Photo: Marina Dabrytskaya

What to do in Zanzibar this weekend

10–11 October · both days planned, with times, prices and tickets

Researched live by an agent that reads what is actually on. Updated 2026-10-06.

Saturday

Saturday 10 October

1 🚌 Day trip

Stone Town Guided Walking Tour

Walking tour of the UNESCO old town: carved doors, old slave-market area, historic houses.

Book / tickets →
2 🎨 Art

Sultan's Palace Museum (Beit el-Sahel / Palace Museum)

Former Omani sultan's residence (until 1964), royal interiors, portraits and furniture. Open in the daytime on Saturday.

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3 🎵 Concert

Sunset Dhow Cruise with live Taarab music

2-hour evening cruise on a traditional dhow with live Taarab musicians, drinks and snacks; departs 3:45 PM from Forodhani Gardens waterfront.

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4 🍴 Food

Maru Maru rooftop Terrace Restaurant

Named rooftop restaurant/bar with 360-degree views over the ocean and Stone Town; happy hour 17:00-19:00.

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More that day

🍴 Spice farm tour — Taste cloves, cinnamon and lemongrass straight off the plant.

🌿 Jozani Forest — Home of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, which poses better than most models.

Sunday

Sunday 11 October

1 🧺 Market

Darajani Market

Main covered city market for spices, fruit and local daily life. Free entry.

2 📍 Spot

Tangawizi Stone Town Cooking Class

Swahili cooking class from scratch with a Darajani market tour and a 4-dish lunch. In town, not a day trip.

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3 📍 Spot

Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

19th-century Omani fortress, main cultural venue of Stone Town; free entry, open daily.

4 🍴 Food

Emerson on Hurumzi rooftop Tea House dinner with live Taarab

Swahili dinner on Persian rugs with 360-degree views; most evenings a live Taarab singer & band (DCMA musicians). Reservation required, deposit needed; 3-course menu $45 excl. drinks.

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More that day

🌿 Nakupenda sandbank — A strip of white sand that appears at low tide. The name means 'I love you'.

🍴 Forodhani night food market — Zanzibar pizza and grilled octopus on the seafront at sunset.

A day out of town this weekend

1 Full day 🚌 Day trip

Safari Blue dhow trip in Menai Bay

A day on a wooden dhow: sandbanks, snorkelling and a seafood lunch on an island.

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