Full-Day Stone Town Tour with UNESCO Heritage and Forodhani Market

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visiting historical buildings in Stone Town, including House of Wonders, Freddie Mercury House, and the Sultans' Palace
• 02 Shopping at Darajani Market in Stone Town
• 03 Experience the local fish auction in Stone Town
• 04 Learn more about the culture and architecture of Stone Town
• 05 Click amazing photos of Stone Town
• 06 Visit the night market at Forodhani Garden

Embark on a full-day adventure through the enchanting Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in Swahili culture and history. Discover captivating stories of Zanzibar's past as you visit iconic landmarks such as the former Slave Market, Freddie Mercury's birthplace, and the bustling Darajani Market. End your day savouring local flavours at the vibrant Forodhani Garden evening market.

Stone Town is one of the oldest living Swahili towns in East Africa.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Yes

City Zanzibar

Languages Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Stone Town Heritage and Market Tour

• After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from your hotel for a city tour.
• Stone Town is one of the oldest living Swahili towns in East Africa. In 2000, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stone Town has many stories to tell about the historical facts of the East Africa region.
• On this tour, our guide will share the fascinating history of Stone Town and the Zanzibar islands as a whole.
• You will see the birthplace of Freddie Mercury, the former Slave Market, and the old local Darajani Market, which was built during the rule of Sultan Ali Bin Humud.
• Later, you will return to your hotel to relax in the late evening, and then go to Forodhani Garden for the evening market and seafood.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Tour guide: English, French, German, Italian
• Entrance to the Slave Market
• Drinking water
• All government fees
• 1 night accommodation

What's Not Included

• Lunch
• Any items of a personal nature
• Tips
• Freddie Mercury entrance fee

What to bring

• Closed walking or hiking shoes.
• Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town.
• Women should cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers.

Know before you go

• Stone Town is probably the most traditional part of the island when it comes to observing Muslim traditions. It is advised that women and men wear longer clothing to respect local traditions.
• Nevertheless, as someone who sweats profusely in high heat, I only wore tank tops while walking around Stone Town. No one ever gave me looks about it. I saw plenty of girls who wore shorter clothing and do not think they had much issue either. I think if you want to be fully respectful of local customs, wear something that covers the knees and shoulders. If you do not, nothing will happen to you either.
• This tour will give you an excellent way of familiarising yourself with Stone Town's geography, history, architecture, and culture. This fascinating excursion leads you through a maze of narrow streets that boasts more than 2,000 limestone buildings, covering an area of 50 hectares and with a population of 18,000 living in the suburbs. With its defined and overlapping African, Arab, Indian, Persian, and European elements, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Zanzibar and Stone Town are truly cosmopolitan. After a visit to the Anglican Cathedral (former slave market), House of Wonders (national museum), Palace Museum, the Old Fort, Darajani Market, Hamamni Baths, Catholic Cathedral, Freddy Mercury House, and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the streets, the bazaar full of coffee drinkers, and the beautiful doors of Zanzibar, you too will bear witness that Stone Town is a cultural crossroads and worthy of its World Heritage title. Also take the time to explore the markets where local people purchase their daily requirements, as well as a market street full of colourful textiles. Whether you are interested in history, culture, architecture, renovation work, or are just a shopaholic, your guide can adapt your tour to your needs. They will share amusing, but also cruel, stories about the life and culture of old Stone Town and then safely return you to where your tour started or the place where you were met.
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off are available for an extra charge.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Forodhani

Tour start

Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.