Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Zanzibar tours, the spice island paradise off the coast of Tanzania: the labyrinthine UNESCO alleys of Stone Town, fragrant spice farm visits, snorkelling with dolphins at Mnemba atoll, giant tortoises on Prison Island, the dazzling Nakupenda sandbank, the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest, and the turquoise beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Tanzania trip.
745 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Good for families in Zanzibar
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Zanzibar City
Full Day NAKUPENDA SANDBANK and STONE TOWN ( Lunch included )
from$163/ person
via Viator
Zanzibar City
Zanzibar - Prison Island & Nakupenda Sandbank with Lunch (BBQ)
from$45/ person
via Viator
Zanzibar City
3 Days Safari to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar by Ferry.
from$600/ person
via Viator
Browse
Explore Zanzibar by interest
Whatever brings you to Zanzibar — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Stone Town
UNESCO Swahili city.
ExploreSpice tours
The Spice Island.
ExploreSnorkeling
Mnemba and dolphins.
ExplorePrison Island
Tortoises and sandbank.
ExploreJozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
ExploreBeaches & dhows
Nungwi and sunset sails.
ExploreMainland safari
Fly-in game drives.
ExploreSafari Blue
Full-day boat trip.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Zanzibar
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Stone Town
UNESCO old city.
200+ toursView tours
Mnemba Atoll
Snorkel & dolphins.
250 toursView tours
Prison Island
Giant tortoises.
200 toursView tours
Spice Farm
Cloves & cinnamon.
150 toursView tours
Jozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
120 toursView tours
Nungwi Beach
White-sand paradise.
180 toursView tours
Sunset Dhow
Traditional sail.
100 toursView tours
Nakupenda Sandbank
White-sand bank.
160 toursView tours
3 days
Zanzibar in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Stone Town & spice
- 2Day 2: snorkel & sandbank
- 3Day 3: Jozani & beach
- 4City, sea & forest
Beach & relax
Zanzibar beach escape
- 1North-coast beaches
- 2Sunset dhow cruise
- 3Snorkel & swim
- 4Seafood by the sea
With kids
Zanzibar with kids
- 1Prison Island tortoises
- 2Snorkel & swim
- 3Jozani monkeys
- 4Beach time
Old city awayStone Town
UNESCO Swahili town.
from €25View trips
Boat trip awayPrison Island
Tortoises & sandbank.
from €35View trips
North coast awayMnemba Atoll
Snorkel & dolphins.
from €40View trips
40 min awayJozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys.
from €30View trips
Near city awaySpice Farm
Cloves & cinnamon.
from €25View trips
By flight awaySelous Safari
Mainland game drive.
from €350View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Zanzibar visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
June to October is the cooler dry season — sunny, pleasant and the best time for beaches, snorkelling and tours.
Dry season (Jun–Oct)
Warm, dry and breezy with low humidity; the peak season, ideal for the sea and outdoors, so book ahead.
Short dry (Dec–Feb)
Hot and sunny with calm seas, popular over the festive season and great for snorkelling and beaches.
Long rains (Mar–May)
The wettest months bring heavy downpours and some closures; quieter and cheaper, with sunshine between showers.
Short rains (Nov)
November sees brief afternoon showers but plenty of sun, a good-value shoulder month.
For snorkeling
The dry seasons offer the clearest water and calmest seas for Mnemba and Safari Blue trips.
One day
Stone Town, spice and Prison Island.
Three days
Add snorkelling, Jozani and a beach.
A week
The sweet spot: tours plus relaxed beach days.
With a safari
Add days for a mainland fly-in safari.
Beach holiday
Many combine tours with several beach days.
Travelling with kids
Mix tortoises, snorkelling and the beach.
Tours & transfers
Most experiences include hotel pickup; private transfers and taxis are the easiest way between Stone Town and the beaches.
Stone Town on foot
Stone Town’s maze of alleys is best explored on foot, ideally with a guide so you don’t get lost.
