Is Stone Town Worth Visiting? 14 Reasons to Go

Last Updated on July 29, 2025

Stone Town, also known as Mji Mkongwe, is the old part of Zanzibar City, which is the main city of the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania. 

For over a millennium, Stone Town was the primary trading post on the spice, silk and slave trade routes. As a result, the city has become a melting pot of African, Indian, Arabian and European cultures.

So, is Stone Town worth visiting? Let’s dive in. 

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Is Stone Town Worth Visiting? 

Yes, Stone Town is worth visiting for its beautiful architecture, markets, museums, and mix of cultures. You can spend hours wandering beautiful maze-like streets, and enjoy eating local street food like chipsi mayai. You can also learn the important historical events that have shaped Stone Town today, for example, the east Africa slave trade. 

14 Reasons to Visit Stone Town

Is Stone Town worth visiting? Let’s dive into 14 reasons why it is.

1. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 2000, Stone Town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it’s a great example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. 

Much of Stone Town dates back hundreds of years. There are major buildings in the city, such as the Old Fort, that date from the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Aside from historic architecture, Stone Town’s long history as a coastal trading town has led to a unique blend of culture in the city.  

2. Learn Important East African History

Stone Town has a dark history. It was the location of one of the world’s last open slave markets, run by Arab traders before being shut down by the British in 1873. 

Slaves were shipped to Stone Town’s market in boats from the mainland, and then imprisoned for days in underground cellars before being sold. 

Today, there is an Anglican church and a small museum at the site of the slave market. The cathedral was built after the market was closed, under the leadership of abolitionist Bishop Steere. 

Inside the cathedral, the market’s former whipping tree is marked at the altar by a white marble circle surrounded by red to symbolize the blood of the slaves.

When you visit the East African Slave Trade Museum, you’ll pay an entrance fee and then be assigned a guide who will take you through the grounds and exhibit, explaining the history of the East African slave trade. Be sure to tip your guide well. 

You’ll see the Anglican church, a monument to the slaves, and 2 of the cellar chambers where slaves were kept before being sold.

This site is difficult to visit – many dark tourism sites are – but I think it’s really important to take the time to learn this history, and see the remnants of it. 

The East African Slave Trade had a major impact on Stone Town and Zanzibar, and so learning this history can give you important knowledge and perspective throughout your trip. 

3. Wander Beautiful Streets and Alleys

Stone Town is famous for its winding streets and alleys. They are so narrow that only motorbikes, bicycles and the odd tuktuk can navigate them. For the most part, you can only walk in Stone Town. 

It’s easy to take a wrong turn and get lost as you walk around Stone Town. But this is all part of the Stone Town experience! 

Getting lost in the streets gives you a chance to find something or see something you might have missed, like a little shop or restaurant. 

For example, we took a wrong turn on our first day in Stone Town – just as rain started. This led us to pop into a nearby restaurant serving local dishes. 

We ended up seated at a table with a Zanzibari man who guided us in choosing what to eat and then spent a while chatting with us. It was a lovely way to spend our first day in Stone Town, and if we hadn’t gotten lost, it never would have happened. 

This restaurant doesn’t show up on Google Maps, but if you want to find it, walk to the west end of New Mkunazini Rd and turn left down the alley. 

The restaurant is on the left side, and you’ll know it’s the right one if you see a glass case in the front that has chapati and other food inside. 

4. Admire Zanzibar Doors

Zanzibar doors are the beautifully carved doors which are found around Stone Town. There’s over 500 of these doors around the city, and most of them are over a century old. 

Being a port city touched by many different cultures, the doors in Stone Town blend African styles with Indian and Arabic designs that were brought by traders and migrants.

Some of the doors of Stone Town are heavily influenced by Gujarati designs from India. This style is recognized by the small, square shutters and brass knobs that are embedded into the door. 

Of course, other doors are of Swahili design. You can recognize these ones because they have carvings of twisting vines, flowers, and other emblems.

It’s not difficult to find old Zanzibar doors in Stone Town – they are everywhere! Just keep a lookout whenever you’re walking the streets and alleys, and you’ll be sure to come across these beautiful doors. 

5. Shop in Darajani Market

Darajani Market is located right on the outskirts of Stone Town. It’s one of the city’s central markets, where people go to shop for vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, clothing, housing wares, and other goods. 

Most vendors in the market sell just one thing. For example, you’ll notice bread vendors, date vendors, fish vendors, spice vendors, and more.

There are also lots of vendors selling traditional Islamic Zanzibari hats, which are called kofia. You’ll notice many men in Zanzibar, and along the Swahili coast, wearing these hats. 

