Best Hotels in Zanzibar

Zanzibar has hundreds of hotels — but not all deliver what they promise. Location is everything. Always choose a hotel directly on the beach, not '5 minutes walk from the beach.' In Zanzibar, that walk often means unpaved roads, no sidewalks, and a completely different experience.

The east coast (Jambiani, Paje, Bwejuu) offers the most spectacular turquoise water and white sandy beaches. The north (Nungwi, Kendwa) has smaller tidal changes but is more crowded. Stone Town is perfect for culture lovers but has no beach.

Tides matter. On the east coast, the ocean retreats significantly at low tide. It's natural and beautiful — but if you want to swim at any time, choose a hotel with a pool or the north coast.

Every hotel on this list was personally visited and reviewed by our team. We stayed at these properties, checked rooms, ate at their restaurants, and talked with staff. We don't list hotels we haven't seen with our own eyes.

We live in Zanzibar and know the island inside out. We see which hotels maintain standards year after year — and which let quality slip after the first season. Our recommendations are based on real, current experience, not paid placements.