The perfect 7-day Zanzibar itinerary: One week in paradise
If you’re currently planning a trip to Zanzibar, you’ve come to the right place! This beautiful island in East Africa is a fantastic travel destination for anyone who enjoys tropical vibes, white sand beaches, wildlife, culture and history. But you might be wondering how long to stay and where to go?
During my Zanzibar trip, I explored all the different sides of this fascinating island and did a variety of tours and activities. Based on my experience, I’d say 7-10 days is the ideal time to spend in Zanzibar. Therefore, in this blog post, I’ve mapped out a 7-day Zanzibar itinerary, which covers all of the top places to visit and best things to do on the Spice Island of Tanzania.
If you prefer a slower pace and want to spend more time relaxing on the blissful beaches, you can just extend this itinerary to 10 days by staying longer at the beach destinations.
At the end of this post, you’ll also find a map, which helps you get a sense of which parts of Zanzibar Island this one-week itinerary covers.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase. I was invited to visit Zuri Zanzibar and stay at The Nest Hotel but as always, all opinions are my own.
How to get around Zanzibar
Most people rely on taxis or transfers to get around the island. It’s definitely a convenient option, but it can get pretty expensive if you move around a lot (as you will with this Zanzibar travel itinerary), and you won’t have the freedom to stop wherever and whenever you want.
Since we wanted to explore the island independently, we decided to rent a car and it was the best decision! There wasn’t much traffic, the roads were in a much better condition than we expected, and we could visit all the places on our own schedule. Also, the horror stories about police stopping you and demanding bribes turned out to be false – we were stopped a few times, but never had to pay anything.
To drive a rental car, you need a Zanzibar driving permit, which your car rental can get for you for 10 USD. We used Kibabu Cars and had a really great experience with them.
Be sure to read my comprehensive Zanzibar travel guide for more info on getting around and other essential things to know before your trip.
Zanzibar itinerary: How to spend 7 days in Zanzibar
Day 1: Stone Town
Spend the first day of your Zanzibar itinerary getting to know Stone Town, the historical quarter of Zanzibar City. If you’re renting a car for your trip, like we did, you won’t need it for the first day because the town is very walkable.
Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with winding alleyways, cool boutiques, charming cafes, and unique architecture combining Indian, Arab, Swahili and European influences. It’s also the best place to learn about the grim and complicated history of Zanzibar. The island was a major hub for international slave and spice trade and has been under the rule of Portugal, Oman and Great Britain.
The most important sights to visit in Stone Town are the East Africa Slave Trade Exhibit, the Old Fort, Darajani Bazaar (a bustling food market) and Freddy Mercury’s house. As the sun starts to set, head to Forodhani Gardens at the town’s waterfront. Here you can watch the sunset, indulge in local delicacies at the Forodhani street food market (try Zanzibar pizza!) and cheer for local boys performing acrobatic jumps into the ocean.
It’s easy to explore Stone Town on your own, but if you want to get a deeper understanding of the town’s culture and history, I recommend taking this walking tour with a local guide.
If you’re looking for cool places to eat or drink, check out Secret Garden, Out of Afrika, Zanzibar Coffee House and Karafuu Coffee House.
Where to stay
Spend the night in Stone Town.
MID-RANGE: Dhow Palace – This is where we stayed. It’s a beautiful historical building with elegant decor, wooden carvings, a lovely pool and a rooftop. Every corner here is like a work of art.
LUXURY: Park Hyatt – 5-star comfort just steps away from the lively streets of Stone Town. It’s a stunning property with ocean views, an infinity pool and spacious rooms with upscale amenities.
Day 2: Spice farm visit & Nungwi
In the morning, you can take a boat tour to Nakupenda sandbank if this is of interest to you. The tours depart from Stone Town and take you there in 15 minutes. We decided to skip it because we heard it can get very crowded over there.
After that, pick up your rental car, say goodbye to Stone Town and head to a spice farm. Spice cultivation is a huge part of the island’s economy and culture, so visiting a spice farm is a must on any Zanzibar itinerary.
We visited Siso Spice Farm and were happy with our tour, but there are numerous spice farms on the island, and they all have great reviews. On a spice farm tour, you’ll learn about various spices and fruits (such as cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, lychees, mangos and others), see how they’re cultivated and get a chance to taste them. In some farms, you can combine your visit with a Swahili cooking class.
In the afternoon, drive to the lively beach village of Nungwi at the northern tip of Zanzibar Island. Nungwi, together with the neighboring village of Kendwa, are known for having some of the best beaches in Zanzibar. The sand here is blindingly white, the water is vibrant blue, and the beaches are not affected by huge tidal changes, unlike on the island’s east coast.
