The Perfect Five Day Itinerary for Zanzibar
- Sarah Brooks
- Jul 29
- 13 min read
Zanzibar is a tropical paradise and an incredible cultural experience! With its stunning beaches, crystal clear water and rich history - this island off the coast of Tanzania has so much to offer.
Whether you want to unwind on a beach or explore unique wildlife Zanzibar has something for everyone. Here’s my five-day itinerary filled with must-see spots and memorable experiences.
Day One: Arrive and Unwind
We decided to begin our trip with three days at the beach and end with two days in Stone Town. There are so many ways to approach a visit to Zanzibar, but this suited us best.
You'll arrive at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) just outside of Stone Town. I recommend securing a private driver ahead of time to avoid the chaos and stress of finding a taxi amidst the airport chaos - especially if you're fresh off a very long flight.
Our car from the airport to the east coast of the island cost about $30 USD.
We stayed at Le Mersenne on the beautiful Paje Peninsula, famous for its breathtaking views and peaceful vibe. Once you check in, take some time to relax, unwind and soak in the island atmosphere!
We took the day to recover from our flights from the U.S. and take advantage of our amazing resort. We lounged by the pool, explored the shore and enjoyed dinner at the resort.
The Beaches
I want to take a moment to talk more about Zanzibar's beaches. Each one has its own personality, depending on which part of the island you choose. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect:
The east coast, including Paje and Matemwe, is famous for powdery white beaches and lush palm groves, but the tides here swing dramatically. At low tide, the ocean retreats far toward the horizon, revealing wide sandbars and coral. This makes for incredibly unique views - but it's not the best for swimming at low tide.
This is where we stayed, so we didn't spend a lot of time on the actual beach. When the tide recedes, the coral flats are covered in sea urchins, so I wouldn't recommend trying to take a stroll. I tried...but even in water shoes it was very, very nerve wracking avoiding the urchins.
The Le Mersenne Beach Resort, where we stayed, has a sandy, man-made beach near the pool that sits above the ocean, It's a beautiful spot to relax with a drink and enjoy the views of the insanely clear water.
The north coast, especially Nungwi and Kendwa, features all-day swimmable turquoise seas and vibrant restaurants, making it ideal for lively nights and sunset views.
We actually initially booked a resort in Nungwi, but since we were traveling with my older parents, we decided it wasn't the vibe we were seeking.
We also had some must-do excursions planned on the southern side of the island, so it would have been a very long drive.
Zanzibar is a small island, but the roads are very rough and very few cut across the island. For us, it made sense to make our home base somewhere in the middle.
The southern beaches, such as Jambiani and Kizimkazi, are more remote and peaceful, with fishing villages and opportunities for dolphin spotting.
In Stone Town on the west coast, the beaches are a local vibe!
We stayed at the Park Hyatt, which is situated right on the beach - but we didn't get in the water.
In this part of Zanzibar, history, architecture and culture take center stage, with the shore mostly used by locals.
This is where the many tours to Prison Island depart from and the water isn't the crystal clear blue you see on other parts of Zanzibar.
(I have a whole post about Stone Town you can check out, here.)
Day Two: Jozani Forest and Salaam Cave
If there is an opportunity to see wildlife when I'm traveling - you can guarantee I AM IN! We visited the Jozani Forest to search for the rare Red Colobus Monkey and also swam with sea turtles at Salaam Cave.
Jozani Forest
We started our second day with a visit Jozani Forest, which is the only place in the world you'll find the red colobus monkeys. This adventure exceeded all of my expectations!
Despite the research I'd done ahead of time, I wasn't prepared for this hike (at all!) Here's everything I wish I knew before I went.
You have to take a guided tour.
We didn't initially realize it was required, but we're so grateful to our guide! The forest is an absolute maze of tiny trails and he knew them inside and out.
The guides communicate with each other so we were guaranteed so many monkey sightings. He also talked a lot about the importance of the forest and explained the medicinal purposes of many of the plants, which I found fascinating!
Wear hiking shoes.
Or at least wear or shoes you don't mind ruining. The hike is muddy and slippery, even in the summer. During the rainy season, the trails are absolute muddy messes!
I was wearing cute white sneakers ... and I realized when I saw our guide in rubber boots it was ... a poor choice!
Don't expect an easy walk in the woods.
This was a legitimate hike, through a lot of dense brush and over some rough terrain. (There was also more than one crossing over some very bitey ants, which our guide said would, and I quote: "send us screaming from the forest.")
Bring bug spray.
I got eaten alive in the forest! My legs were absolutely covered in itchy red bites.
I'm so grateful I got my yellow fever shot and malaria medication before we left the U.S. It wasn't required, but I gave me a lot of peace of mind.
Stay for the mangrove tour.
After the forest hike, you'll be given the option to add on a tour of the mangroves.
I initially was going to pass on this, having seen mangroves in the Everglades and Key West - but I'm glad we kept going!
These mangroves are so unique and we learned so much about how vital they are to Zanzibar's existence as an island.
