
Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar
Traveler rating
3.8/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar worth booking?
Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar is a 3-hour experience in Zanzibar City, Tanzania, from $85 per person. It scores 44 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.8/5 rating across 8 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 44 / 100
- Rating
- 3.8/5 (8)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $85 per person
This introductory guided tour of Zanzibar provides living evidence of a rich cultural heritage, where Arab, Indian, Persian and European influences blended with local African tradition. Historic buildings with elaborately carved wooden doors shaded by balconies, loggias and verandas line the narrow winding streets. The tour includes a visit to a Town Market "Darajani", Slave Market, Sultan Palace, Old Fort etc. You will also have about 30 minutes of shopping.
What you get
About this experience
This introductory guided tour of Zanzibar provides living evidence of a rich cultural heritage, where Arab, Indian, Persian and European influences blended with local African tradition. Historic buildings with elaborately carved wooden doors shaded by balconies, loggias and verandas line the narrow winding streets. The tour includes a visit to a Town Market "Darajani", Slave Market, Sultan Palace, Old Fort etc. You will also have about 30 minutes of shopping.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
What you'll see and do
Darajani Bazaar
The Darajani Market (or Bazaar) is the main bazaar in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It is also known as Estella Market (after Countess Estella, sister of Lloyd Mathews, Prime Minister of Zanzibar) and informally as Marikiti Kuu (in swahili, "main market")The market is located in Darajani Road, in the surroundings of the Anglican Cathedral of Christ. The main structure of the market was built in 1904 by Bomanjee Maneckjee, for Sultan Ali bin Hamud.It was later extended and restored. Darajani Bazaar is mainly a food market (seafood, meat, fruits, grains, spices), but there are also shops selling a number of different goods, from consumer electronics to clothing.
15 minutes here
The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
Explore the high brown walls and various entrances of The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), a landmark building of the Old Town and a popular tourist destination. Featuring crenelated stone battlements with upright merlons, embrasures, and entrances with pointed arches, the fort with its inner courtyard has been converted into a cultural center dotted with curio shops. Built by the Omanis as a defense against the Portuguese in the 17th century, this remains the oldest standing structure in the Stone Town. Buy some tingatinga paintings and traditional handicrafts from the shops, or watch a performance in the fort's open-air amphitheater.
10 minutes here · Admission included
Anglican Zanzibar Diocese
A coral stone Canterbury-style Church of Christ, Old Slave Market/Anglican Cathedral has been built on the site of the old slave market from when Zanzibar was a huge slaving center under the British-supported Muscat and Oman Sultanate. Next to the church, you can enter slave chambers in the cellars of the old Anglican Mission House, that's now a hostel. Built in 1873-1883, the cathedral's altar is believed to stand at the place of the old whipping post. Boasting a cross made out of the tree under which the heart of David Livingston was buried in 1873, this active cathedral features a huge rectangular bell tower with a clock. In the churchyard, view a concrete sculpture of slaves exiting a holding cell from underground made by a Swedish sculptor
10 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
From Other Coastal Areas
For clients staying in North, North East, East, South East, South and South West Coast Area resorts/hotels Pickup included
From Stone Town
For clients staying in Stone Town and West Coast Hotels Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- ARP Travel Group
Know before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Dress code is formal (Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town. Women should cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers)
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Interesting but more information and time would have been an improvement
We were picked up from our hotel for this tour and the driver Said Faki was excellent - he is with Fisherman Tours and he was wonderful our whole stay - he was a better guide than anyone that actually took us on the tours. If this review were about him he would be 10 stars and wonderful every time. I had not done any research so did no idea that Stone Town was a slave processing center and this was an awful realisation but one that I very much wanted to learn more about. We were given some history and orientation but then left to go into the museum ourselves to read the information. This was not a problem however 15 minutes is insufficient to do this and I really wanted to know all I could about the history of slavery and personal accounts of people's experiences. We walked around the main areas of Stone Town (I would happily give the fish and meat markets a miss) and given time to visit shops if we wanted to. Great information on the doors and architecture but it all felt rushed and I left feeling that I did not know enough about the place or its history.
via Tripadvisor
Brilliant guide.
We did this tour via Fisherman Tours in Zanzibar which I think (hope) are a sister company to Ranger Safaris (I can't find them elsewhere and I think our travel company booked this tour through Ranger!!) Anyway! We very nearly decided not to bother with this tour but were really happy that we did. Without a doubt the best bit was our guide Fassal who was super informative, spoke amazing English and gave us a brilliant overview of both the history of Stone Town and Zanzibar in general. I do think that this tour is probably very reliant on your guide so if you are thinking of taking it, we would highly recommend asking for Fassal!
via Tripadvisor
Waste of money
Not impressed with the tour. We were picked up at the Ocean Paradise Resort. The drive/guide took us to Stone Town. Basically the tour was as follows: There's a door, there's a market. That is Freddie's house. Very annoyed with the guide. However our 6 day safari with this company was excellent.
via Tripadvisor
Forodhani Night Market
Myself and my Husband browsed around the food market with our guide who we had spent most of the day with looking at the interesting sites Stone town had to offer.I must say Stone town is a good tour and worth a visit.Myself and my Husband thought we would try the food on offer at the market .We selected two kebabs ,one samosa and a naan bread just to sample the food on offer.We were then told it would be 17US dollars so my Husband laughed and said to the Guide you must be joking.Please do not be taken in by these prices.On return to our hotel a little hungry the hotel said for a whole plate of food should be around two/four US dollars.It is a shame some vendors at the market want to over charge tourists.Beware and also keep your belongings in your bag in the evening for security.
via Tripadvisor
Hot and sweaty, but well worth it!
Zanzibar has quite a long history and this can only be experienced through a walking tour in Stone Town. We stayed at the Tausi Palace hotel and they arranged a tour guide by the name of Seif Ali to take us on the guided tour of the town. Seif's spoken english is excellent as were his explanations and knowledge of Stone Towns history. His direct email address is seifzanzibar@gmail.com. Feel free to contact him directly or ask your hotel to book his service for the tour. Three hours of walking around Stone Town in the mid day sun went very quickly with Seif.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $85 to $140
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by ARP Travel Group, who run 5 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 47.9.
See everything ARP Travel Group runsWhy this scores 44
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Zanzibar City.
How much does Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar cost?
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Prices start at $85 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Zanzibar City usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Zanzibar City is not rushed.
Is Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 44 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.8/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable food & drink in Zanzibar City, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Zanzibar City can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Zanzibar City and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Zanzibar City within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Zanzibar City?
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On Outty we rank every Zanzibar City experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour, Stone Town Heritage Walk with local Guide, Zanzibar Adventure Quad with Sunset and Transfer Included. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar City?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Zanzibar City?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off; and Professional guide. Not included: Food and drinks; Gratuities; and Souvenir photos (available to purchase). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 77 listed pickup locations in and around Zanzibar City. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Zanzibar City. Standard cancellation terms apply.
What do travelers say about Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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Across 8 reviews averaging 3.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Stone Town Guided Tour from Zanzibar?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including From Other Coastal Areas, From Stone Town. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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