How many days · Zanzibar · Tanzania
How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mangapwani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
7 days is the sweet spot for Zanzibar, and 4 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Four days allows two nights in Stone Town and two on a beach. A week lets you split the beach time between the north (Nungwi or Kendwa) and the east coast (Paje or Matemwe), with a spice tour, Jozani Forest and a snorkelling trip to Mnemba Atoll.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 7 days
- Minimum
- 4 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 11.8 h (May) to 12.5 h (Dec)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Stone Town, Forodhani Gardens night market, Spice farm tour and Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) |
| 2 days | Rushed | Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), Former slave market and Christ Church and Darajani Market |
| 3 days | Rushed | Prison Island (Changuu), Nakupenda sandbank and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park |
| 5 days | Good | The highlights plus a day trip to Mnemba Atoll |
| 7 days | Ideal | A slow trip with day trips such as Mnemba Atoll and Jozani Forest |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Zanzibar add up to roughly 29–37 hours of visiting time — about 4–5 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Stone Town (A full day), Spice farm tour (Half a day) and Prison Island (Changuu) (Half a day).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | A full day | Stone Town |
| Forodhani Gardens night market | 1–2 hours | Stone Town |
| Spice farm tour | Half a day | Central Unguja |
| Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) | 45 minutes | Stone Town |
| Former slave market and Christ Church | 1–1.5 hours | Stone Town |
| Darajani Market | 1 hour | Stone Town |
| Prison Island (Changuu) | Half a day | Off Stone Town |
| Nakupenda sandbank | Half a day | Off Stone Town |
| Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park | 2 hours | Central Unguja |
| Mnemba Atoll snorkelling | Half a day | Matemwe |
| The Rock restaurant | 2 hours | Michamvi Peninsula |
| Kizimkazi | Half a day | Southern Unguja |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 7 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 4 days | Focus on Stone Town and Forodhani Gardens night market |
| With children | 8 days | Slower days and time for Prison Island (Changuu) |
| With day trips | 9 days | Add Mnemba Atoll and Jozani Forest |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in May (about 11.8 hours of daylight) than in December (about 12.5 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Zanzibar with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 4 days enough in Zanzibar?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 7 days is more comfortable. Four days allows two nights in Stone Town and two on a beach. A week lets you split the beach time between the north (Nungwi or Kendwa) and the east coast (Paje or Matemwe), with a spice tour, Jozani Forest and a snorkelling trip to Mnemba Atoll.
+Is a week too long in Zanzibar?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Mnemba Atoll and Jozani Forest.