In the 19th century, when Zanzibar was the center of the spice trade, Stone Town was considered one of the most important capital cities in the region.
Throughout its history, Stone Town has been able to retain its importance despite being conquered multiple times by many outside powers such as the Portuguese, the Omani Arabs, and, of course, the British Empire.
Even today, Stone Town is still considered to be one of the most important cities in the region in terms of history and artistry, with its well-preserved 19th-century colonial buildings and a unique culture that is based on Swahili traditions but with a touch of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European elements.
There is no other place quite like Stone Town in Zanzibar, and if you are planning to visit the paradise island and looking to spend a few days in Stone Town, you are in the right place.
Within this travel guide, you will find a comprehensive list of awesome things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar, complete with all the information you need to make this trip happen. Without further ado, let's take a look at an itinerary map for Stone Town below:
Looking for a complete travel guide to Zanzibar? Check out:10 Best Things to Do in Zanzibar
- Stone Town Things To Do Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in Stone Town, Zanzibar?
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10 Best Things to Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar
- Explore the Old Streets of Stone Town
- Check Out Old Fort
- Admire the Beauty of St Joseph's Cathedral
- Spot the Stunning Century-Old Zanzibar Wooden Doors in Stone Town
- Hangout with the Locals at Jaws Corner
- Learn More About the Terrible History of Slave Trade in Zanzibar
- Spend a Night in a Colonial-style Hotel
- Attend a Local Youth Music Group Concert
- Try Zanzibar Street Food at Forodhani Market
- Visit Prison Island
- More Zanzibar Activities
- Where to Eat and Drink in Zanzibar?
- Tanzania Travel Video
- When to Visit Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- How to Get to Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- How to Get Around Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- How Many Days To Spend in Stone Town?
- How Much Money Do I Need For Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- Is it Safe in Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Tanzania?
- What to Pack for Stone Town, Zanzibar?
- Further Reading for Tanzania
Stone Town Things To Do Itinerary Map
❤️ Must Visit: | Old Fort |
🥘 Place to Eat: | Secret Garden |
🏛️ Best Museum: | East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition |
☀️ Great Day Trip: | Nungwi Beach |
10 Best Things to Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar
1. Explore the Old Streets of Stone Town
Exploring the crisscrossing streets of Stone Town surrounded by colonial buildings is probably one of the highlights of visiting Zanzibar. Due to its strategic importance as the capital of the spice and slave trade back in the day, Stone Town has been ruled by various powers, from the Portuguese Empire to the Sultanate of Oman to the British Empire, and eventually gained independence.
It was because of these power jugglings throughout its existence that allowed Stone Town to be built and developed in a way that is unlike any place you have seen before.
- zLife Hostel (Budget)
- Mizingani Seafront Hotel (Mid-Range)
- Zanzibar Palace Hotel (High-End)
- Full-Day Private Stone Town +Spice Farm and Prison Island Tour (8 hours)
- Stone Town and Prison Island from Zanzibar (5 hours)
- Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour (2 - 3 hours)
From one corner, you might find a little Arab/Persian influence, and from another, a bit of Portuguese/British influence, as well as some Indian elements, all scattered throughout Stone Town, waiting for you to explore.
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The narrow streets can be a little hard to keep track of, and you will likely get lost at some point, but don't sweat it. Getting lost in Stone Town is inevitable, and it is part of what makes Stone Town such a beautiful place to explore on foot.
One minute, you might be walking through a bustling market; another, you might be standing in front of the beautiful 19th Century Old Dispensary building adorned with European and Indian architectural styles. There are so many hidden gems within the maze that is Stone Town, and all you have to do to discover them is to get lost in it and go with the flow.
Where to Stay in Stone Town, Zanzibar?
2. Check Out Old Fort
One of the most popular landmarks in Stone Town that you must visit is the Old Fort, a 17th-century stone fortress built by the Omani Arabs who ruled the island after expelling the Portuguese. It is considered to be the oldest structure in Zanzibar.
