 9.0, and guests single out the staff. A good choice for a classic hotel with sea views and the old town right behind you.
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Outside the old town
Hotel Verde stands by the sea a short way from the lanes of Stone Town.
Hotel Verde Zanzibar
Hotel Verde stands by the sea a short way outside the old town, with a spa and a balcony on every room. It does not serve alcohol, which suits many families but not everyone. It is rated 8.8. Best if you want space and calm and do not mind a short taxi ride into the lanes.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices
Park Hyatt Zanzibar is also on the waterfront. You will find it in our guide to combining safari and Zanzibar.
Tips for Stone Town
Dress for the place: cover shoulders and knees in the old town. More in our Zanzibar travel advice.
Go early or late: the lanes are hot in the middle of the day, while mornings and late afternoons are pleasant.
Hire a guide once: a local guide explains the history behind houses and doors you would otherwise walk past.
Agree a meeting point: addresses are hard to find, so arrange to meet at a well-known landmark.
Frequently asked questions about Stone Town
What is Stone Town famous for?
Stone Town is known for its narrow lanes, carved wooden doors and its history as a trading town on the Indian Ocean. The old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Is Stone Town safe at night?
Forodhani Gardens and the streets around it are busy in the evening. Stick to lit streets, leave valuables at the hotel and take a taxi home if you are staying outside the old town.
What is the Forodhani night market?
It is the food market that opens in the park by the water every evening. Stalls sell grilled seafood, coconut bread and fried pancakes with fillings.
Is Freddie Mercury from Zanzibar?
Yes. Freddie Mercury was born in Stone Town in 1946, and a small museum in the Shangani quarter tells the story of his early years.
How do you get to Prison Island?
Boats leave from the beach at Stone Town, and the crossing takes around half an hour. Most hotels and tour operators in town can arrange the trip.