Although Darajani Market is open most of the day, the best time to go is in the morning. This is when you can see all the seafood that was caught that morning. 

Inside the main building of the market is where the seafood is prepped and sold. There’s a room at the far end of the building where a fish auction takes place. 

It’s at the auction that you’ll see interesting, more rare catches being sold – like sharks and rays. The best time to see the auction is very early in the morning, around 6am to 7am. 

6. See Stone Town’s Old Fort

The Old Fort of Zanzibar was built in 1700 by Arab traders from Oman after they seized Stone Town from the Portuguese. Today, it’s the oldest standing building in Stone Town. 

Built on the seafront, it was first used as a fort, and then later as a prison. In the early 1900s, it served as a railway terminal. 

You’ll often walk past the Old Fort while wandering Stone Town – it’s hard to miss! If you’d like to see inside, it’s free to enter. 

7. Visit the People’s Palace Museum

The People’s Palace Museum, or Sultan’s Palace, is another one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town. It is a 3-story building found on Mizingani Road, right on the seafront.

The current building is on the site of the previous palace, that was destroyed in the Anglo Zanzibar war of 1896. The present palace was built in the late 19th century to serve as a residence for the Sultan’s family. 

After the Zanzibar Revolution (1964) it was formally renamed to People’s Palace and used as a government seat. In 1994, it became a museum about the Zanzibari royal family and history.

As of January 2024, the Palace Museum was closed for renovations. Be sure to check if it’s reopened yet before planning your visit. 

8. Take a Boat Ride to Prison Island

Just off the coast of Stone Town is a small island called Prison Island, known as Changuu Island in Swahili. The island is a popular spot to go on a day trip to, just for a morning or afternoon. 

In the 1860s, the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gifted it to 2 Arab slave owners who used the island as a prison for rebellious slaves.

In 1893, British First Minister, Lloyd Matthews, acquired the island and planned to build a prison on it. The building work was completed in 1894, but the prison never housed any inmates. 

In the 1920s, Prison Island was used as a quarantine island that served British territories in East Africa. The prison buildings were converted into a hospital where patients were monitored for disease before being permitted to leave. 

Today on the island you’ll find a sanctuary for Aldabra giant tortoises, as well as the ruins of a former prison. It’s also a popular spot to go snorkeling. 

Aldabra tortoises on Prison Island are actually endemic to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. The Governor of the Seychelles gifted four to Zanzibar in the 18th century. 

Over the years those four bred and led to a larger population, which dwindled when people began stealing tortoises to sell or to use for meat. 

When the numbers dwindled dangerously low, the local government took action. A section of Prison Island was made a sanctuary, where the tortoises could safely live and breed. Now there are about 100 of them. 

To visit Prison Island, you can join a tour (hotels can arrange them, or book one on the street). Or, go down to Stone Town’s beaches and hire a boat to take you there and back. 

Please note, interacting with the tortoises on Prison Island is not allowed. But, we saw many tourists touching and feeding tortoises in the sanctuary. Please follow the rules and don’t interact with the tortoises. It’s best to only observe wildlife – you can learn why in my guide to responsible wildlife tourism.  

9. See the Freddie Mercury House

Did you know that Freddie Mercury was from Stone Town? The house where Freddie Mercury was born, and where he and his family stayed until they moved to England to escape the revolution, is now a small Freddie Mercury Museum.

The museum shares the history of Freddie Mercury’s life in Stone Town, including his birth and childhood in Zanzibar. Throughout the museum you’ll see photos of Freddie and his family. 

The Mercury House is located on Kenyatta Road in the heart of Stone Town. There is a small fee to visit the museum. 

10. Eat Delicious Local Food

You’ll find lots of delicious food in Stone Town! While there are many restaurants serving familiar foods that you likely have at home, I recommend trying out restaurants that serve local dishes, too. 

Here are a couple worth trying.

Bismallah Hanan Fast Food – The piri piri chicken and butter naan at Bismallah Hanan Fast Food was our absolute favorite meal in Stone Town. This is a no-frills street food restaurant, but there’s several tables and chairs where you can enjoy your meal. To find it, search “Hanan Fast Food” on Google Maps

Homebase Local – This is a local spot where you can try Zanzibari staples like chapati, samosas, kachori (potato balls), and rice pilau.

Lukmaan – This popular restaurant is regularly quoted as being Stone Town’s best spot for Swahili food. When you go, you’ll be shown all of the food available behind the counters, and then choose what you’d like to have. We really enjoyed their potato curry and chicken.

Stone Town Coffee House – For a fantastic cup of coffee, head to Stone Town Coffee House. They also serve delicious breakfast. We really enjoyed the avocado toast with poached egg. 

