Tanzania
Zanzibar
Our notebook to help you plan your trip to Zanzibar: the right season, where to stay and our ideas to make the most of it.
The spice island: UNESCO-listed Stone Town, white-sand beaches and turquoise water off Tanzania.
Best weatherDuring the dry seasons: sunshine and calm sea. During the long rains, some hotels close.
A question?
Wéa answers about this destination: neighbourhoods, seasons, ideas.
When to go
Every season has its charm. Here's how to choose yours, depending on what you want to experience.
Dry season
Sunshine, calm sea and, in July, the Zanzibar International Film Festival. Perfect for Stone Town and the beaches of Nungwi.
Short rains
A few short showers, a green and peaceful island.
Heat and music
Beautiful weather, warm sea and, in February depending on the year, the Sauti za Busara music festival.
Green season
The long rains make the island lush and prices are the lowest of the year. Some hotels close in April-May.
Where to stay
The right neighbourhood depends on what you're after. Here are our favourite places to stay.
Stone Town
Lanes, carved doors and markets: the old town, worth at least one night.
Nungwi
In the north: beaches where you can swim at any time of day, and beautiful sunsets.
Kendwa
Right next to Nungwi, a big, calmer beach.
Paje
On the east coast: a famous kitesurfing spot, where the tide uncovers the lagoon.
Our favourites
What we love there: its history, its landscapes, its flavours and its festivals. Take your time, it's all there to enjoy.
Stone Town
Narrow lanes, carved wooden doors and Swahili houses: the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, the Forodhani Gardens night market serves grilled food and Zanzibar pizza.
Ideal for strolling
The Spice Island
Cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg: Zanzibar is nicknamed the Spice Island. A plantation tour lets you smell and taste each spice.
Ideal for the curious
Giant tortoises and colobus monkeys
On Prison Island, a few minutes away by boat, giant tortoises live. In Jozani Forest, you can watch the red colobus, a monkey found only in Zanzibar.
Ideal for nature lovers
Nungwi and the dhows
In the north of the island, the water stays lovely at low tide and the sunsets are superb. Board a dhow, the traditional sailing boat, for a trip at dusk.
Ideal for sunsets