Zanzibar is where the Swahili coast turns to legend: an Indian Ocean archipelago perfumed with cloves, ringed by blinding white beaches and centred on the labyrinth of Stone Town. Sultans, spice traders and dhow captains all left their mark, and you taste it in every plate of pilau.
Base yourself in the historic capital for culture, then drift to a beach village to snorkel coral reefs, kitesurf glassy lagoons or simply watch fishermen mend their nets at low tide. It is small enough to see in a long week, and slow enough to make you stay longer.
Lose a morning in Stone Town's alleys, the Old Slave Market and the Palace Museum, then take an afternoon spice-farm tour to smell clove, vanilla and nutmeg on the vine. End at Forodhani night market and a rooftop sunset.
Head to Jozani Forest early for the red colobus monkeys and mangrove boardwalk, then continue to Paje or Jambiani. Kitesurf, walk the vast low-tide sandbank, or just settle into a beach cafe.
Drive to Matemwe or Nungwi and take a dawn boat to Mnemba Atoll for snorkelling with turtles and reef fish. Spend the afternoon on Kendwa's tideless sand and stay for the sunset.
A UNESCO-listed maze of coral-stone alleys where Swahili, Arab, Persian and Indian worlds collide in carved wooden doors and crumbling merchant mansions. Get deliberately lost between the bazaars, then climb to a rooftop bar for the call to prayer at dusk.
As the sun drops behind the seafront, this harbour-side garden fills with grills of seafood skewers, samosas and Zanzibar 'pizza'. Come hungry, pay in cash, and haggle gently over the sugar-cane juice pressed to order.
The Anglican Cathedral was built over East Africa's last open slave market, its altar marking the whipping post. The underground holding cells and the memorial make for a sobering, essential hour.
The island's northern tip has the powder-white sand and near-tideless water you came for, so you can swim any hour. Kendwa is famous for its melt-into-the-ocean sunsets and monthly full-moon beach parties.
This protected patch of coastal forest shelters the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on earth. Come early on the guided walk, then cross the boardwalk through the mangroves.
A coral horseshoe off the northeast coast with the clearest water in Zanzibar, alive with turtles, dolphins and reef fish. Boats leave Matemwe at dawn for the calmest snorkelling before the wind picks up.
The historic heart and only real town, packed with guesthouses inside restored merchant houses. Best for first-timers who want museums, markets and nightlife on foot.
Zanzibar's liveliest beach scene, with tideless swimming, dive centres and sundowner bars. Nungwi buzzes; Kendwa next door is calmer by day and wild by full moon.
A boho stretch of kite schools, beach cafes and cheaper stays. Paje is the young, active hub; Jambiani, just down the sand, is quieter and more local.
A laid-back fishing village facing Mnemba Atoll, ideal for snorkellers and honeymooners who want barefoot luxury without the crowds.
A tangy turmeric-and-mango soup loaded with fritters, potato, boiled egg and crunchy bhajia. The island's favourite street lunch, best from a Forodhani stall.
Omani- and Indian-rooted spiced rice, layered with clove, cardamom and cinnamon and slow-cooked with meat. Zanzibari families serve it every Friday.
Grilled reef fish bathed in a tangy coconut-and-tamarind curry, the signature Swahili seafood dish. Order it beachside with a mound of coconut rice.
A Forodhani invention: thin dough folded around minced meat, egg and vegetables, then griddled crisp. Ask for the Nutella-and-banana version for dessert.
The dry season from June to October brings clear skies, warm days and calm seas, the peak window for beaches and diving. January and February are hot and dry too, while the long rains of March to May bring heavy afternoon downpours best avoided.
Shared dala-dala minibuses are dirt cheap but slow; most visitors use taxis or pre-booked private transfers, always agreeing the fare first. The island is compact, so day trips to Jozani, the spice farms or the east-coast beaches are easy from Stone Town.
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Zanzibar offers a range of options to suit different budgets.
