Zanzibar — Traveler Guide
Expert picks for the best hotels in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Neighborhood guide with honest reviews for 2026.
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Our Picks
5 hotels · Updated 2026
Occupying a beautifully restored colonial mansion on the Stone Town seafront, the Park Hyatt Zanzibar is the island's finest historic hotel — 67 rooms blending Swahili heritage with contemporary luxury and a dhow harbour panorama from every sea-facing room.
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Zanzibar's most characterful boutique hotel occupies a beautifully restored 19th-century merchant house in the heart of Stone Town — 11 individually decorated rooms and the famous rooftop tea house with its three-storey Stone Town views.
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A refined resort of private pool villas on the south-east coast — 66 villas in a coconut grove leading to a pristine beach, with one of the island's best spa programmes and a restaurant that draws guests from across the island.
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A design-driven resort of treehouse-style chalets scattered through a forest of palms and baobabs above Kendwa Beach — Zuri's rustic-meets-chic aesthetic and beach club make it Zanzibar's most Instagram-photographed property.
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A spectacular Arabic-Zanzibar palace resort of 30 private pool villas — Baraza is defined by extraordinary architectural beauty, with carved plasterwork, Arabic arches, and a beach terrace that looks like a film set.
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Stone Town is essential for those interested in history and culture. It's not a beach destination but an extraordinary immersion in Swahili civilisation.
UNESCO-listed Swahili architecture, the spice trade history, Freddie Mercury's birthplace, rooftop sunset bars, and dhow harbour.
The most convenient option is a rideshare (Uber/Lyft), typically 30-50 minutes depending on traffic. Public transport is also available and often more economical.
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Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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