These villages are also perfectly positioned for watching the sunset, so make sure to be at the beach around that time.
Where to stay
Spend the next two nights in Nungwi or Kendwa. They are just 3 km (1.9 mi) apart and have a similar vibe.
MID-RANGE: Gaia Villas – A beautiful boutique hotel with modern bungalows and a jungle feel, just a short walk from Nungwi Beach. My favorite part about this hotel was the lovely pool surrounded by lush greenery.
LUXURY: Zuri Zanzibar – A sustainable 5-star resort on Kendwa Beach and one of the best hotels on the island. It has gorgeous modern bungalows, a large tropical garden, an infinity pool and a private beach area amidst swaying palm trees. We were invited to spend a day here and loved everything about this place!
Day 3: Nungwi & Kendwa
The third day is all about enjoying the beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa. The island is famous for its dreamy beaches, so spending a day relaxing on these powdery white sands is easily one of the best things to do in Zanzibar. During low tide, the coastline between Nungwi and Kendwa becomes one long beach, so you can walk from one village to another.
Besides just basking in the sun, swimming in the crystal clear ocean and strolling along the beach, there are plenty of other things to do in the area:
- Take a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow boat. These cruises usually also include a traditional drum performance and some delicious tropical fruit. We really enjoyed this experience!
- Rent a clear kayak. If you want to get some cool photos of yourself while floating on the turquoise waters, book this kayak experience with drone photography.
- Get a massage. On the beach, you’ll see many local women offering massages in their nearby parlors for an affordable price.
- Walk to a sandbank. There’s one on the east coast of Nungwi, close to Sazani Beach Lodge, which you can visit during low tide.
- Watch a Maasai show. In the evenings, groups of Maasai men walk along the beach and perform their traditional jumping dance and throat singing.
- Dance the night away. Kendwa and Nungwi are the top party places in Zanzibar. If you’re there around the full moon, head to Kendwa Rocks for their famous full moon party.
Where to stay
Spend another night in Nungwi or Kendwa. See my hotel recommendations in the section about day 2.
Day 4: Mnemba Atoll & Jozani Forest
Today will be all about getting to know Zanzibar’s wildlife, both on land and underwater.
Get up early and start your day with a boat tour to Mnemba Atoll. This coral reef off the northeast coast of the island is considered the best place to snorkel and scuba dive in Zanzibar because of its diverse marine life.
If you’re not renting a car, you can book a tour that departs from Nungwi. Otherwise, I recommend driving to Matemwe and just finding a boat there that can take you snorkeling at Mnemba Atoll. The snorkeling tours usually also include swimming with dolphins, but unfortunately, it is done very unethically in Zanzibar, so I recommend skipping that part. I’ve written more about this topic in my post on things to do in Zanzibar.
If you’re a scuba diver like me, I recommend going to Mnemba with Scubafish Dive Center. We did two dives with them and were really happy with the team and the equipment. We saw a variety of fish, including pufferfish, lionfish and a white moray eel. The coral, however, looked quite dead, unfortunately.
After your morning boat tour, drive south to Jozani Forest, the only national park on the island. Here you can take a walk through the forest with a guide and spot the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys, as well as Sykes’ monkeys, giant millipedes, elephant shrews and even chameleons if you’re lucky. We managed to see all of these animals except for chameleons.
After visiting the forest, drive to the small beach town of Paje, which you’re going to be exploring over the next few days.
Where to stay
Spend the next three nights in Paje.
MID-RANGE: The Nest Zanzibar – A beachfront boutique hotel that looks like an Instagrammer’s dream. There are spacious bungalows with open-air bathrooms, and a large pool surrounded by palm trees. Just a little disclaimer – if you’re scared of bugs, this might not be the right choice for you. With the outdoor bathroom, some insects will inevitably get in.
LUXURY: White Sand Villas – A 5-star boutique resort with a tranquil ambience and focus on sustainability. The beachfront property has spacious villas with elegant decor, a tropical garden, and an award-winning spa.
Day 5: Starfish & Paje
On day 5 of your Zanzibar itinerary, get ready for a very special snorkeling experience. A short drive north of Paje, off the coast of Pingwe village, there’s a shallow area in the sea where you can see dozens, if not hundreds, of colorful starfish on the sandy seabed. You can get there by boat from The Rock Restaurant, where numerous guys with boats will be waiting to take you to the starfish spot.
I had seen starfish before, but never in such high concentration and vibrant colors. If you love marine life, this snorkeling tour is a must! Just know that you should never touch the starfish or lift them out of the water, even if your guide says it’s okay. This can cause serious distress to the animal.
