Stone Town tour options in short
Most visitors start with a guided walk through the old town. The route takes 2 to 3 hours and passes the Old Fort and Forodhani, the House of Wonders, the former slave market and cathedral, the palace and Old Dispensary area and Darajani. A route that passes a building does not mean you go inside. The House of Wonders, for example, is closed inside while it is being restored.
Beyond the walk, the usual add-ons are a spice farm, a boat trip to Prison Island or the Nakupenda sandbank, and an evening at the Forodhani night market. The prices below are examples for 2026, not a market range.
Our picks: Stone Town tours
Pick a full-day combination if you want the island and the spice farm, a walking tour for the old town alone, or an evening on the water. Check the option for entry tickets before you book.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nakupenda sandbank, Prison Island and Stone Town
- Hotel pick-up
- Snorkel gear
- Boat fees
A boat trip to the sandbank and the island with a stop in Stone Town, seafood lunch and tropical fruit. Ask whether Prison Island entry is included before you book.
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Stone Town, spice farm and Prison Island in one day
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Driver and English-speaking guide
- Stone Town guided tour
Which stops, boat, lunch and tickets are included depends on the option you choose. Ask whether Prison Island entry is included before you book.
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Sunset dhow cruise from Stone Town
- Snacks and soft drinks
- Traditional music
- Entry fee
A private or shared dhow, depending on the option, with traditional music on the water. The state tax is included.
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Private walk through Stone Town's history
- Private local guide
- Pick-up and drop-off
- City map
Two to four hours with your own guide through the old town, with a city map to keep. Entry to the Freddie Mercury Museum, the Anglican church and the Hamamni Baths is extra.
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Three-hour Stone Town walk with a local guide
- Local guide
- Bottled water
A guided stroll through the old town with a bottle of water for everyone. Entry to the Freddie Mercury Museum and the former slave market is extra.
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Spice farm tour with tasting and coconut climbing
- Spice and fruit tasting
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Water
A private walk over a spice farm with a demonstration of how the plants grow and a coconut-climbing show. Farm entry is included.
Check availability →Stone Town tours and guides
Walking tours, food tours, spice farms and boat trips from Stone Town, with live prices and availability.
Stone Town walking tour: price and what to expect
A price scale by group size, in US dollars for 2026.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $50 |
| 2 to 3 people | $30 |
| 4 to 6 people | $25 |
| 7 to 14 people | $20 |
Walks from $15 also exist, so prices differ by offer and group size. Compare what is included before you choose, and ask whether entry fees to individual sights are part of the price.
You can also explore the alleys on your own, and many visitors do. A guide adds the stories behind the doors, the order of the sights and a sense of direction in the maze of lanes. Zanzibar runs a licensing and registration system for tourism businesses, so it is reasonable to ask a guide or operator whether they are registered.
Tour types compared
Examples from 2026. Each row is a different kind of day.
| Tour | Length | Price example in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Walking tour of the old town | 2 to 3 hours | $20 to $50 per person, by group size |
| Spice farm tour at Kizimbani or Kidichi | 3 to 4 hours | From $30 per adult with guide, farm entry, fruit tasting and a traditional lunch |
| Prison Island boat trip | 20 to 30 minutes by boat each way | Boat, island entry and marine fee are separate; the marine fee is $10 for adult non-East Africans |
| Nakupenda sandbank trip | 20 to 30 minutes by boat | No separate sandbank ticket; combinations with Prison Island add costs |
| Food walk and night market | Evening, stalls from about 6:30 p.m. | A Zanzibar pizza at a stall costs about TZS 5,000 to 10,000 |
For most first-time visitors, a good mix is a morning walking tour, a late afternoon at the waterfront and one half day on the water. Add the spice farm if you want a longer day outside the old town. The pages for Prison Island, Nakupenda and spice tours give the details.
Food tours and the night market
What the evening looks like.
Food tours in Stone Town usually pair street food with the old town and the waterfront. The Forodhani night market starts at about 6:30 p.m., and typical dishes are Zanzibar pizza, mishkaki skewers, grilled seafood and sugarcane juice. There is no standard price range for food tours, so check the menu and the number of tastings in each offer. If you prefer to go alone, read the page on Forodhani Gardens.
What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
What the route includes
Ask which sights you enter and which you only pass. Fees for places such as the former slave market and cathedral, at $5 for adults, may or may not be inside the tour price.
Former slave market →Meeting point and group size
The old town has narrow lanes with few street signs. Get the exact meeting point in writing and ask how big the group is.
Boat trips and the tide
A sandbank trip depends on the water level, and the boat time of 20 to 30 minutes depends on boat, departure point and sea. Plan a buffer in your day.
Clothing and conduct
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees are more comfortable and more polite in the old town. Ask before you photograph people.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Things to do in Stone Town
The sights you can visit on your own.
Where to stay
Areas of the old town and the walk to the meeting points.
For tours to beaches and the rest of the island, see Zanzibar island tours.
Stone Town tours: frequently asked questions
How long is a Stone Town walking tour?
A typical guided walk takes 2 to 3 hours. The exact length depends on how many sights are included and how long you stay at each one.
How much does a Stone Town tour cost?
Walking tours run from $50 for one person to $20 per person in a group of 7 to 14. A spice farm tour starts from $30 per adult. Fees for Prison Island are separate from the boat.
Do I need a guide in Stone Town?
No. Many visitors explore the public lanes on their own. A guide helps with history, with the order of the sights and with finding your way.
Is the House of Wonders part of the walking tour?
The route can pass the building and show it from outside. The interior is closed during the restoration, and no reopening date is announced.
Are food tours worth it?
They suit visitors who want an introduction to Zanzibar pizza, urojo and mishkaki. If you like to choose your own stalls, the night market works well on your own.
Is this site a tour operator?
No. stone-town.org is an independent guide. It does not run tours, and it has no link to the authorities, museums or operators it describes.