The Old Fort was originally built as a fortification for the Sultanate, but later on, it was converted multiple times into all sorts of functions, from a prison to a terminal of Zanzibar Railways, to a club. Eventually, an amphitheater was added, and it was given to the Zanzibar International Film Festival to be used as a headquarters.
Within the Old Fort's courtyard, you will find a large stone amphitheater right at the center and a row of souvenir shops along the fortress wall. There is not much else to see inside, but since it is free to enter, I think it is worth a look around if you are in Stone Town. The Old Fort opens from 8 AM to 6 PM every day.
3. Admire the Beauty of St Joseph's Cathedral
As a city with a Muslim majority of more than 95%, I find it very surprising that one of the most impressive structures in Stone Town is not a mosque but a Roman Catholic church built in the late 19th century, towering over most of Stone Town's skyline.
St Joseph's Cathedral is a historical church built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1898, and it is said that the design was based on a cathedral in France with two prominent twin spires that resemble those of Marseille Cathedral.
You can also attend one of the scheduled masses every morning at 6 AM and 6:30 AM on weekdays, and three times at 7 AM, 9 AM, and 11 AM on Sunday if you want to see the interior. Unfortunately, I wasn't there when it was open, so I can only admire its beauty from the outside.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
4. Spot the Stunning Century-Old Zanzibar Wooden Doors in Stone Town
One of the things that makes Stone Town such an interesting and unique place to explore is its doors. Yes, you heard that right. Many of the old wooden doors you find here are more than a century old, and all of them have unique features and elements that you won't find anywhere else in the world.
Zanzibari doors, a name given to these intricately designed wooden doors in Stone Town, are often carved out of strong wood from either a jackfruit or mango tree, which are abundant on the island.
What makes these doors so special are their unique carvings and patterns that are often based on Swahili traditional design. However, they also borrow many elements from the Arab, Indian, and European styles, giving the doors a unique look, unlike any wooden doors you have seen before.
For example, you will often find these doors decorated with vine and flower patterns, a staple of Swahili design, as well as Arabic scriptures and brass studs, an element borrowed directly from Indian fortress gate design that added these studs to prevent war elephants from battering down fortress doors.
There are tons more of these beautiful wooden doors all hidden away in the crisscrossing streets of Stone Town, waiting for you to discover. So, make sure you keep an eye out for some of these awesome designs when you are in Stone Town.
5. Hangout with the Locals at Jaws Corner
While you are exploring the narrow streets of Stone Town, you may stumble upon a small square where the locals congregate more than usual. Congratulations, you have stumbled upon Jaws Corner, one of the best places in Zanzibar to go people-watching, make new friends, and socialize with the locals.
Due to its location, being converged by four small alleyways from all directions, a smart elderly man decided to open up a coffee stall for the passersby. And ever since then, the place has become a popular meeting point for everyone on the island to gather, share life updates, gossip, and bond over a cup of coffee.
You will find all kinds of interesting people here, with whom you can interact, from Arabs to Indians, from old to young, and from tourists to locals, all waiting to share their life stories. Alternatively, you can simply sit at the coffee stall, enjoy a 100 TSZ cup of coffee, and watch the lives of the local people go by.
I highly recommend you visit Jaws Corner in the early morning, around 8 AM, when the square is most congested. You will be able to see and interact with some really interesting people here over a nice cup of joe.
6. Learn More About the Terrible History of Slave Trade in Zanzibar
If you are in Stone Town, you should also not miss the East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition, a museum dedicated to telling the terrible stories of the slave trade and the long, hard road to freedom.
As I mentioned earlier, back in the day, Stone Town used to be the capital of the spice and slave trade in the region. A lot of bad things went down here, and in order for you to really understand Zanzibar, how the people came to be, and why its culture is so diverse, you are going to have to start from its dark past.
The exhibition is laid out in chronological order, and each board tells a series of stories about how the slave trade began, all the way to how it ended. The descriptions are in both English and Swahili, and they are extremely detailed. It made me feel a little unsettled at times to learn about how terribly humans treated each other back then.
If you want to learn more about the history of Zanzibar, the East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition is the place to be. Within the vicinity of the museum, you will also find the Anglican Cathedral, a really nice church made out of stone, and the unsettling slave monument.
