City or town
Things to see in Zanzibar City (Tanzania): 12 places and when to go
Zanzibar City is a city in Tanzania with around 404,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 12 places in and around it, mainly History (6), Museums and art (5), Temples (3). The best known are Stone Town, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park and House of Wonders. The best time to come is December to February and June to October; also possible: March and November. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Tanzania · -6.16, 39.2
- Population
- About 404,000
- Places
- 12 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (6) · Museums and art (5) · Temples (3) · Nature (2) · Wildlife (2) · Architecture (1)
- Best time
- December to February and June to October.
- Also possible
- March and November.
- Nearest airport
- ZNZ Zanzibar, 7.4 km as the crow flies
What to see in Zanzibar City
The places in and around Zanzibar City, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Stone TownOld part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania771 m
- Jozani Chwaka Bay National ParkNational park in Tanzania, East Africa23 km
- House of WondersLandmark building in Stone Town, Zanzibar1.2 km
- St. Joseph's Cathedral, ZanzibarBuilding in Tanzania1.3 km
- Old Fort of ZanzibarBuilding in Tanzania1.2 km
- Sultan's Palace, ZanzibarMuseum in Zanzibar1.1 km
- Christ Church Cathedral, ZanzibarAnglican cathedral in Zanzibar, Tanzania884 m
- Ijumaa MosqueBuilding in Tanzania850 m
- Chumbe LighthouseLighthouse in Tanzania14 km
- Old DispensaryHistoric building in Stone Town, Zanzibar837 m
- Old Slave MartFormer slave market in Charleston, South Carolina911 m
- The Peace Memorial MuseumZanzibar1.3 km
When to go to Zanzibar City
The best time to visit Zanzibar City is December to February and June to October; also possible: March and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time12:19
- FebBest time12:12
- MarPossible12:02
- AprBetter not11:52
- MayBetter not11:43
- JunBest time11:39
- JulBest time11:40
- AugBest time11:48
- SepBest time11:58
- OctBest time12:08
- NovPossible12:17
- DecBest time12:21
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In January, 12 of the 12 places are at their best.
When to go to Tanzania in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Zanzibar City
The nearest main airport is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ, Zanzibar), 7.4 km as the crow flies. How to get around Tanzania (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
And all of Tanzania, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Zanzibar City?
The best known: Stone Town, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, House of Wonders, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar, Old Fort of Zanzibar. In all, 12 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar City?
December to February and June to October; also possible: March and November. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Zanzibar City?
The nearest main airport is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), 7.4 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Zanzibar City as the destination and these 12 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- TanzaniaBefore travelling to Tanzania: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. A visa is required: it is obtained online before you leave (50 USD, single entry) on t…
- History13 places for history in Tanzania, from Kilwa Kisiwani to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: December to February and June to October. Each with its own season by al
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.