A driver is so important.
Our driver was in communication with our guide so he knew where to pick us up. The hike wasn't a loop, so he had to find us at the end. We had considered renting a car and we're pretty glad we didn't in this case!
Salaam Cave
After our forest adventure, our Zanzibar itinerary took us to the Salaam Cave for a swimming experience with turtles.
I will admit, I am sharing this experience with some hesitation. Getting this close to sea turtles was amazing. But that said, I don't like supporting unethical treatment of animals and this experience toed the line.
There are claims and promotions suggesting that Salaam Cave in Zanzibar is involved in sea turtle conservation and rehabilitation, with many tours marketed as educational experiences about turtle rescue and protection programs.
I cannot say that I saw any signs of conservation efforts during my visit.
In addition, I was under the assumption the cave was fed by the ocean and the turtles could come and go as they wished.
That's sadly not the case. The cave pool is infinitely smaller than their natural ocean habitat.
It wasn't very crowded when I was there, but I can only imagine how stressed the turtles would be if the pool was full.
All of that said, since I did decide to visit, I'll share my experience.
You pay for half-an-hour in the cave and you'll get a container of lettuce to feed the turtles.
The time isn't strictly enforced and guides also provided some extra lettuce if you run out. The turtles WILL swarm you when they realize you have food in your hand.
They are absolutely magnificent creatures and the experience was mostly beautiful.
Fair warning: the turtles bite!
If you have a bathing suit with strings I recommend tucking them in. I left with a pretty gnarly bite on my back after a turtle mistook my bikini for a snack.
Dinner at The Rock Restaurant
For dinner, we couldn't miss out on a meal at the iconic Rock Restaurant, which sits dramatically on a rock in the ocean.
This was one of the coolest and by far the most adventurous dinners I've ever had!
You absolutely have to book your reservations well in advance.
There are set seatings and we did the 6PM. It's the second to last seating of the night - and in my opinion it's the best!
We arrived just as the sun was setting and even on the east coast, it the purples and deep blues in the sky were stunning.
You'll take a boat to the restaurant - which I imagine isn't usually as rough as our trip was!
We knew we were in for a wild ride as we watched as the boat driver bailing out water from the vessel we were about to board.
The waves were massive! We hit a rough one and the wave completely came over our heads. We got absolutely soaked on the way out!
I was traveling with my parents and my mother has some mobility and balance issues.
The rough seas definitely caused us some concern, but the boat driver and restaurant staff did an amazing job getting her into the boat and then onto the very slippery stairs to the restaurant.
I highly recommend reserving an outdoor table. There's something so incredible about eating literally over the Indian Ocean.
(If you can't get a table outside, the inside also has a very cool vibe, so it'll be amazing, no matter what.)
The food was the best we had in Zanzibar!
The service... not so much. But I gave a lot of grace knowing so many people were seated at once, and it's overwhelming.
Expect some lag time - and I highly recommend looking at the menu before you arrive so you can place your order as soon as you sit down.
Obviously, you should lean into the seafood! We had the octopus appetizer and OMG. I'm very picky about my octopus and this was so tender!
For my entree, I had the grilled rock lobster and mom got the steak on a stick, which were both delicious.
But the real winner was "The Rock Special." It includes grilled cigal, king prawns, octopus, and calamari.
It's an insane amount of food and we definitely didn't need it all...but we regret nothing!
The craziest part was the way back to shore!
The tides in this part of the island go out so, so far. We ate dinner sitting in deep water - and it was gone by the time we had finished.
Where there were once rough seas on our way out - we were able to just walk back to the beach and catch a ride back to our resort.
Day Three: Snorkeling and Sandbanks
You can't fully experience all Zanzibar has to offer without getting out on the water! We spent the morning of our third day snorkeling and exploring sandbanks.
The Indian Ocean around Zanzibar is nothing short of stunning! The water is crystal clear and the shades of blue and turquoise are just incredible.
There are many, many tour companies you can book a boat tour through and the options can be overwhelming.
I read about so many scams and some unethical dolphin tours, so we opted to book directly through our hotel.
We boarded a traditional dhow boat for the adventure right from our overwater villa. The first stop took us to snorkel over a gorgeous coral reef that was absolutely full of bright, colorful fish.
Then it was off to visit a sandbank! When the tides are out, you can walk along the long stretches of sand far from shore. It's an amazing experience to walk on land in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
We saw a lot more sea urchins, but also tons of starfish!
Friendly reminder - you should not pick up the starfish. We saw other tourists plucking them out of the water for photo ops, which is so, so harmful and upsetting to witness.
Starfish can suffocate in just 30 seconds exposed to the air - so it's not worth for that Instagram pic.
The water is so clear, you can get a great pic without causing any harm.
Paje Beach
In the afternoon, we decided to explore Paje Beach, which is a very popular destination for tourists. I'll be honest - it wasn't my cup of tea.
This beach is famous as a paradise for kiteboarding and water-sports, thanks to steady winds and the protective coral reef that creates a shallow lagoon. We enjoyed watching the kiteboarders, although we weren't brave enough to try it ourselves!