The East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition opens from 8:30 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) per person. The exhibition can be done without a guide. All you have to do is ignore the people who say you need a guide at the entrance, walk to the ticket booth, buy a ticket, and enter the exhibition.
7. Spend a Night in a Colonial-style Hotel
If you are planning to spend a night in Stone Town, I highly recommend that you take this opportunity and stay at a hotel located inside a colonial building. This way, you will be able to experience what it was like to be a sultanate in Zanzibar back in the day.
There are several hotels in Stone Town that are inside an old colonial building, but I highly recommend Mizingani Seafront Hotel or Dhow Palace if you have the budget. Both hotels are elaborately designed with wooden furniture, oversized wooden doors, and provide a nice and quiet space away from the bustling city of Stone Town.
If money is no object, then the best hotel in Stone Town is Emerson Spice Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in Stone Town. They also have a nice rooftop bar where you can sit and enjoy a stunning view over Stone Town. You just can't go wrong with Emerson Spice Hotel.
8. Attend a Local Youth Music Group Concert
While you are in Stone Town, if you are looking for a nice thing to do at night, I highly recommend you drop by Dhow Countries Music Academy and see what kind of shows and performances they have that evening.
Dhow Countries Music Academy often hosts shows performed by local youth music groups. These shows frequently feature a plethora of traditional dancing and dramatic traditional acts accompanied by heart-pounding music that will surely get your adrenaline flowing.
The shows often take place at around 8-8:30 PM and they go on until 10 PM almost every day. There will be a sign right in front of the building advertising the show for that day, and more often than not, the ticket should cost around 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) per person.
If you are interested in African & Arab music and would like to experience local musicians and dancers performing in person, I highly recommend you drop by the Dhow Countries Music Academy and see what types of shows are in store for you that day.
9. Try Zanzibar Street Food at Forodhani Market
Another thing you should definitely not miss in Zanzibar is to try Swahili street food, which is a mixture of the Bantu, Arab, and Indian tastes, unlike anything you have tried before, at Forodhani Market.
Every night at Forodhani Park, the locals gather along the seaside promenade at sunset and start setting up their food stalls, selling all kinds of food to tourists and locals until late at night.
It is a great and cheap place to try all the unique street foods in Zanzibar, like the famous Zanzibar Pizza that has nothing to do with pizza except for its form factor and its name.
Zanzibar Pizza uses sizzling chapati, fried to order with any topping of your choice (chicken or Nutella, whichever you want), all folded up into a packet, and then cut into a chessboard pattern for you to eat with a toothpick.
Skew's beef sticks or Mishkaki are also something you should try if you are looking for a more filling option. Urojo, a Swahili-style Indian-based stew mixed with potatoes, chickpeas, and all kinds of spices, giving it a unique taste, is another dish I highly recommend you try.
What you shouldn't try is the seafood stalls with all the hawkers and touters trying to grab your attention and pressure you into buying their seafood with overly friendly gestures that will ultimately scam you in the end.
These seafood stalls often employ many "cheerleaders," and they will go around the park wearing fake chef hats, luring you into their seafood stalls with overly friendly gestures that scream "I'm gonna scam you!" When you ask how much it is, they will often say something like "you can sit, my friend, and we will cook for you. We can talk price later."
Once you start eating the bait (seafood sticks in this case), they will come up to you and ask you to pay a whopping 50 USD for seafood sticks, an outrageous price that not even the most expensive restaurant in Zanzibar would dare to charge you.
DO NOT EAT at these seafood stalls, period. If you want to be sure you aren't being scammed, look for food stalls that have menus and prices clearly labeled and just point to what you want from there. You can easily find these stalls by looking at where the locals are queuing. More often than not, these stalls are legit and very delicious.
Other than that, Forodhani Market is one of my favorite places to try out Zanzibar street food, and you shouldn't miss it. The market runs from 6 PM to 11 PM every day.
10. Visit Prison Island
Prison Island is a nice half-day boat trip you can take from Stone Town that will take you to an island known for its tortoise population, as well as the history behind its ominous name.
