Stone Town
Mji Mkongwe
East Africa's best-preserved old Swahili town, where maze-like lanes, carved wooden doors, Arab palaces and Indian shops intermingle. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stone Town is the historic centre of Zanzibar City. After the Omani sultan moved his capital here in the 19th century, it was extensively built up. Its houses are made of coral stone and lime mortar, which gives the town its name, and it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000. The old town's streets are narrow and winding, best explored on foot or with a local guide (about USD 15–25 for a half day). Highlights include the Zanzibar doors, with brass studs and elaborate carvings (hundreds of them in town, in Indian and Arab styles that vary); the House of Wonders (built in 1883, the first building in East Africa with electricity and an elevator, partly collapsed in 2020 and now under restoration); the Old Fort, built by Omani Arabs in the late 17th century (free admission, with an open-air amphitheatre and craft stalls); the Palace Museum; the Freddie Mercury House Museum (about USD 10); spices and seafood at Darajani Market; and, at sunset, the terrace of the Africa House hotel on the waterfront or a dhow trip to watch the sunset. It is worth staying in a boutique hotel converted from an old house in the old town, to experience the morning call to prayer and the evening lanes. Note: it is easy to get lost in the alleys, so download offline maps to your phone. Decline people who approach you unprompted offering to guide you, and agree on prices in advance.
Opening hours
Open all day; museum about 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Nearby sights
- Darajani Market
- Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market
- Hamamni Persian Baths
- House of Wonders
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Old Fort of Zanzibar
- Forodhani Gardens Night Market
- Palace Museum (Beit al-Sahel)