Palace Museum (Beit al-Sahel)
Beit al-Sahel
A white sultan's palace on the waterfront, displaying furniture, portraits, and everyday objects of the Zanzibar sultans from the 19th and 20th centuries. The courtyard holds the sultans' tombs.
The palace was built in the 19th century as the home of the sultan's family. After the 1964 revolution, it became the People's Palace and is now a museum. The three floors of exhibition rooms are arranged by different sultanate periods and include European furniture, clocks, and royal photographs. A separate room tells the story of Princess Salme, who ran away to marry a German merchant, along with her memoir. Tickets cost about USD 5. The palace sits north of the House of Wonders and can be visited together with the Old Fort and the House of Wonders.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- House of Wonders
- Forodhani Gardens Night Market
- Old Fort of Zanzibar
- Freddie Mercury Museum
- Hamamni Persian Baths
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Darajani Market
- Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market