11. People Watch at Jaw’s Corner 

Jaw’s Corner is a small square in the center of Stone Town, where four of Stone Town’s winding alleys converge. 

It became a meeting point in the city when an impromptu coffee stall serving Arabic coffee popped up. This quickly turned the small square into a popular spot for locals to meet over coffee. 

Nowadays, locals and tourists all meet there to drink coffee, play board games, and even watch football games in the evenings. 

12. Go on a Spice Tour

Zanzibar is nicknamed the Spice Islands, because these islands were an integral part of the spice trade for hundreds of years. At one time, Zanzibar was the largest producer of cloves in the world.

Today, spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper continue to be produced on the islands. Almost all plantations offer spice tours for tourists to come and see what spices are grown, as well as other plants on the islands, like fruits. 

It’s very simple to organize a spice tour from Stone Town. There are spice farms within a 30 minute drive. 

You can go with a tour guide through your hotel, or simply hire a driver to take you to a spice farm. You can hire a guide through the farm. Siso Spice Farm is a good choice. 

Alternatively, book your spice tour in advance. This highly rated Spice Tour of Zanzibar From Stone Town is 2.5 hours long with pick up and drop off in Stone Town. On this tour, you’ll be introduced to spice plants, herbs, and all kinds tropical fruits on a small spice plantation. You’ll also learn why Zanzibar is known as “spice island” and have the chance to buy spices to take home with you.

13. Eat at Forodhani’s Night Food Market

Every evening as the sun sets, Stone Town’s Forodhani Gardens park turns into an open-air food market. 

Wander through the park checking out different vendors and food stalls, and you’ll be sure to find something delicious for dinner. 

You’ll see vendors selling urojo, a thick mango and tamarind soup that is served with chickpea fritters, boiled potatoes, cassava flakes, chutney, and hot sauce. 

This market is the perfect place to try Zanzibar pizza. This popular street food is not a traditional pizza – it’s a savory crepe-like snack filled with a variety of ingredients.

Forodhani Gardens is also the spot to try hand-pressed sugarcane juice with ginger and lime.

14. Watch Beautiful Stone Town Sunsets

Stone Town has truly epic sunsets. To see them, you’ll go to any of the city’s beaches or waterfront areas. The sun goes down right on the horizon of the ocean, making for beautiful scenes as boats float by. 

We found that sunset time is a really vibrant time of day at the waterfront and on the beaches. Many people come down to the water to swim, and play football on the beach. 

It’s a great time of day to people-watch. Head to Traveller’s Cafe, grab a table, and enjoy a drink while taking in the sunset scenes.  

It’s also the perfect time to go for a ride on a traditional Zanzibari boat, called a dhow. 

For some fun, head to the pier just off of Forodhani Park. At sunset time, locals gather there to run and jump off of the pier. To find this spot, search “sunset jump spot” in Google Maps. 

Stone Town, Zanzibar: Know Before You Go

Now that you know Stone Town is worth visiting, let’s go over some basics for traveling there. 

How to Get to Stone Town

Since Zanzibar is an island, it can only be reached by flight, or by ferry. 

If you choose to fly, you’ll fly into Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (also called Zanzibar Airport). This airport has both a domestic and international terminal. 

From the airport into Stone Town is a 15 to 30 minute drive, depending on if you go by tuktuk or by car. Going by car is faster, but costs about double the price of a tuktuk.    

If you’re coming to Stone Town from mainland Tanzania, you also have the option of taking the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town. 

The main ferry company is Azam Marine – Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries and they are generally very reliable and fast. There are 4 departures each day (both directions). I recommend taking the earliest departure, because in the morning the sea is the most calm. 

The trip from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town takes about 2 hours. Book your ticket a couple days in advance either online or in person. 

Best Time of Year to Visit Stone Town

The best time to visit Zanzibar is during the dry season, which lasts from June to October. During this time, temperatures hover at an average of 25°C (77°F). During these months, rainfall is at its lowest on the island. 

However, don’t write off the rest of the year. From November to May there is some rain in Zanzibar, but it typically doesn’t last the whole day. 

Going in the off-season means Stone Town is a little less busy, which helps to reduce the effect of overtourism. Pack an umbrella for the occasional rainfall, and you’ll have a great time. 

Final Thoughts: Stone Town is Worth Visiting

So, is Stone Town worth visiting? Yes!

Stone Town is often skipped by visitors who instead head straight to the resorts on the northern coast of Zanzibar, or to the beaches on the east coast. 

Rather than spending your whole trip to Zanzibar on the beaches, I recommend spending at least 2 days in Stone Town. It’s a beautiful, safe city where you’ll really notice the blend of cultures and traditions that the Swahili coast is so famous for. 

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