Things to do in  Zanzibar City

There are two ways to get to Zanzibar City from mainland Tanzania. Flying is the fastest; there are direct flights to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport from Kilimanjaro International Airport (about 1.5 hours) and Dar es Salaam (about 30 minutes). Ferries also operate between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, connecting the two destinations in about 80 minutes.

Some of the top attractions in Zanzibar City include the Freddie Mercury Museum, housed in the former home of the lead singer of the rock band Queen, and the historic Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe). Other popular attractions include Darajani Market (Marikiti Kuu)—Stone Town's main bazaar—and the House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib).

Yes, Zanzibar City is worth visiting. While many people come to Zanzibar for its beaches and spice plantations, it’s worth spending some time in the city, especially in the Stone Town area, to learn about local culture, try local foods that aren’t always found in big hotels, and check out historic Swahili architecture.

You need at least one full day in Zanzibar City to see the sights at a reasonable pace, though you can also take a half-day tour of the city if you want to go through the highlights quickly. Many visitors spend a couple of nights in Zanzibar City at the beginning or end of their trip.

Must-try dishes in Zanzibar include bokoboko, a type of honey-sweetened wheat porridge; Zanzibar pizza, a flatbread stuffed with pizza toppings; mandazi, a type of deep-fried beignet; and katlesi, a deep-fried snack made of potato cutlets and minced meat. Indian-inspired dishes such as biriyani and curries are also popular.

Zanzibar City makes a popular base for day trips. Some of the best options include Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, known for its red colobus monkeys, and Prison Island, a former penal island with a large population of massive sea turtles. Tours to spice plantations are also quite popular and some include cooking classes.