Prison Island, a tiny island located just off the west coast of Zanzibar, is, in fact, not an island with a prison on it, although it was not for lack of trying.
Back then, the island was supposed to be used as a slave prison complex, but no prisoners were ever housed there. So, it was converted into a quarantine island (how fitting) for yellow fever patients for a short period of time.
After being used as a quarantine island for only a few years, it was converted into a state-run hotel, and it has since become a popular tourist attraction. On the island, you will find a somewhat run-down hotel, which may not be very exciting, but what they breed around it will excite many of you.
Around the hotel on Prison Island, you will find hundreds and hundreds of giant tortoises, some as old as 200 years, and you can get up close and interact with them. It is a fun experience for those who have never seen these magnificent creatures up close.
The boat trip from Stone Town to Prison Island often costs about 30 USD if you are one person, 15 USD each if you are more than one. The ticket to enter Prison Island has to be paid separately, and it costs about 4 USD per person.
The tour includes a guide who will accompany you throughout your time on the island, explaining the history behind the tortoise conservation and the previous prison complex.
It should take you about 2-3 hours to complete the tour. There is a nice beach if you wish to swim, but it was a little crowded and lots of people were just there waiting for boats, all watching you swim. It was definitely not the highlight of the island.
Where to Eat and Drink in Zanzibar?
Try Zanzibar Pizza at Forodhani Market
Again, if you are in Zanzibar, you have to try their delicious street food like Zanzibar Pizza, and the best place to do that is at Forodhani Market.
When you order a Zanzibar Pizza, you can choose between sweet or savory toppings like Nutella + Banana or skewered beef or chicken. They are both delicious, and you can eat them as a meal or a dessert. They often cost between 4,000 TZS (2 USD) for vegetarian options all the way up to 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) for seafood options.
Just a reminder not to eat at the seafood stalls at Forodhani Market. They are scammers in disguise, wearing fake chef hats, waiting to prey upon unsuspecting tourists.
Eat A Lunch at Secret Garden
Secret Garden is a fancy restaurant located in an old garden, surrounded by old colonial buildings, right in the middle of Stone Town. It is decorated with beautiful wooden furniture and vintage decor.
Despite being a fancy restaurant, they also offer a very affordable lunch set that comes with seafood and all kinds of traditional side dishes and spices for you to try.
We had calamari and lobster dishes for lunch, and they were delicious. They cost us 20,000 TZS (8.5 USD) per dish, which isn't too bad for the quality you get.
If you are looking for a proper seafood dish that isn't street food, come check out Secret Garden. The restaurant is open from 12 PM to 10 PM every day.
Eat like a Local at Lukmaan Restaurant
If fancy restaurants don't do it for you and you want something more local, you are going to love Lukmaan Restaurant, a popular local restaurant in Stone Town that serves various kinds of popular local dishes like grilled seafood and biryani, which you can choose and pay for, or they also offer made-to-order options as well.
Lukmaan Restaurant is extremely popular among both the locals and tourists, so you will often find this place packed with people during lunch and dinner time. It can also seem quite hectic once you get in, but it shouldn't take you long to find a seat inside.
Lukmaan Restaurant opens from 8 AM to 11 PM every day, and if you are looking for real local cuisine that isn't street food, you can't go wrong with Lukmaan Restaurant.
Try Spice Coffee at Stone Town Cafe
If you like coffee and are looking to try something new, I highly recommend you drop by Stone Town Cafe and try their aromatic spice coffee that costs only 3000 TZS for a cup or 5000 TZS for a whole jar.
The aroma of spiced coffee served here is definitely different, and I love it. They also serve breakfast, light snacks like chicken rolls, lunch, and dinner at a very affordable price.
Stone Town Cafe opens from 8 AM to 11 PM every day. If you are looking for a nice café to chill and try something new in Stone Town, Zanzibar, you can't go wrong with this one.
When to Visit Stone Town, Zanzibar?