I just didn’t vibe with Paje. It’s lined with dozens of hotels and resorts, which makes it very busy and touristy. There’s also a Euro-club scene that just isn’t my style.
In addition, there are hundreds of Masai vendors walking up and down the beach, selling everything from trinkets and jewelry to hair braiding. They weren’t aggressive at all, but it still got exhausting being constantly approached.
It made it impossible to truly relax on the beach. Most people ended up sticking to the resort grounds, where vendors aren’t allowed.
On a more positive note, we did have an opportunity to wander through the local village market outside of the tourist area, which I highly recommend!
Day Four: Explore Stone Town
I have an entire guide to Stone Town, which you can find here.
I absolutely fell in love with Stone Town. The maze of twisted streets and tiny alleyways are so enchanting! We literally got lost in them for hours.
Get an early start
We were out and about by 7 AM on
our first morning and I strongly recommend seeing the city before the tourist crowds come out.
Vendors were just opening up their shops and kids were making their way to school.
It was an incredibly authentic experience.
(It's also much cooler in the morning, which is a bonus! Zanzibar gets very, very hot.)
Visit the Darajani Bazaar
We made our way to the Darajani Bazaar, where fishermen were bringing in their fresh catches for auction, vendors were selling their spices and locals were up and about doing their shopping. We didn't see a single other tourist the whole time!
(Check out my video here for more on what to expect if you add the market to your itinerary. It's an incredible experience and I'm glad we went, but it's definitely not for everyone.)
Visit the Slave Museum
Stone Town was once an epicenter of the African slave trade. Human beings were captured or purchased from all across East Africa and brought in chains to Stone Town, where they were held in cramped, underground cells before being auctioned.
The memorial seen above sits on the grounds where the world’s last open slave market operated until 1873.
It stands next to the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, which was built with its altar positioned exactly where the slave market’s whipping post once stood.
The entire museum is incredibly well done, but the most moving part - and the part that will stay with me forever - are the cells where the slaves were held until auction.
Two of the cells are open to visitors, and they truly bring the horrors to light. To stand in these tiny, claustrophobic dungeons is sobering and gut wrenching.
One can only begin to understand the horrors and anguish these families felt. Men were put in one cell and their wives and children in another - later to likely be separated forever.
They were chained by their necks or feet and kept in absolute darkness. It was heartbreaking and humbling to stand where they once stood.
Stroll Along the Beach
As I mentioned, most visitors don't swim off of Stone Town's beaches - but to feel the heart and pulse of Stone Town is to walk along the shore.
The beach here is authentic Zanzibar - where local fishermen's colorful dhows and small boats paddle in and out.
This beach is filled with the sounds of lively chatter and locals working.
Boat crews are here, prepping their nets and the bustle of trade as fish are brought ashore and auctioned nearby.
This is also where most tours to Prison Island depart and you can see the tour dhows anchored off-shore.
It is incredibly rich in color and character and a can't miss if you're in Stone Town and want to step a little bit outside of the touristy area.
We stayed at the Park Hyatt along the shore and I loved every single moment just watching local life unfold from our balcony.
Visit the Night Market
The Foradhani Night Market is an absolute vibe!
Every night at sunset, locals dive off the pier into the ocean - it's SO much fun
to watch and the crowd really gets into it!
If you're brave enough, tourists are welcome to join in on the diving and many locals will encourage you! (I don't recommend it...but you do you.)
You can't get the full feeling of the energy without being there in person, but I do have this video will give you a good idea!
The main draw of the market is the food vendors, who offer every kind of street snacks imaginable - from seafood to shawarma and everything in between.
I didn't eat any street meat (and if you watch my meat market video, you'll understand why). I am sure it's delicious, but I'm wary when traveling. My Western stomach is ... sensitive.
Even if you don't try the food, the atmosphere makes this a must-stop on your Stone Town visit. I promise you won't regret it this full cultural immersion.
Day Five: Soak in Your Last Hours in Zanzibar
If you have extra time, you might want to consider a trip to Prison Island and the Nakupenda Sandbank. This is a very popular half-day tour. We just didn't have the time to fit it in without sacrificing exploring more of Stone Town.
Instead, we took the opportunity to spend our last hours in the city strolling through the maze of alleys. You can spend hours admiring the historic hand-carved doors that once served as signs of wealth, religion, and family heritage in the city.
(Bonus, the adorable cats of Stone Town love to nap in front of the incredible architecture!)
Zanzibar also has some amazing woodworking, and we had a chance to visit a local shop and watch the craftsmanship firsthand.
It wasn't anything we planned, but it was one of my favorite experiences! There are also amazing art galleries to explore.
Pro tip if you plan to buy any souvenirs: most shops only accept cash and the price they offer is fully negotiable! Never, ever accept the initial price.
After our last day of exploring, we headed to the airport for an evening flight to Nairobi ahead of our safari adventure in the Masai Mara.
More on that part of our trip, coming soon!
