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Major city · Tanzania

Stone TownMji Mkongwe

Give Stone Town 2 nights: one full day for the seafront and the slave-market site, one half-day for the lanes and market. Then move to a beach.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
TZS
Best months
Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
avoid Apr–May (long rains)
Airport
ZNZ
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
  • Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
  • Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
  • East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
  • East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
  • East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
  • Tanzania ↗Apply for the Tanzania e-visa only on the official immigration portal; Zanzibar and, from 1 October 2026, mainland Tanzania each require their own US$44 inbound insurance bought from the state insurer's site.
  • Tanzania ↗Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or connect through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia; see a travel clinic about malaria several weeks ahead.
  • Tanzania ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you arrive.
  • Tanzania ↗Light aircraft between parks and to Zanzibar have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.

Stone Town is the old quarter of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage site: a dense grid of coral-stone houses, carved doors, mosques, churches and former palaces on a small peninsula. Most travellers use it as the first or last stop of a Zanzibar trip, 1–2 nights, before or after the beaches. It is small enough to walk end to end in about 30 minutes, and the heat, the touts and the narrow lanes set the pace more than any checklist does.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Stone Town, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or spiced teaTSh 3,000–8,000
  • Sit-down mealLocal restaurant meal (pilau, stew, chapati)TSh 10,000–25,000
  • Street or quick mealStreet plate at Forodhani GardensTSh 5,000–15,000
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi within Stone TownAgree before boarding.TSh 10,000–20,000
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekTSh 20,000–40,000
  • Museum or sight ticketSlave market and cathedral entryUS$3–5 (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse dorm bed, a night, per personTZS 35,000
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or boutique double room, a night, per roomTZS 180,000
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or boutique double room, a night, per roomTZS 450,000

A day, not counting the bed: Budget TZS 90,000 · Mid TZS 180,000 · High TZS 400,000

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

UNESCO World Heritage old townForodhani Gardens night food marketFormer slave market and Anglican cathedralCarved doors and coral-stone lanesFreddie Mercury's birthplace
Airports
ZNZ Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (About 7 km south of Stone Town; taxi 15–25 min depending on traffic. check)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Stone Town: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

33°C

25°C

6 rd

Feb

33°C

24°C

4 rd

Mar

33°C

25°C

10 rd

Apr

31°C

25°C

17 rd

May

30°C

24°C

13 rd

Jun

29°C

23°C

5 rd

Jul

29°C

22°C

4 rd

Aug

29°C

21°C

5 rd

Sep

30°C

21°C

4 rd

Oct

31°C

22°C

7 rd

Nov

31°C

23°C

11 rd

Dec

32°C

24°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The old town is roughly 1.5 km across and most sights sit within 20 minutes of each other. Taxis and bajaji (three-wheelers) handle the airport, the ferry and beach transfers; agree the fare before you get in. Daladalas leave from Creek Road by Darajani Market for island destinations. Carry small notes: change is scarce.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Nungwi

overnight

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Taxi or private transfer north, about 1 h 15 min; daladala 116 from Darajani is far slower

Beach base at the island's north tip; go for 2+ nights, not a return day.

Paje

overnight

Door to door: 1.5 h

Taxi or transfer east, about 1 h; daladala 309 from Darajani

Kitesurf beach on the east coast; wind and tides set the day.

Kendwa

overnight

Door to door: 1.5 h

Taxi north, about 1 h 15 min

Quieter than Nungwi, wide low-tide beach.

Jambiani

overnight

Door to door: 1.5 h

Taxi or transfer southeast, about 1 h

Long village beach; seaweed farming at low tide.

Matemwe

overnight

Door to door: 1.5 h

Taxi northeast, about 1 h; daladala 118 from Darajani

Diving and snorkelling trips to Mnemba; quiet at night.

Changuu (Prison) Island

caution

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Boat from the beach near the ferry; hire the whole boat and bargain

Entry and boat fees add up fast for a short visit; agree the total before boarding. check

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Seafront (Mizingani Road)

Old Fort, House of Wonders and Palace Museum on the doorstep; priciest and busiest with tour groups.

Hurumzi and Shangani

Central lanes, rooftop restaurants, 5–10 min walk to the ferry and Forodhani.

Malindi and the port

Cheapest guesthouses, close to the ferry and fish market; some street noise and early calls to prayer.

Near Darajani Market

Local life, daladala stands and cheap food; 10–15 min walk to the seafront.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
TSh 90,000–150,000 excl. bed
Mid
TSh 150,000–300,000 excl. bed
High
TSh 300,000+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or boutique double room1 × 2 nights × TZS 180,000TZS 360,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × TZS 180,000TZS 720,000
Airport taxi to Stone Town, one way1 × TZS 30,000 · checkTZS 30,000
Ferry Dar es Salaam → Stone Town, one way2 × TZS 70,000 · checkTZS 140,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × TZS 25,000TZS 50,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeTZS 130,000
Trip total≈ TZS 357,500 per person per day, bed includedTZS 1,430,000

2026 estimate in shillings; flights and safari excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or spiced teaTSh 3,000–8,000
Street plate at Forodhani GardensTSh 5,000–15,000
Local restaurant meal (pilau, stew, chapati)TSh 10,000–25,000
Mid-range restaurant mainTSh 25,000–60,000
Bottled water, 1.5 LTSh 1,500–3,000
Taxi within Stone TownAgree before boarding.TSh 10,000–20,000
Slave market and cathedral entryUS$3–5 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekTSh 20,000–40,000

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Stone Town is generally safe by day; the real risks are unlit lanes at night, heat and humidity, touts at the ferry and Forodhani, and cash-only scams. Keep valuables out of sight, use a licensed guide, and avoid walking alone after dark.
  • Lanes are unlit at night and uneven underfoot: bring a torch or use your phone.
  • Dress modestly away from the seafront; cover shoulders and knees, especially near mosques.
  • Touts and 'guides' at the ferry and Forodhani: agree a price before any tour or boat.
  • High-season double bookings happen at small hotels: pay in advance or confirm directly.
  • Card skimming and cash-only small businesses: use ATMs by day and keep a cash backup.
  • Tap water is not drinkable; use sealed bottles or a filter.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
112
Fire
114

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Stone TownMji Mkongwe

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Kwa anwani hii, tafadhaliTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance112
  • Fire114

Embassy

Most embassies and high commissions are in Dar es Salaam; check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → Stone Town, taxi: TSh 25,000–40,000, 15–25 min (check)
  • Ferry Dar es Salaam → Stone Town: about TSh 70,000 one way, 2–3 h (check)
  • Daladala within Zanzibar: TSh 1,000–5,000 depending on distance (check)

Say or show

  • Jambo — Hello (JAM-bo)
  • Asante — Thank you (a-SAN-te)
  • Bei gani? — How much is it? (BAY GAH-nee)
  • Hapana, asante — No, thank you (ha-PA-na a-SAN-te)
  • Choo kiko wapi? — Where is the toilet? (CHO kee-ko WA-pee)
  • Naweza kulipa kwa kadi? — Can I pay by card? (na-WE-za ku-LEE-pa kwa KA-dee)

Prices are 2026 estimates; confirm entry fees and ferry times locally.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Stone Town. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · avoid Apr–May (long rains) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ZNZ: taxi bands, ferry arrivals, late-night fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: seafront, Hurumzi/Shangani, Darajani, Malindi.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Old Fort, Palace Museum, cathedral and slave-market site, Forodhani) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rain and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Tanzania

Sources