Zanzibar guide
Where to Stay in Zanzibar
Stone Town, the north, the north-east, the south-east or the far south? Compare the areas by beach, tide, the trips that start nearby and what the airport transfer costs.
Updated 2026-10-28, by the Suntrip Zanzibar team
Zanzibar areas at a glance
| Area | Best for | Trips with pickup included | Airport, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town & airportStone Town, Shangani, Mbweni, airport area | History lovers, short stays, the first or last night near the airport. | 8 | $15 |
| West coastFumba, Chukwani, Bububu, Mtoni | Quiet stays close to the airport and Menai Bay. | 2 | $45 |
| South-east coastPaje, Jambiani, Bwejuu, Michamvi, Dongwe | Kitesurfers, walkers, Jozani Forest, the caves, The Rock and the Blue Lagoon. | 9 | $55 |
| North coastNungwi, Kendwa | Swimming at any time of day, sunsets, first-time visitors who want everything close. | 7 | $65 |
| North-east coastMatemwe, Kiwengwa, Pwani Mchangani, Pongwe | Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba, quieter beaches. | 5 | $60 |
| South tipKizimkazi, Makunduchi | Dolphin watching, quiet villages, Menai Bay sandbanks. | 3 | $65 |
Zanzibar is small, but the drive from one coast to another takes an hour or more, so where you stay decides which trips are easy. Below, each area shows the trips that start nearby (pickup included) and the private airport transfer price per vehicle.
Stone Town & airport: Stone Town, Shangani, Mbweni, airport area
Stone Town is Zanzibar's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the port, the market and the Forodhani night food market. It is a town, not a beach resort, so it works best for one or two nights before or after the coast.
Best for: History lovers, short stays, the first or last night near the airport.
Trips with pickup included from here (8): Stone Town Historical Walking Tour, Prison Island Boat Trip, Nakupenda Sandbank Excursion, Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour, Zanzibar Sunset Dhow Cruise, Zanzibar Swahili Cooking Class, Stone Town Street Food Tour, Chumbe Island Excursion.
Airport transfer: $15 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
West coast: Fumba, Chukwani, Bububu, Mtoni
The west coast outside town is quieter, with hotels spread along the shore. Fumba is the base for Menai Bay dhow trips into the Menai Bay Conservation Area.
Best for: Quiet stays close to the airport and Menai Bay.
Trips with pickup included from here (2): Menai Bay Full-Day Dhow Excursion, Mangrove Kayaking Tour.
Airport transfer: $45 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
South-east coast: Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu, Michamvi, Dongwe
The south-east coast has long white beaches and a shallow lagoon. The tide here is large: at low tide the sea can pull back more than a kilometre, exposing seaweed farms and rock pools, so swimming depends on the time of day. Paje is the main kitesurfing beach, with the main wind seasons around June to September and December to February.
Best for: Kitesurfers, walkers, Jozani Forest, the caves, The Rock and the Blue Lagoon.
Trips with pickup included from here (9): Paje Kitesurfing Lessons, The Rock Restaurant & Michamvi Excursion, Kuza Cave & Jambiani Tour, Maalum Cave Experience, Zanzibar Swahili Cooking Class, Village & Seaweed Farming Experience, Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Trip, Beach Horse Riding, Mangrove Kayaking Tour.
Airport transfer: $55 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
North coast: Nungwi, Kendwa
Nungwi and Kendwa sit at the northern tip. The tide makes little difference here, so you can swim at most times of day, and the west-facing beach at Kendwa looks out to the sunset. It is one of the busiest beach areas, with plenty of restaurants.
Best for: Swimming at any time of day, sunsets, first-time visitors who want everything close.
Trips with pickup included from here (7): Mnemba Island Snorkeling Trip, Nungwi Sea Turtle Experience, Cultural Village & Dhow-Building Experience, Quad Bike Adventure, Jet Ski Ride, Beach Horse Riding, Beginner Scuba Diving.
Airport transfer: $65 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
North-east coast: Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Pwani Mchangani, Pongwe
The north-east coast, from Pongwe to Matemwe, faces the reef. Matemwe is the closest beach to Mnemba, the island's best-known snorkelling spot. Like the south-east, it has a noticeable tide.
Best for: Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba, quieter beaches.
Trips with pickup included from here (5): Mnemba Island Snorkeling Trip, Quad Bike Adventure, Jet Ski Ride, Beach Horse Riding, Beginner Scuba Diving.
Airport transfer: $60 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
South tip: Kizimkazi, Makunduchi
The southern tip is a fishing coast. Kizimkazi is the starting point for dolphin trips, the Salaam Cave turtle swim and Pungume sandbank.
Best for: Dolphin watching, quiet villages, Menai Bay sandbanks.
Trips with pickup included from here (3): Kizimkazi Dolphin Excursion, Salaam Cave Sea Turtle Swim, Pungume Island & Sandbank Trip.
Airport transfer: $65 one way per vehicle (up to 6 guests).
Tides: the detail most guides leave out
On the east and south-east coasts the sea goes out a long way at low tide and comes back in a few hours later. Low tide is good for walking, rock pools and the seaweed farms; high tide is for swimming. In Nungwi and Kendwa the tide has little effect on swimming. When you book a sea trip with us, we check the tide table for your date and set the start time to match.
Split your stay
Many guests split a week between two areas: for example two nights in Stone Town, then five on the north or south-east coast. You save on transfers, because most trips start close to you, and you see two sides of the island.
Questions and answers
Which part of Zanzibar is best for swimming?
Nungwi and Kendwa in the north, where the tide has little effect on swimming. On the east and south-east coasts, plan your swims around high tide.
Where should I stay in Zanzibar for Mnemba?
Matemwe on the north-east coast is the closest beach to Mnemba, and Nungwi and Kendwa are also close. From both areas, pickup for our Mnemba trip is included.
Is Stone Town a good place to stay?
Yes, for one or two nights. It is the best base for history, food and the boats to Prison Island and the sandbanks, but it has no swimming beach of note.
How long are transfers between areas?
Roughly 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from the airport, depending on the area. Our transfer prices are per vehicle, not per person.
Where is best for kitesurfing?
Paje, on the south-east coast, with the main wind seasons around June to September and December to February.
Sources
Prices and rules change. Last checked 2026-10-28. Tour prices are our own and are confirmed before you pay.
Safari and beach
Add a safari to your beach holiday
Mikumi National Park is a 45-minute charter flight from Zanzibar. Fly in for a full day of game drives and be back at your hotel the same evening: see our 1-day private Mikumi safari or the lower-priced sharing safari.
Dreaming of the Serengeti and the Great Migration? Our sister site, Serengeti Safari from Zanzibar, plans private fly-in Serengeti safaris of 1 to 5 days, with flights straight from Zanzibar.