By boat
Boat trips reach Prison Island, the sandbanks, Mnemba atoll and Safari Blue, departing from Stone Town and the coast.
From the airport
Abeid Amani Karume Airport is near Stone Town, about 15 minutes away, with transfers to beach resorts 1–1.5 hours north or east.
Spread-out beaches
Beaches are scattered around the island, so factor in 1–1.5 hour drives between the north, east and Stone Town.
Quad & bike tours
Quad-bike and village tours offer a fun way to explore the north-coast countryside.
Shillings and dollars
Tanzania uses the shilling, but US dollars are widely accepted for tours; carry small notes and some cash, as cards aren’t always taken.
Dress respectfully
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim — cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages, saving beachwear for the resorts and sand.
Sun and hydration
The equatorial sun is strong — bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water, especially for boat and beach days.
Mind the tides
East-coast beaches have dramatic tides that expose the reef; the north (Nungwi, Kendwa) stays swimmable, so plan boat trips around tide times.
Responsible dolphin tours
If swimming with dolphins, choose operators that keep a respectful distance and don’t chase the animals.
Pre-book boat tours
Mnemba, Safari Blue and sandbank trips sell out in peak season — book ahead.
Snorkeling trips
Mnemba and Safari Blue tours sell out — book ahead.
Sandbank tours
Prison Island and Nakupenda trips are popular — reserve early.
Stone Town tours
Guided walking and spice tours fill up — pre-book.
Mainland safaris
Fly-in safaris have limited seats — book well ahead.
Sunset dhow cruises
Romantic dhow sails are in demand — reserve early.
Peak seasons
June–October and December–February are busy — plan ahead.
Stone Town & spice
Around €25–60 for a Stone Town and spice farm tour.
Prison Island
About €30–70 for a Prison Island and sandbank trip with lunch.
Snorkeling
Roughly €35–80 for a Mnemba or Safari Blue snorkel tour.
Jozani Forest
Around €25–55 for a Jozani Forest nature tour.
Mainland safari
From around €300+ for a fly-in day safari to Selous or Mikumi.
How to save
Join combined group tours, and travel in the shoulder months.
When to visit
Zanzibar through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Dry (Jun–Oct)
Jun–Oct
- Best for
- Beaches, snorkeling.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak; book ahead.
Short dry (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Hot, calm seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Festive; popular.
Long rains (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Value, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest; some closures.
Short rains (Nov)
Nov
- Best for
- Shoulder value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Brief showers.
People also ask
Zanzibar travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Zanzibar?
The highest-rated Zanzibar experiences are a Stone Town tour, a spice farm visit, snorkelling at Mnemba atoll, the Prison Island and Nakupenda sandbank trip, Jozani Forest, and the Nungwi and Kendwa beaches with a sunset dhow.
What should I book in advance in Zanzibar?
Book snorkelling, sandbank and Stone Town tours ahead, as they sell out, especially in the June–October and December–February dry-season peaks.
How many days do I need in Zanzibar?
One day covers Stone Town and Prison Island, three add snorkelling, Jozani and a beach, and a week lets you mix tours with relaxed beach days — plus optionally a mainland safari.
Is Zanzibar worth visiting?
Yes — Zanzibar rewards with the UNESCO maze of Stone Town, fragrant spice farms, dolphin and reef snorkelling at Mnemba, the tortoises of Prison Island, the rare red colobus monkeys of Jozani, and idyllic white-sand beaches.
Can you go on safari from Zanzibar?
Yes — fly-in day and overnight safaris from Zanzibar visit mainland parks like Selous (Nyerere) and Mikumi for game drives, a great add-on to a beach holiday.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October is the cooler, dry peak season ideal for beaches and snorkelling, and December to February is hot and sunny; the long rains of March–May are quietest and cheapest.
How do you get around Zanzibar?
Most tours include hotel pickup, with private transfers and taxis linking Stone Town and the spread-out beaches, boats for island and reef trips, and the airport near Stone Town about 1–1.5 hours from the main beach areas.
745 Zanzibar experiencesfrom €25 · free cancellation
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