The best time to go there is around low tide, so check the tide schedule and time your visit accordingly. On this boat tour, you can also visit the nearby Blue Lagoon, another popular snorkeling spot, but we didn’t find it very impressive since there weren’t many fish to see.
After snorkeling, head to The Rock Restaurant on Pingwe Beach for lunch. The restaurant is perched on top of a large rock and is probably the most famous restaurant in Zanzibar because of its unique look. During high tide, it gets completely surrounded by water. Be sure to make a reservation before your visit because they’re often fully booked.
Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beautiful Paje Beach. This beach ended up being my favorite one in Zanzibar. There’s a wide stretch of white sand, clear turquoise water, nice restaurants and ample space, so it never feels too crowded. It’s also been ranked as one of the 50 best beaches in the world.
Where to stay
Spend another night in Paje. See my hotel recommendations in the section about day 4.
Day 6: Mtende Beach & Maalum Cave
On day 6, drive to Mtende Beach at the southern tip of the island. This beach has a very unique natural setting as it’s sheltered between two coral cliffs that form a narrow cove. I also love that this beach is so undeveloped. There are no sunbeds or bars, but there are a few restaurants on the cliffs above it.
The best time to visit Mtende Beach is at mid tide. At high tide, it gets completely covered with water, whereas at low tide, the water recedes so far that you can’t swim. However, at low tide, you can walk through tidal pools and see small fish, crabs and starfish. It’s a good idea to wear water shoes here to protect your feet from sharp corals and sea urchins.
In the afternoon, head back to Paje to visit Maalum Cave. This mysterious limestone cave is surrounded by lush vegetation and filled with crystal clear water perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It’s an incredibly beautiful place with a very serene and relaxing ambience. For me, our visit to Maalum Cave ended up being one of the highlights of my Zanzibar itinerary.
The property also has a restaurant, a nice relaxation area amidst tropical nature and a small spa that offers massages. It is recommended to make a booking before you visit since they only allow a limited number of people in the cave.
Where to stay
Spend another night in Paje. See my hotel recommendations in the section about day 4.
Day 7: Safari Blue tour or kitesurfing
On your final day, you can either relax on Paje Beach and perhaps try some kitesurfing or take the Safari Blue tour.
Paje Beach is a heaven for kitesurfers because of its shallow lagoon with minimal coral and consistent winds. When the weather conditions are right, the blue-green waters of Paje are full of kitesurfers of all levels, ranging from complete beginners to seasoned pros. You can find plenty of kitesurfing schools and rental shops along the beach. Expect to pay 40-85 USD per hour of the lesson.
The Safari Blue tour is a popular full-day boat tour around Menai Bay off the southwest coast of Zanzibar. You’ll be sailing on a dhow, which is a traditional wooden sailboat, visit a remote sandbank, snorkel, swim in a mangrove lagoon and have a seafood lunch on a beach. If you’re lucky, you might also see dolphins. The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
After that, it’s time to head back to Stone Town, return your rental car and say goodbye to Zanzibar.
Zanzibar itinerary map
I always find it useful to see a map of my travel destinations to get an understanding of where everything is located. Therefore, I made the map below, where you can see all the stops in this itinerary. Click on the top left corner of the map for more details.
Other places to add to your Zanzibar itinerary
If you have more than 7 days to spend or you’re wondering where to go before or after your Zanzibar trip, here are some options to consider:
- Safari in northern Tanzania – We did a 5-day safari through the iconic national parks such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro before flying to Zanzibar, and I can highly recommend doing the same. Seeing all the animals of the African savannah (sometimes right next to your jeep!) is truly a bucket-list-worthy experience.
- Safari in Mikumi National Park – If a multi-day trip to northern Tanzania doesn’t quite fit into your plans, a good alternative is to take a day trip from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park in the mainland. On a game drive through Mikumi, you’ll have the chance to spot elephants, zebras, hippos, lions and other animals.
- Pemba Island or Mafia Island – Pemba Island to the north of Zanzibar is much less developed and has untouched beaches, a more tranquil vibe and simple, rustic lodges. Mafia Island to the south of Zanzibar is known as a paradise for scuba divers and is the best place to see whale sharks in Tanzania.
Whether Zanzibar is your main destination or an add-on to your safari trip, I hope you found this Zanzibar itinerary helpful for planning your trip to this wonderful corner of the world.
For information about visa, mandatory insurance, safety and best time to visit, be sure to read my Zanzibar travel guide. And for more details on the best places to visit, check out my post on the top attractions in Zanzibar.
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