Stone Town, Zanzibar’s old town
Zanzibar’s old town is a maze of narrow alleys lined with houses, shops, bazaars and mosques, famed for their carved wooden doors. Its architecture, mostly 19th-century, mixes Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements: UNESCO listed it in 2000.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Stone Town port, reached by boat from Dar es Salaam or PembaStone Town (Wikivoyage)
- GPS coordinates
- -6.16240, 39.19130Stone Town (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
Every evening after sunset, Forodhani Gardens host a market of grilled seafood and Zanzibari recipes.
Stone Town (Wikivoyage)In town, men and women cover their arms and legs; bikinis are for resort beaches.
Zanzibar (Wikivoyage)During Ramadan, avoid eating and drinking in public during the day.
Zanzibar (Wikivoyage)
Plan the trip
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Sources · 3 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Stone Town (Wikipedia)
Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, giving a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The heart of Stone Town mostly consists of a maze of narrow alleys lined by houses, shops, bazaars and mosques. […] The best-known feature of Zanzibari houses are the finely decorated wooden doors […] (coordinates -6.1624, 39.1913)
- Stone Town (Wikivoyage)
Boats to Stone Town can be boarded from Dar es Salaam or Pemba. […] Forodhani Gardens. A small park along the main seawalk of Stone Town, in front of the Old Fort and the House of Wonders. Every evening after sunset the gardens host a popular, tourist-oriented market selling grilled seafood and other Zanzibari recipes.
- Zanzibar (Wikivoyage)
Women and men should make an effort to cover their legs and arms (being in a bikini on the resort beach is fine though). During Ramadan -- the month of fasting -- travellers should avoid eating and drinking publicly during the daytime.
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.