How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
Five to seven nights is right for most travellers: one or two in Stone Town and the rest on the beach.
3 nights
One night in Stone Town, two on the beach. Enough to rest after a safari, but rushed.
5 nights
One or two nights in Stone Town and three or four on one coast. Time for a spice tour and a snorkelling trip.
7 nights
Stone Town plus two beach areas, for example the north-east for snorkelling and the south for a quieter end.
10 nights or more
Add Pemba Island or Mafia Island for diving and quiet, or simply slow down.
At a glance
- Minimum
- 3 nights
- Recommended
- 5 to 7 nights
- Stone Town
- 1 to 2 nights
- Beach moves
- no more than one
After a safari or Kilimanjaro
Most people arrive tired. Keep it simple: one beach hotel, fewer excursions, and one night in Stone Town at the start or end.
Moving around
Transfers across the island take 1 to 1.5 hours. More than one beach move eats into your time.
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