This is a wonderful introduction to Zanzibar and gives you a feeling of the rich cultural heritage. One gets a comprehensive view, history and walk of the Stone Town, magnificent architecture, narrow alleys, sand and stone ancient built houses where some of them are over 200 years old and have Arab/Indian carved doors. The tour starts at the main City market which was opened in 1904, where tropical fruits, vegetables, spices and fresh fish from the island are sold. Our next stop is the Anglican Church of Christ which was built by Bishop Steers in 1873 on the site where slaves used to be auctioned. Other highlights on the historical stone town tour are visits to: • The Africa House - Formerly the English Club. • Forodhani Park - Where you can spend your evenings leisurely watching the brilliant sunset while sipping freshly squeezed sugarcane juice or enjoy charcoal barbeques and locally made dishes. • The Old Fort - Built by Arabs for defense against the Portuguese.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $80.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Known as the House of Wonders, Beit el Ajaib was built around 1883 as the ceremonial palace for the ruling sultan, Sultan Barghash. This is one of the most prominent and magnificent structures in Zanzibar and all of East Africa. It is the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an electric elevator! Beit al Ajaib can be seen from a great distance while approaching Zanzibar from the sea, and now acts as a symbol of Zanzibar’s rich history and is featured on many postcards and history books.
The Palace Museum is a large building with castellated battlements overlooking the Indian Ocean on Mizingani Road in Stone Town. Originally called the Sultan's Palace, it was built in the late 1890s for members of the sultan's family and is the most recent of the Sultan’s palaces in Zanzibar. In 1911 it became the official residence of the Sultan of Zanzibar. After the 1964 Revolution, when Sultan Jamshid was overthrown, it was renamed the Peoples' Palace and used as government offices. In 1994 it became a museum dedicated to the history and lifestyle of the Sultans of Zanzibar.
The Roman Catholic cathedral of St. Joseph is an important historical building located in the Baghani area of Stone Town, Zanzibar. It was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1898, and the plans were drawn by the same French architect who designed the cathedral in Marseilles, France. The defining characteristic of the cathedral are its twin spires (similar to those of Marseille’s church) which are prominent elements of the Stone Town’s skyline and can be easily spotted from a distance off the coast. Despite these prominent spires, the church itself can prove difficult to find while walking the narrow streets of Baghani.
The Freddie Mercury Museum is located in the heart of Stone Town, Zanzibar. It is located in the same house where Freddie and his family stayed until they moved to England in 1963. The Museum showcases a detailed accord of Zanzibar starting from the late 1800’s, the birth place of Farrokh Bulsara, his roots with the Zoroastrian Religion, his childhood and upbringing in Zanzibar, followed by his schooling in Panchgani, India, and then his extraordinary journey to becoming one of the greatest stars of all time. Farrokh Bulsara was born on Thursday, 5th September 1946 in Zanzibar, Stone Town to parents Bomi Bulsara and Jer Bulsara. Farrokh means; lucky and fortunate. Farrokh and his family belonged to the Zoroastrian religion, one of the world’s oldest religions.
Should there be any changes on pickup time or location please keep us updated before the service date
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 582 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Historical Stone Town Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
Prices start at $50 per person for this Zanzibar City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $80. There are 4 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Children aged 5–10 pay from $25, adults from $50. Infants go free.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Should there be any changes on pickup time or location please keep us updated before the service date Pickup points include Park Hyatt Zanzibar.
The experience is available in DE, EN, FR.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Thank you Ally for going above and beyond to accommodate tailored excursions and being our first point of contact throughout our holiday. Ally and his team provided excellent services for multiple excursions and airport meet and greets. Everything was taken care of for a hassle free trip.
Booked through Ally who was very professional and helpful. The first shock was when he turned up for the tour and handed us over to another guide - Ally is just the front man. The guide was ok, not very informative or chatty - but tbh the stone town tour does t have much to it that’s accessible at the moment - everything (church, house of wonders etc) is under reconstruction so closed. Secondly the guide then handed us off to another guy for the slave market sub-tour section who then wanted a tip (we were straight off the plane and had no tsch as I had explained to Ally) - this was very awkward. I had hoped for more, maybe a stop for a coffee at the market or being able to actually go inside a building - this tour was $85 for 2 people - I’ve paid more for a full day tour of NYC…..I saw it advertised in tourist shops for $25 - even that is steep….but $85!! You must be joking!
Wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare to be intrigued with this magical town. Our guide, Mussa, was very knowledgeable about the history and provided a look into this culture that was very informative. We enjoyed a traditional lunch and felt like friends by the end of the tour.
Hi Danielle Many thanks for your positive feedback, hope you enjoyed very much and we only expect you to seeing you next time I will supply your regards to Mussa as well Regards Ally
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Stone Town Tour | 3 hours | 4.3 (3) | $50 | |
 Stone Town Private Walking Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (417) | $25 | View |
 Full Day NAKUPENDA SANDBANK and STONE TOWN ( Lunch included ) | 4–5 hours | 4.8 (64) | $163 | View |
 Full Day Private Spice Farm Stone Town and Prison Island | 8 hours | 4.9 (44) | $110 | View |
 Stone Town Evening Walk Tour With Visit Food Markets | 3 hours | 4.7 (38) | $41 | View |
 Full-day Prison Island, Nakupenda and Stone Town Tour with Lunch Buffet | 7–8 hours | 4.6 (26) | $137 | View |
 Zanzibar Stone Town and Prison Island Tour with Local Guide | 6h 10min | 4.8 (26) | $45 | View |