The best time to visit Stone Town, Zanzibar is during the dry season from July to September, when you will experience fewer rainy days. This will enable you to fully enjoy the stunning outdoors of this paradise island, with temperatures ranging from 24 to 34 °C.
However, you can still travel out of the recommended period if you wish, as the rain usually doesn't last very long, and the island will likely be less crowded.
There are only 2 months that experience long rainy days, which are April and May. So, if you want a nice vacation in Zanzibar, I recommend avoiding travel during these 2 months.
How to Get to Stone Town, Zanzibar?
Despite having an international airport, very few international airlines outside of the East African region fly directly to its Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ).
From the US, you are going to have to fly via Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar and Emirates, which will take you more than 29 hours, including transit in Doha or Dubai, respectively. Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from the US at the moment.
From Europe, it is a little easier with airlines like KLM, British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar operating the route to Zanzibar with one transit departing from big hub cities like London, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, etc. The flight often takes around 14 hours and will take you directly to Zanzibar International Airport.
From Asia, there are a few Middle Eastern airlines running the route which you can take from most big cities like Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Seoul. Airlines like Emirates and Qatar fly the route quite often and can take you from Asia to Zanzibar in about 16 hours with one transit.
From Africa, you will have more options to fly to Zanzibar. Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, FlyDubai, etc., operate this route quite frequently, and most flights often transit once in their headquarters city or in Dar es Salaam, the main travel hub of Tanzania.
To find a cheap flight to Zanzibar, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get From Zanzibar Airport to Your Accommodation in Stone Town?
Taxis: This is the most convenient way to get from Zanzibar airport to your accommodation in Stone Town or elsewhere on the island. They often charge a fixed price of 10 USD to take you to Stone Town, a journey that will take about 30 minutes.
Car Rental: If you are planning to explore places outside of Stone Town, you can also rent a car prior to your arrival and ask them to drop it off for you at the airport right after you arrive so you can drive to your accommodation.
I rented one with Kibabu Cars and they are great. They offer good 4WD cars, and they are quite affordable at only 35 USD per day plus 10 USD for a temporary local license.
How to Get Around Stone Town, Zanzibar?
By Walking: In Stone Town, you can easily walk around to most of the tourist attractions I mentioned here as they are mostly concentrated along the coastline. However, if you are planning to visit some islands off the coast, you are going to need a boat.
By Boat: If you are planning to visit some of the islands near Stone Town, you can hire a boat right from the beach just southwest of the Zanzibar Ferry Terminal, and they will take you there and back.
The price will depend on which island you want to visit. Visiting Prison Island costs about 15 USD per person if you are at least 2 or more, but if you want to go solo, it will cost you about 30 USD. A trip to Prison Island is probably the cheapest out there, so if you want to go further, expect to pay more than 30 USD per person.
By Tours: You can also join an organized tour group for Stone Town or visit nearby islands if you prefer more in-depth experiences with proper guides.
I highly recommend that you go on a Stone Town walking tour to learn more about the history of the place while seeing all the hidden gems you might not have seen if you were to explore Stone Town by yourself.
For more adventurous activities, you can also go swimming with dolphins and snorkeling around some of the best spots in Africa with an organized tour. Want to join an organized tour in Stone Town? You can book one with the link below.
Book A Tour in Stone Town, Zanzibar
How Many Days To Spend in Stone Town?
For Stone Town, I highly recommend that you spend at least one full day or 2 nights before you move on to other locations in Zanzibar to truly give this wonderful colonial town justice. Below is a rough itinerary that you can follow:
Day 1: Spend the first half of the day visiting Prison Island and the afternoon exploring the streets of Stone Town, visiting museums, street food markets, and end your day in Stone Town with a traditional performance at Dhow Music Academy.
Looking for a complete itinerary for Tanzania? Check out:10 Days - 2 Weeks Itinerary For Tanzania
How Much Money Do I Need For Stone Town, Zanzibar?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending in Stone Town, Zanzibar as follows:
Accommodation: For 2 nights, you can expect to pay around 115,100 TZS (50 USD) for accommodation.
