Destination guide
Stone Town
A UNESCO maze of coral-stone alleys where Africa, Arabia and India collide
What's there
Places to visit
Museum
Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
The 17th-century Omani stone fortress on the seafront, now a cultural venue hosting markets, performances and festivals.
Museum
House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib)
The landmark palace of the sultans that once dazzled with East Africa's first electricity and elevator, under long-term restoration.
Museum
Former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral
A moving memorial and museum built over the old market, where the cathedral altar marks the site of the whipping post.
Darajani Market
Stone Town's chaotic central bazaar where fish, fruit, spices and everyday island life spill through narrow lanes.
Park
Forodhani Gardens
The waterfront park that transforms after dark into the town's famous open-air street-food market.
Apartment Building
Freddie Mercury House
The unassuming birthplace of Farrokh Bulsara, now a small museum to the Queen legend on Kenyatta Road.
Tourist Attraction
Hamamni Persian Baths
The atmospheric ruins of Zanzibar's first public bathhouse, built for Sultan Barghash in the late 19th century.
Island
Prison Island (Changuu)
A short boat ride offshore, home to a colony of giant Aldabra tortoises and the ruins of a never-used prison.