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Best Attractions in Zanzibar City (2026)

Stone Town is compact, and almost all of its main sights can be seen on foot in a day or two. Start on the seafront at the Old Fort, a square Omani fortress that now houses craft stalls, an amphitheatre and the main festival venue, then walk north past the carved balconies of the Old Dispensary. Inland, Christ Church Cathedral and the East African Slave Trade Exhibit stand on the site of the town's last slave market and are the most important visit for understanding Zanzibar's history. St Joseph's Cathedral, the Hamamni Persian Baths and the Freddie Mercury Museum in Shangani round out a full day.

There is no combined pass, so pay at each site, and carry small notes in Tanzanian shillings or US dollars. Early mornings and late afternoons are the most comfortable times to walk, as the lanes trap the midday heat. A licensed guide adds a great deal at the cathedral and the baths, where the history is not always obvious from the buildings alone. Dress modestly for churches and the old town in general, wear shoes with grip for uneven streets, and finish the day at Forodhani Gardens in front of the Old Fort as the sun goes down. House of Wonders, the former sultan's palace beside the fort, is under restoration after a partial collapse in 2020.

7 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Zanzibar City

  1. Stone Town Historic old town (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Stone TownZanzibar's historic Swahili trading town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, packed into 96 hectares of coral-stone houses, carved doors and winding lanes.
  2. Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) Historic fort and cultural centre, Forodhani, Stone TownA square, battlemented Omani fort on the Stone Town seafront, now a cultural centre with craft shops, an open-air amphitheatre and the main festival venue.
  3. Christ Church Cathedral and East African Slave Trade Exhibit Anglican cathedral and slave trade heritage site, Mkunazini, Stone TownAnglican cathedral built on the site of Zanzibar's last slave market, with a heritage centre and exhibition on the East African slave trade beside it.

Attraction

1. Stone Town

Historic old town (UNESCO World Heritage Site)Stone Town

Zanzibar's historic Swahili trading town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, packed into 96 hectares of coral-stone houses, carved doors and winding lanes.

View details — Stone Town

Attraction

5. Old Dispensary

Historic building and small museumStone Town seafront

Ornate 1890s seafront building with carved wooden balconies and stained glass, restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and now home to a small history museum.

View details — Old Dispensary