Food: Food costs about 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) on average in Stone Town, so you can expect to pay around 30,000 TZS (13 USD) per person for 1 day, excluding breakfast since it is often included in your accommodation.
Transportation: Since we will only be in Stone Town for the most part and rely on a tour to take us to places like Prison Island, you will not have to pay a dime here, so 0 TZS (0 USD) for transportation.
Activities: For activities, the prison island tour will cost about 15 USD, 5 USD for the Slave Trade Museum's entrance fee, and 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) for a local music performance show, so in total, you will pay 61,003.00 TZS (26.5 USD) for activities here.
Total budget for one day in Stone Town, Zanzibar: 206,029.00 TZS (89.5 USD).
Is it Safe in Stone Town, Zanzibar?
Zanzibari people are very friendly, and I felt quite safe walking around, even on the narrow pathways of Stone Town. At night, it was also not too sketchy, but I would recommend sticking to open areas at night, like the promenade, instead of the smaller pathways, as they can get very secluded.
You will often meet a lot of touters on the streets, but it shouldn't be too hard to ward them off. The problem you will have with these people will be at Forodhani Market, where they will swarm you whenever you walk past their food stall.
Do not fall into their traps, especially the seafood stalls here. They will try to scam you in all possible ways, such as charging you 50 USD for 3 seafood sticks after you have eaten them. First, they will say that you can pick any and we can talk about the price later. Once you eat them, they will charge you an outrageous amount of money, and you can either negotiate or give in.
DO NOT EAT the seafood stalls at Forodhani Market, that's the golden rule. Eat at places where they have clearly labeled prices on their menus, and you shouldn't have any trouble with these scammers.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Tanzania?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Zanzibar, Tanzania without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Zanzibar, Tanzania:
There are 3 major carriers in Tanzania: Vodacom, Tigo, and Airtel, all of which have varying prices and coverage. Vodacom has the most coverage and the price to match, Tigo is the second, and Airtel is the third.
I personally used Vodacom bought from an official Vodacom shop between Terminal 2 and 3 at Dar Es Salaam Airport, and it has worked wonders all over Tanzania, even at some of the camps on Kilimanjaro!
There are many data bundles you can choose from, ranging from 500 MB for 7 days at 3000 TZS to 50 GB for 30 days at 95,000 TZS. I purchased a 10 GB for 30 days at 35,000 TZS (15 USD) and still had a lot of data remaining after 20 days in Tanzania.
For more information about Tanzania's local SIM card: Tanzania's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Stone Town, Zanzibar?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Zanzibar, Tanzania in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
That is it for the 10 Awesome Things to Do in Stone Town, Zanzibar for First-Timers. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Zanzibar, Tanzania independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Tanzania
I have plenty of articles to help you further with your trip planning for Tanzania. Here is a selection of articles you might find useful:
- Planning to visit Tanzania for the first time? Here are the 10 best things to do in Tanzania.
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Tanzania? Here is a 10 Days to 2 Weeks Backpacking Itinerary for Tanzania.
- Want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and not sure where to start? Here is A Complete Hiking Guide To Kilimanjaro with all the information you need to hike Kilimanjaro successfully.
- If you plan to hike Kilimanjaro, you are going to have to know what to pack and what not to. Here's The Ultimate Packing List for the Kilimanjaro Hike.
- Serengeti is probably the best place in the world to go on a safari, and it is a must-do if you are in Tanzania. To start planning a safari trip to Serengeti, check out: A Complete Safari Guide To Serengeti, Tanzania.
- Zanzibar is one of the most popular island destinations in Africa, and to really do the place justice, you are going to need a complete travel guide to help plan the best trip of your life. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Zanzibar and a complete travel guide to the pearl of the African Indian Ocean.
- To truly make the most of your trip to Zanzibar, you have to rent a car and drive to all the hidden gems on the island. Here is 8 Important Things to Know Before Renting A Car in Zanzibar.
- To see all articles about Tanzania, visit the Tanzania Travel Guide page.
- If you are planning an East Africa backpacking trip, make sure to check out all our East Africa Travel Guides.
- Looking for more travel guides for Africa? You can find more on my Africa Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.