3 days in Zanzibar

Day by day

1. Day 1: Stone Town and Forodhani Gardens night market

   Stone Town, Forodhani Gardens night market and Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), then Kendwa and Nungwi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Stone Town

      Listed by UNESCO in 2000, Stone Town is a densely built Swahili trading town of coral-stone houses with carved wooden doors, balconies and shaded lanes, shaped by Arab, Persian, Indian, African and European influences.

   2. Late morning

      Forodhani Gardens night market

      Agree the price of seafood before it is grilled, and choose stalls that are busy with locals.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Zanzibar pizza

      Forodhani Gardens night market and street stalls in Stone Town.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

      Built by the Omanis around 1700 on the site of a Portuguese church, the fort's thick walls now enclose craft shops, a café and an open-air amphitheatre used for performances and festivals.

   5. Evening

      Kendwa and Nungwi

      Beach bars and the monthly full-moon party at Kendwa, the island's biggest night out.

2. Day 2: Spice farm tour and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

   Spice farm tour, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park and Former slave market and Christ Church, then Paje in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Spice farm tour

      Choose a small farm tour that includes lunch, and bring cash for buying spices directly from the farm.

   2. Late morning

      Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

      The island's only national park protects remnant forest and mangroves and is home to the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, which you can watch at close range.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Urojo

      Specialist urojo stalls in Stone Town, mainly in the afternoon and evening.

   4. Afternoon

      Former slave market and Christ Church

      Take the guided visit to understand the site's history; allow time to reflect.

   5. Evening

      Paje

      Beach bars and parties popular with kitesurfers and backpackers.

3. Day 3: Darajani Market and Prison Island (Changuu)

   Darajani Market, Prison Island (Changuu) and Nakupenda sandbank, then Stone Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Darajani Market

      Stone Town's main market on Creek Road sells fish, meat, tropical fruit, vegetables and spices in a covered hall and surrounding streets, and is the terminus for many dala-dala minibuses.

   2. Late morning

      Prison Island (Changuu)

      Combine it with the Nakupenda sandbank on a half-day boat trip from the Stone Town waterfront.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pilau

      Local restaurants in Stone Town and village eateries across the island.

   4. Afternoon

      Nakupenda sandbank

      A strip of white sand that appears in the sea off Stone Town, its size changing with the tide; boat trips stop for swimming, snorkelling and a seafood lunch in turquoise water.

   5. Evening

      Stone Town

      Rooftop bars and hotel bars with sunset views, plus live music during festivals.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Stone Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kendwa ($$$) suits beach, couples and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–27 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.8 hours in May to 12.5 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in Zanzibar
• 2 days in Zanzibar
• 5 days in Zanzibar

Questions travellers ask