A Slow Week in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Stone Town is a maze of coral-stone alleys, carved doors and sea light, the old heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It rewards wandering and getting a little lost.
I stay at Emerson Spice, the solar-run boutique hotel in Kiponda that is famous for its rooftop tea house and secret garden dinners. The week is history, spice and sea, with real rest folded in.
Your Stone Town Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1 Day 1: Arrive and get lost
- Day 2 Day 2: The old town on foot
- Day 3 Day 3: A spice farm
- Day 4 Day 4: A day by the sea
- Day 5 Day 5: A last slow day, then out
Where to Stay in Stone Town
Emerson Spice
Home for the week is Emerson Spice in the Kiponda quarter, a restored merchant's house run on solar, full of antiques and quiet corners.
BookWhat to Do in Stone Town
Forodhani Gardens night market
Wander down to Forodhani Gardens on the seafront as the sun sets and the food stalls fire up.
Walk Stone Town
Spend the morning on foot among the carved doors, the Old Fort and the seafront palaces.
A spice farm tour
Take a morning out to one of the spice farms that give the island its name and its history: cinnamon bark, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla, all growing where you can smell and taste them.
A boat and a swim
Take a dhow out for the day to a sandbank or to snorkel the reef, or simply find a quiet stretch of coast to swim and read.
Where to Eat in Stone Town
Dinner on the Emerson rooftop
Book a night at Emerson's rooftop tea house, one of the loveliest dinners in Zanzibar, cushions on the floor, the call to prayer drifting up, and the whole town below.
Your Day by Day Stone Town Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and get lost
Into the old town, and a first evening on the seafront.
Emerson Spice
Home for the week is Emerson Spice in the Kiponda quarter, a restored merchant's house run on solar, full of antiques and quiet corners. Drop your bags and let yourself get lost in the alleys before dark.
Forodhani Gardens night market
Wander down to Forodhani Gardens on the seafront as the sun sets and the food stalls fire up. Eat grilled seafood off the coals with the town, and watch the boys diving off the wall.
Day 2: The old town on foot
The history, the doors, and the winding heart of Stone Town.
See the full day-by-day itinerary.
This is your only free pass. A free account gives you 3.
Day 3: A spice farm
Out of town to see where the island got its name.
Day 4: A day by the sea
Off the stone and onto the water for a rest day.
Day 5: A last slow day, then out
One more wander, one more rooftop, then the boat or the plane.