Zanzibar Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Zanzibar tours, the spice island paradise off the coast of Tanzania: the labyrinthine UNESCO alleys of Stone Town, fragrant spice farm visits, snorkelling with dolphins at Mnemba atoll, giant tortoises on Prison Island, the dazzling Nakupenda sandbank, the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest, and the turquoise beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Tanzania trip.
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Explore Zanzibar by interest
Whatever brings you to Zanzibar — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Stone Town
UNESCO Swahili city.
ExploreSpice tours
The Spice Island.
ExploreSnorkeling
Mnemba and dolphins.
ExplorePrison Island
Tortoises and sandbank.
ExploreJozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
ExploreBeaches & dhows
Nungwi and sunset sails.
ExploreMainland safari
Fly-in game drives.
ExploreSafari Blue
Full-day boat trip.
ExploreTop attractions in Zanzibar
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Stone Town
UNESCO old city.
Mnemba Atoll
Snorkel & dolphins.
Prison Island
Giant tortoises.
Spice Farm
Cloves & cinnamon.
Jozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
Nungwi Beach
White-sand paradise.
Sunset Dhow
Traditional sail.
Nakupenda Sandbank
White-sand bank.
Zanzibar in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Stone Town & spice
- 2Day 2: snorkel & sandbank
- 3Day 3: Jozani & beach
- 4City, sea & forest
Zanzibar beach escape
- 1North-coast beaches
- 2Sunset dhow cruise
- 3Snorkel & swim
- 4Seafood by the sea
Zanzibar with kids
- 1Prison Island tortoises
- 2Snorkel & swim
- 3Jozani monkeys
- 4Beach time
Old city awayStone Town
UNESCO Swahili town.
Boat trip awayPrison Island
Tortoises & sandbank.
North coast awayMnemba Atoll
Snorkel & dolphins.
40 min awayJozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
Near city awaySpice Farm
Cloves & cinnamon.
By flight awaySelous Safari
Mainland game drive.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Zanzibar visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
June to October is the cooler dry season — sunny, pleasant and the best time for beaches, snorkelling and tours.
Dry season (Jun–Oct)
Warm, dry and breezy with low humidity; the peak season, ideal for the sea and outdoors, so book ahead.
Short dry (Dec–Feb)
Hot and sunny with calm seas, popular over the festive season and great for snorkelling and beaches.
Long rains (Mar–May)
The wettest months bring heavy downpours and some closures; quieter and cheaper, with sunshine between showers.
Short rains (Nov)
November sees brief afternoon showers but plenty of sun, a good-value shoulder month.
For snorkeling
The dry seasons offer the clearest water and calmest seas for Mnemba and Safari Blue trips.
One day
Stone Town, spice and Prison Island.
Three days
Add snorkelling, Jozani and a beach.
A week
The sweet spot: tours plus relaxed beach days.
With a safari
Add days for a mainland fly-in safari.
Beach holiday
Many combine tours with several beach days.
Travelling with kids
Mix tortoises, snorkelling and the beach.
Tours & transfers
Most experiences include hotel pickup; private transfers and taxis are the easiest way between Stone Town and the beaches.
Stone Town on foot
Stone Town’s maze of alleys is best explored on foot, ideally with a guide so you don’t get lost.
By boat
Boat trips reach Prison Island, the sandbanks, Mnemba atoll and Safari Blue, departing from Stone Town and the coast.
From the airport
Abeid Amani Karume Airport is near Stone Town, about 15 minutes away, with transfers to beach resorts 1–1.5 hours north or east.
Spread-out beaches
Beaches are scattered around the island, so factor in 1–1.5 hour drives between the north, east and Stone Town.
Quad & bike tours
Quad-bike and village tours offer a fun way to explore the north-coast countryside.
Shillings and dollars
Tanzania uses the shilling, but US dollars are widely accepted for tours; carry small notes and some cash, as cards aren’t always taken.
Dress respectfully
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim — cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages, saving beachwear for the resorts and sand.
Sun and hydration
The equatorial sun is strong — bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water, especially for boat and beach days.
Mind the tides
East-coast beaches have dramatic tides that expose the reef; the north (Nungwi, Kendwa) stays swimmable, so plan boat trips around tide times.
Responsible dolphin tours
If swimming with dolphins, choose operators that keep a respectful distance and don’t chase the animals.
Pre-book boat tours
Mnemba, Safari Blue and sandbank trips sell out in peak season — book ahead.
Snorkeling trips
Mnemba and Safari Blue tours sell out — book ahead.
Sandbank tours
Prison Island and Nakupenda trips are popular — reserve early.
Stone Town tours
Guided walking and spice tours fill up — pre-book.
Mainland safaris
Fly-in safaris have limited seats — book well ahead.
Sunset dhow cruises
Romantic dhow sails are in demand — reserve early.
Peak seasons
June–October and December–February are busy — plan ahead.
Stone Town & spice
Around €25–60 for a Stone Town and spice farm tour.
Prison Island
About €30–70 for a Prison Island and sandbank trip with lunch.
Snorkeling
Roughly €35–80 for a Mnemba or Safari Blue snorkel tour.
Jozani Forest
Around €25–55 for a Jozani Forest nature tour.
Mainland safari
From around €300+ for a fly-in day safari to Selous or Mikumi.
How to save
Join combined group tours, and travel in the shoulder months.
Zanzibar through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches, snorkeling.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak; book ahead.
- Best for
- Hot, calm seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Festive; popular.
- Best for
- Value, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest; some closures.
- Best for
- Shoulder value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Brief showers.