Zanzibar
Zanzibar hotels: where to stay, beach by beach
In Zanzibar you choose the beach before you choose the hotel. The tide decides whether you swim at eleven or walk a kilometre out across the sandbanks. These are the hotels we recommend, beach by beach.
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In short: where to stay in Zanzibar
If you want to swim all day, stay in the north, in Nungwi or Kendwa, where the tide is least noticeable. The east coast from Kiwengwa to Jambiani is quieter, but the sea pulls far out at low tide. Set aside a night or two in Stone Town for the culture. Our first choice is Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa, rated 9.4 out of 10 by guests on Hotels.com.
Our first choice: Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa. Check availability and prices
Picolo has been to Zanzibar several times. The selection below is our own. Every hotel had a guest rating of at least 8.8 on Hotels.com in October 2026.
Our top picks
Best for couples: Zuri Zanzibar, Kendwa
Best for a first visit: Z Hotel, Nungwi
Best all-inclusive: Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar, Nungwi
Best for families: Melia Zanzibar, Kiwengwa
Best half board: Breezes Beach Club & Spa, Dongwe
Best in Stone Town: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
When the sea pulls back
The reef and sandbanks off Dongwe on the east coast appear at low tide.
How to choose a beach: the tide decides
Zanzibar has a big tidal range, and it plays out differently around the island. On the east coast, from Kiwengwa in the north to Jambiani in the south, the sea can retreat several hundred metres. The sandbanks and seaweed farmers appear, but swimming has to wait until the water comes back.
On the northern tip the water is deeper close to shore. In Nungwi and Kendwa you can swim most of the day, and the sun sets straight into the sea in front of you. The trade-off is more people and more going on, especially in Nungwi.
The difference is greatest around full moon and new moon. If you are staying on the east coast, five minutes with a tide table for your travel week is time well spent.
Nungwi: the northern tip, lively at sunset
Nungwi is the village at the very top of the island, where boatbuilders still shape dhows by hand on the beach. It has the most restaurants and bars, and snorkelling trips and sunset cruises leave from right outside.
Z Hotel
Z Hotel sits in the middle of Nungwi, a short walk from the beach and the village restaurants. Every room has a balcony, and the hotel has two restaurants and its own spa. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10. A good choice for a first visit to Zanzibar if you like some life around you. If you want complete quiet, the east coast suits you better.
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Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Essque Zalu is a luxury hotel in Nungwi where every room and suite has its own balcony or terrace. It keeps a more secluded feel than the village around it, giving you Nungwi's swimming without staying in the middle of the party. Best for couples who want service and calm, with the village within reach.
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Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Riu Palace occupies the stretch between Nungwi and Kendwa and is all-inclusive throughout. It has 770 guest reviews on Hotels.com averaging 9.2, many of them praising the staff. Every room has a balcony or terrace. The right choice if you want food and drink included and no bill to think about.
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Kendwa
The wide beach at Kendwa, where the tide gets in the way less than anywhere on the island.
Kendwa: swimming all day
Kendwa is the west side of the northern tip, just south of Nungwi. The beach is long and wide, and the tide is less noticeable here than anywhere else on the island. That makes Kendwa the safest bet if swimming matters most.
Zuri Zanzibar
Zuri is our first choice in Zanzibar. Its bungalows are spread through a large garden that runs down to Kendwa beach, and the hotel grows its own spices on site. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10. A natural choice for a honeymoon, and for couples who want to watch the sunset without leaving the hotel.
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Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa
Gold Zanzibar sits by Kendwa beach, and every room has a deep bathtub. Breakfast is included, and guests rate it 9.0. Here you get Kendwa's swimming with a little more calm than in Nungwi.
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The north-east coast: Kiwengwa and Matemwe
White beaches with a reef offshore define the north-east coast. Off Matemwe lies Mnemba Atoll, one of the best places in Zanzibar for snorkelling. The tide is noticeable here, but less so than further south.
Melia Zanzibar
Melia stands by Kiwengwa beach and has three outdoor pools. That matters on a tidal coast, because children can swim even when the sea has pulled back. Guests rate it 8.8. Best for families and anyone who likes a large hotel with plenty of choice.
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The east coast
Palms, white sand and long beach walks at Dongwe on the east coast.
The east coast: Dongwe, Paje and Jambiani
The east coast is Zanzibar at its calmest. At low tide you can walk far out across the sandbanks among the seaweed farmers, and in Paje the kitesurfers fill the sky when the wind is up. The Rock restaurant near Michamvi sits on a rock in the sea and can only be reached on foot at low tide.
Breezes Beach Club & Spa
Breezes stands on Dongwe beach and has the highest guest rating of any hotel on our list, 9.6 out of 10. The rate includes half board, so breakfast and dinner are taken care of. A good choice for peace and long beach walks. If you want to swim all day, Kendwa is the better base.
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Uzuri Villa
Further south, in Jambiani, is the small hotel Elga from Italy opened after she came on holiday and never left. There are only a few rooms, the welcome is personal, and at low tide the seaweed farmers walk out onto the sandbanks right in front.com so far. Best if you want a simple stay close to village life. Read the story of Uzuri Villa.
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Stone Town: a night or two in the old town
Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the natural place to start or end your trip. The airport is just outside town, and from your hotel you can walk to the night market in Forodhani Gardens.
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
The Serena stands on the waterfront in the Shangani quarter, a few minutes from Shangani beach and the lanes of the old town. Guests single out the helpful staff, and it is rated 9.0. Best for your first nights, before you head to the beach.
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Park Hyatt Zanzibar overlooks the harbour and its dhows. You will find it in our guide to combining safari and Zanzibar.
Tips before you book
Check the tide: if you are staying on the east coast, look at the tide table for your travel week before booking.
Split your stay: two nights in Stone Town and the rest by the beach gives you both culture and swimming.
Allow for the transfer: the airport is by Stone Town, and the drive to Nungwi and Kendwa takes around an hour.
Book the holidays early: the best rooms in Kendwa and Nungwi go first over Christmas and February half-term.
Sort the insurance: Zanzibar requires its own entry insurance. Read our Zanzibar travel advice.
Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar hotels
What is the best area to stay in Zanzibar?
For swimming all day, Kendwa and Nungwi on the northern tip are best, because the tide is least noticeable there. The east coast suits travellers who want peace and long beach walks. Many spend a night or two in Stone Town first.
Where is the tide smallest in Zanzibar?
Kendwa on the north-west coast has the smallest tidal effect, so you can swim almost all day. Nungwi next door is nearly as good. On the east coast, from Kiwengwa to Jambiani, the sea retreats far out at low tide.
How long should you stay in Stone Town?
One or two nights is enough for most people. That leaves time for the lanes of the old town and an evening at the night market before you move on to the beach.
How far is Nungwi from the airport?
The airport is just outside Stone Town, and the drive to Nungwi and Kendwa takes around an hour. Most hotels can arrange a transfer.
Which Zanzibar hotel has the best guest rating?
Of the hotels we recommend, Breezes Beach Club & Spa on the east coast scores highest, 9.6 out of 10 on Hotels.com in October 2026. Zuri Zanzibar and Z Hotel both score 9.4.