Zanzibar Stone Town

Stone Town itself is almost entirely navigable on foot, and walking is genuinely the only way to properly experience the UNESCO site — the alleys are too narrow for vehicles in most of the historic quarter. The entire old town can be crossed in under 20 minutes, though you should plan for considerably longer as you will inevitably stop to photograph doorways, duck into courtyard cafés and get pleasantly turned around. Good walking shoes with grip are recommended; the coral stone can be slippery after rain.

Taxis are the standard mode for getting from Stone Town to the airport and to beach destinations elsewhere on the island. There are no meters — negotiate the fare before you get in, and ask your hotel to advise on approximate current rates for common routes. A shared or private taxi from Stone Town to the north coast (Nungwi/Kendwa) takes about 45–60 minutes; to the east coast (Paje/Jambiani), allow about an hour. Hotel-arranged transfers are more expensive but remove all negotiation.

The local minibus network (dalla-dalla) connects Stone Town to most parts of the island at very low cost. Routes radiate from the main bus/dalla-dalla terminal near Darajani Market. They are perfectly safe, very local, and an experience in themselves — but can be crowded, slow and irregular by schedule. For families with luggage or young children, a taxi or private transfer is more practical; dalla-dallas work well for adventurous teenagers or for short hops when you want a genuinely local experience.

For exploring the island beyond Stone Town independently, scooters and bicycles are available for hire. Scooters are popular for reaching more remote beaches, though road quality varies considerably away from the main tarmac routes. Bicycles are suitable for the flatter southern parts of the island. Neither is ideal for families travelling together in a group — for multi-person island exploration, a private car hire with driver is generally the most practical and only modestly more expensive option.

Two full days is the minimum to do Stone Town justice — one day for walking the UNESCO site with a guide and visiting the Slave Market memorial, one day for a spice farm tour and the evening Forodhani market. Three days allows you to add the Palace Museum, a dhow sunset cruise and genuine time for wandering without an agenda. Most families combine two or three nights in Stone Town with a beach stay at one of the island's northern or eastern resorts.

Genuinely, yes — and this is not a site where teenagers merely tolerate the experience for the adults. The slave market chambers are one of the most viscerally honest historical spaces I have ever visited; the carved door trail through the alleys is a puzzle to decode; the Forodhani night market at the end of the day is a social highlight for most teens. A good local guide makes an enormous difference — book one for at least half a day and the entire Stone Town experience shifts from atmospheric wandering to something genuinely revelatory.

Stone Town and the main tourist areas of Zanzibar are generally safe for families. The main practical concerns are standard travel-safe behaviours: do not flash valuables, be aware of your surroundings in crowded market areas, use reputable taxis arranged through your hotel after dark, and keep a close eye on children in the alleys (which are narrow and busy). The UK Foreign Office has a standard “take out travel insurance and be sensible” advisory for Zanzibar rather than any heightened warning. Petty theft does occur around tourist sites, so money belts for adults and zip-close bags for teens are sensible.

Tanzania requires Yellow Fever vaccination proof if you are arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country (this applies to some transit routes). Regardless of entry requirements, the standard recommended vaccinations for Tanzania include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and ensuring childhood vaccines are up to date. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for Zanzibar — consult your GP or a travel health clinic at least six weeks before departure. Bring a DEET-based repellent and use it consistently, especially at dawn and dusk.

The most popular approach for UK families is to spend two or three nights in Stone Town first (arriving from the airport or via ferry from the mainland), then transfer to a beach resort on the north coast (Nungwi or Kendwa for calm water and lively atmosphere) or east coast (Paje or Jambiani for kitesurfing and more space). Ending with the beach rather than beginning with it means you arrive in Stone Town fresh and curious rather than sun-tired. The transfer between Stone Town and the main beach areas takes 45–75 minutes by taxi.

For moving between Stone Town and beach resorts, or for island day trips, a private taxi or hired car with driver is the most practical option for families with luggage or multiple people. Negotiate daily rates in advance or ask your hotel to arrange — a full day of island transport is very affordable by UK standards. Dalla-dallas (minibuses) are cheap and authentically local but crowded and unpredictable for time-sensitive travel. Within Stone Town itself, walking is the only realistic option in the historic quarter.

The Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is the official currency, though US Dollars are widely accepted and sometimes preferred for larger tourist transactions (accommodation, tours, airport transfers). Euros and British Pounds can be exchanged at bureaux de change in Stone Town, with competitive rates generally available near the seafront. ATMs exist in Stone Town but are not always reliable — bring a mix of USD cash and a card with low foreign transaction fees. The Forodhani night market and street food stalls are cash-only; keep a supply of small-denomination shillings for these.

The gateway for Zanzibar is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), located about 6 km south-east of Stone Town. There are no direct scheduled flights from the UK to Zanzibar; the standard routing is via Nairobi (NBO), Dar es Salaam (DAR), Addis Ababa (ADD), Doha (DOH) or Dubai (DXB). Total journey times from London typically run 12–16 hours including connection, depending on the hub and layover. Kenya Airways (via Nairobi), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis), Qatar Airways (via Doha) and flydubai/Emirates (via Dubai) are the most common options for UK travellers. Return fares from London vary significantly by season; budget roughly ~£550–£950 per person return in school-holiday periods, less in shoulder season. From the airport, Stone Town is a 15-minute taxi ride; agree the fare before departure or use a hotel transfer.

If your itinerary includes mainland Tanzania — particularly a safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro — a high-speed ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town is a scenic and enjoyable option. Multiple operators run the route daily; the crossing takes approximately 2 hours on a fast ferry. Ferries arrive at the Stone Town waterfront, putting you directly at the edge of the UNESCO site. This is a practical and recommended approach for families combining a mainland safari with a Zanzibar stay, and avoids a short internal flight.