Stone Town is one of the Indian Ocean's great historic cities. Labyrinthine alleys, crumbling coral-stone architecture, spice merchants and the world's best sunsets. Here's how to explore it.
Why Stone Town Is Unlike Any Other Place in East Africa
Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar Town. It's been continuously inhabited for over 1,200 years - Arab, Portuguese, Omani, British and Indian merchants all left their mark, creating an architectural and cultural layering that is genuinely unique in the world. UNESCO recognised it as a World Heritage Site in 2000, but the town felt no obligation to become a museum. It is still a living, working city: kids play football in the narrow streets, fishermen sell their catch at the Darajani market before dawn, and the spice trade that made Zanzibar famous continues in the covered bazaar.
Getting Oriented
Stone Town is small enough to walk entirely, but disorienting enough to get lost in regularly - which is, frankly, part of the experience. The labyrinth of alleys was designed to slow invaders and keep residents cool; there is no grid, and maps are largely useless once you're inside the medina. Surrender to it. You will always emerge at the waterfront eventually.
The main landmarks to orient yourself:
- Forodhani Gardens: The seafront gardens at the harbour - the social heart of the city, especially at sunset when the night food market opens.
- House of Wonders (Beit el-Ajaib): The largest building in Stone Town, once the Sultan's ceremonial palace. Currently being restored.
- Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe): Portuguese-built, 17th century. Now hosts an open-air amphitheatre and craft market.
- Darajani Market: The covered bazaar - go early morning for fresh spices, fish and local produce.
The Famous Doors
Stone Town's carved wooden doors are its most photographed element - and justifiably so. There are over 500 unique doors in the old city, each reflecting the cultural identity of its original owner. Omani doors are typically square-topped with carved geometric patterns. Indian merchant doors feature rounded Gujarati-style arches and brass spikes (originally intended to prevent war elephants from battering them down). The doors are not decorative afterthoughts - they were status symbols, with families often spending more on the door than the house behind it.
Where to Eat
Forodhani Night Market
Every evening from around 7pm, vendors set up grills along the seafront promenade. Zanzibar pizza (a stuffed flatbread - nothing like Italian pizza), mishkaki (marinated grilled meat skewers), fresh seafood, sugarcane juice and Zanzibar mix (a street food salad unique to the island). Cheap, delicious, atmospheric.
Rooftop Restaurants
Several restored historic buildings have opened rooftop restaurants with views over the labyrinth of coral-stone rooftops and the harbour. The sunset from these rooftops - Zanzibar sits at exactly the right longitude for dramatic Indian Ocean sunsets - is one of East Africa's great experiences. Reserve in advance during high season.
Spice Tour from Stone Town
Zanzibar was for centuries the world's largest producer of cloves, and spice cultivation remains central to the island's identity. A half-day spice tour from Stone Town visits working spice farms on the island's interior, where guides identify and explain cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, lemongrass, black pepper, turmeric, cardamom and dozens of other plants growing in extraordinary proximity.
It's one of the best half-days you can spend in Zanzibar - genuinely informative and the smells are extraordinary. Most tours include lunch cooked with freshly harvested spices and return to Stone Town by early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day for the beach or further exploration.
The Slave Trade History
Stone Town was the centre of the East African slave trade for centuries, with the largest slave market in the Indian Ocean world operating here until 1873. The Anglican Cathedral now stands on the site of the old slave market - it was deliberately built where the worst atrocities occurred. The slave chambers beneath the cathedral are preserved and open to visitors. This is difficult but important history, and the site is handled with appropriate gravity and respect. Do not skip it.
Getting There
Stone Town is 10 minutes from Zanzibar International Airport. Most beach hotels offer transfers. If you're combining a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar (which we strongly recommend), scheduled flights connect Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro airports to Zanzibar several times daily, with the flight taking 20 - 45 minutes depending on origin.
Expert guide at Mashuba Tours, sharing knowledge directly from the mountain and the field.