Best things to do in Zanzibar City

Zanzibar City Unmissables

Stone Town, the historic heart of Zanzibar City, is a UNESCO World Heritage site characterized by its coral-stone architecture and labyrinthine alleys. The area preserves 19th-century landmarks such as the House of Wonders and the Sultan’s Palace, alongside sites reflecting the island's somber history like the Old Slave Market and Christ Church. Key cultural features include the Hamamni Persian Baths, the 17th-century Old Fort, and the childhood home of Freddie Mercury, all illustrating Zanzibar’s legacy as a cosmopolitan Indian Ocean trading hub.

Zanzibar City Unmissables — Map

Pemba.mpimaji / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Stone Town

Stonetown of Zanzibar, also known as Mji Mkongwe, is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania.

Moongateclimber / CC BY-SA 3.0

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House of Wonders

The House of Wonders or Palace of Wonders is a landmark building in Stone Town, Zanzibar.

Matthias Krämer / Public domain

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Old Fort

The Old Fort, also known as the Arab Fort and by other names, is a fortification located in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar.

Xlandfair / Public domain

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Sultan's Palace

The Sultan's Palace is one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

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Old Dispensary

Old Dispensary or the Old Dispensary may refer to:

stefania / CC-BY-SA

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Freddie Mercury's House

The childhood home of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara. The building now houses a museum displaying photographs, personal items, and information about his early life in Zanzibar and his family’s Zoroastrian background.

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Zanzibar Old Town Market

This place is always full of life, be it early morning or dusk time. Lots of street food and souvenirs to choose from.

email me / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Christ Church

Christ Church is an Anglican cathedral in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. It belongs to the Anglican Church of Tanzania.

Ad Meskens / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Livingstone House

David Livingstone was a Scottish physician, Congregationalist, pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an…

LittleT889 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Hamamni Persian Baths

The Hamamni Persian Baths is located in a historical building of Stone Town, Zanzibar.

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Old Slave Market

Visit the statue that commemorates the existence of slave trade on this very spot. There are also two slave chambers still accessible.

DidierTais / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Tippu Tip's House

Tippu Tip's House is a historical building in Stone Town, Zanzibar, located in Suicide Alley in the Shangani ward near the Africa House…

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St. Joseph's Cathedral

The Roman Catholic cathedral of St. Joseph is one of the most important historical buildings in Stone Town, Zanzibar, as well as one of its…

Benjamin Dahlhoff / CC BY 3.0

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Old Slave Mart

The Old Slave Mart is a building located at 6 Chalmers Street in Charleston, South Carolina that once housed an antebellum slave auction…

Other Lists

Zanzibar Architectural Treasures Zanzibar Museums & Galleries Zanzibar's Spiritual Heritage