Travel tips
Zanzibar honeymoon: 6 hotels for newlyweds
A villa with its own pool, sandbanks at low tide and a night in the old town. These are the six hotels we would book for a Zanzibar honeymoon, and how to choose your beach.
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In short
Baraza Resort & Spa on Dongwe beach is our first choice for a Zanzibar honeymoon, because every villa has a private pool for the hours when the tide is out. The best months are June to October and December to February. If swimming all day matters most, stay in Kendwa on the north-west coast instead.
Our first choice: See rooms at Baraza Resort & Spa
At low tide the sea pulls back hundreds of metres from the beach at Jambiani, and the seaweed farmers walk out across the sandbanks. A few hours later the water is back in the lagoon. We have been to Zanzibar several times, and the tide is the first thing we explain to friends planning a honeymoon here. It decides where you should stay.
How to choose your beach on Zanzibar
Kendwa and Nungwi in the north: The tide makes the least difference here, so you can swim for most of the day. The sun sets over the sea, and Nungwi is livelier than Kendwa.
The east coast from Dongwe to Jambiani: The quietest coast on the island, with long sandbanks at low tide. Swimming waits for the water to return, so a pool matters here.
Kizimkazi in the south-west: A peaceful corner of the island, close to the boats that head out to see dolphins.
Our top picks
Best for privacy: Baraza Resort & Spa, Dongwe
Best for swimming: Zuri Zanzibar, Kendwa
Best small hotel: Uzuri Villa, Jambiani
Best in Stone Town: Emerson Spice Hotel
Six hotels for your honeymoon
Dongwe
The pool sits a few steps from the sand on the east coast.
Baraza Resort & Spa: a villa with its own pool
Baraza sits on Dongwe beach on the east coast, a little north of Jambiani. Every villa has a private pool, so you can swim whenever you like, even when the sea is far out. The spa is on site for the days when you do not want to go further than the water’s edge.
Best for: couples who want space, service and privacy.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Baraza Resort & Spa
Kizimkazi
The south-west coast is the quietest part of the island.
The Residence Zanzibar: a big garden and dolphins
The Residence is in Kizimkazi on the south-west coast, a short way from the boats that take guests out to the dolphins. The villas have private pools and are spread across a large park that runs down to a white beach. Breakfast is included, and guests rate it 9.0.
Best for: couples who want plenty of distance from other guests.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at The Residence Zanzibar
Uzuri Villa: six suites on Jambiani beach
Uzuri Villa is a small boutique hotel right on the beach at Jambiani, with three suites and three junior suites. Elga Giannini came from Italy on holiday and never left, and we have told the story of how she opened the hotel. The doors have no room numbers, and the pool goes quiet soon after dark. Guests rate it 9.6.
Best for: couples who want somewhere small and personal, with the sea outside the door.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Uzuri Villa
Kendwa
On the north-west coast you can swim at almost any state of the tide.
Zuri Zanzibar: swimming all day in Kendwa
Zuri is in Kendwa on the north-west coast, where the tide makes the least difference on the whole island. The bungalows stand in a large garden where the hotel grows its own spices, and there are three restaurants to choose from. In the evening the sun goes down over the sea right in front of the beach.
Best for: couples who want to swim when they like and eat somewhere different each night.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Zuri Zanzibar
Dongwe
The palms run right down to the sand at Breezes.
Breezes Beach Club & Spa: dinner taken care of
Breezes is also on Dongwe beach and includes half board, so there is no need to plan your evenings. Guests rate it 9.6, the highest score we have found on the island. The kitesurf schools in Paje are a short drive south, if one of you fancies a lesson.
Best for: couples who want beach and spa without thinking about dinner.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Breezes Beach Club & Spa
Stone Town: a night in the old town
Stone Town is the old quarter of Zanzibar City and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Give it one or two nights, ideally at the start or the end of your trip. Eat at the night market in the Forodhani Gardens and wander back through the alleys once it has cooled down. There is more in our guide to Stone Town.
Emerson Spice Hotel
Stained glass and a four-poster bed in one of the rooms in the old town.
Emerson Spice Hotel: carved galleries in the old town
Emerson Spice is inside the old town, built around a courtyard with carved wooden galleries on several floors. Several rooms have stained glass and four-poster beds, and guests rate the hotel 9.6. From here you can walk to the market, the fort and the harbour.
Best for: couples who want history and atmosphere before or after the beach.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Emerson Spice Hotel
When should you go to Zanzibar?
June to October is dry and a little cooler, and works well if you want to add a safari. December to February is the hottest time, around 30°C with a warm sea. Avoid April and May, when the long rains are at their heaviest. Our guide to the best time to visit Zanzibar goes through it month by month.
Safari and beach on the same trip
Many honeymooners spend a few days on safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro before flying on to Zanzibar. A good split is four to five nights on safari and five to seven nights on the island, with the safari first and the beach last. Routes, flights and lodges are in our guide to safari and beach in Zanzibar.
Good to know before you go
Visa: Most visitors need a visa, and the easiest option is to apply for an e-visa in advance.
Entry insurance: All foreign tourists must buy a separate policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. See our Zanzibar travel advice.
Mention you are newlyweds: Many hotels do something extra for honeymooners, but only if they know.
Frequently asked questions about a Zanzibar honeymoon
Is Zanzibar good for a honeymoon?
Yes. Zanzibar has white beaches, a warm sea and an old trading town on the same island, and many couples add a safari on the mainland. Choose the east coast for peace and a villa with a private pool, or Kendwa if you want to swim all day. A night in Stone Town adds the alleys and the night market.
Where should you stay on Zanzibar for a honeymoon?
It depends on how you want to spend your days. The east coast from Dongwe to Jambiani is the quietest, but the sea goes far out at low tide, so pick a hotel with a pool. Kendwa on the north-west coast has the best swimming all day. Kizimkazi in the south-west suits couples who want space and dolphin trips.
When is the best time for a Zanzibar honeymoon?
June to October and December to February are the best periods. The first is dry and pairs well with a safari, while the second is the hottest, around 30°C with a warm sea. Avoid April and May, when it rains the most. The best hotels fill up early around Christmas and the February half term, so book ahead.
How long should a Zanzibar honeymoon be?
Seven to ten nights on Zanzibar works well, with one or two nights in Stone Town and the rest by the beach. If you are adding a safari, allow another four or five nights on the mainland. It is a long journey from Europe, so with fewer than seven nights too much of the trip goes on getting there and back.
Can you combine a Zanzibar honeymoon with a safari?
Yes, and it is the most popular route. Fly into Kilimanjaro, go on safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then fly on to Zanzibar to rest. Short on time? Fly-in safaris go from the island to Nyerere National Park, with boat safaris and one or two nights in a camp or lodge.