What You Need to Know: For most first visits, stay one or two nights in Stone Town and the rest at Kendwa or Nungwi on the north coast, where you can swim at most tides and watch the sun set over the sea. Choose the east coast (Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Pongwe) for quiet and good-value resorts, and the south-east (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi) for kitesurfing and village life. On the east and south-east coasts the tide goes out a long way.
Zanzibar's Areas at a Glance
Here is how the areas compare on the things that matter most when choosing:
| Area | Best for | Swimming at low tide | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | History, food, 1 to 2 nights | No beach to speak of | Busy old town |
| Nungwi | Restaurants, boat trips, sunsets | Mostly yes | Lively |
| Kendwa | Sunsets, easy swimming | Yes | Relaxed, a few beach bars |
| Matemwe | Quiet, Mnemba trips | No, the water goes far out | Village, very quiet |
| Kiwengwa and Pongwe | Resorts, families, value | No | Quiet |
| Paje | Kitesurfing | No | Young, sporty |
| Jambiani | Village life, long beach | No | Quiet, local |
| Michamvi | Sunsets on the east side, seclusion | Partly, on the bay side | Remote |
Stone Town: One or Two Nights for the Old Town
Stone Town is where to start or end your stay. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of carved doors, narrow lanes, markets and rooftop restaurants, and the evening food stalls at Forodhani Gardens are a short walk from most hotels. It has no swimming beach worth the name, so most guests stay one or two nights and take our Stone Town tour and the boat to Prison Island while they are there.
| Level | Hotels we book (or similar) |
|---|---|
| Budget | Rumaisa Hotel, The Swahili House, Golden Tulip Boutique |
| Mid-range | The Neela Boutique Hotel, Maru Maru Hotel, Shaharazad Boutique Hotel |
| Luxury | Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Hotel Verde |
Nungwi and Kendwa: The North Coast for Swimming and Sunsets
The northern tip of the island faces west, so the sun sets over the sea, and the tide here goes out far less than elsewhere, so you can swim for most of the day. Nungwi is the livelier of the two, with more restaurants, dive centers and the boats for Mnemba and sunset cruises; Kendwa, just south, has a long, calm beach and a slower pace. It is about an hour from Stone Town and the airport. Our Nungwi, Kendwa or Paje comparison goes into more detail.
| Level | Hotels we book (or similar) |
|---|---|
| Budget | Sunseabar Hotel, Sansi Kendwa Hotel, Sunset Kendwa Hotel |
| Mid-range | Kendwa Rocks, Nungwi Turaco Resort |
| Luxury | Gold Zanzibar Resort |
Matemwe: Quiet Beaches Facing Mnemba Atoll
Matemwe is a long, quiet stretch of the north-east coast, with fishing villages between the hotels and Mnemba Atoll offshore, which makes it the closest base for Mnemba snorkeling. The tide goes out a long way, revealing sand flats and rock pools, so plan swims around high water. It suits couples and anyone who wants to read, walk and sleep.
Kiwengwa and Pongwe: The East Coast for Resorts and Value
The central east coast has many of the island's resorts, often with large pools, which matter here because the sea goes out at low tide. Kiwengwa has more hotels and suits families; Pongwe is a small, palm-fringed bay with only a few. Both are about an hour from the airport, and Jozani Forest is within easy reach, which is why our family holiday stays at Kiwengwa and our 8-day holiday at Pongwe.
| Area | Hotels we book (or similar) |
|---|---|
| Kiwengwa | Tembo Kiwengwa Beach Resort, Zanziblu Waves |
| Pongwe | TOA Beach Hotel & Spa |
Paje, Jambiani and Michamvi: The South-East Coast
The south-east has the widest, whitest beaches on the island and the biggest tides. Paje is Zanzibar's kitesurfing center, with a young, lively crowd and steady winds from June to September and December to February. Jambiani, just south, is a long fishing village where women farm seaweed in the shallows at low tide. Michamvi, on a peninsula to the north, is remote and has a bay side where the sun sets over the water. Reef and Beach Resort at Jambiani, or similar, is the hotel on our 10-day two-coast holiday.
Why the Tide Matters When You Choose
On the east and south-east coasts, the sea can retreat hundreds of meters at low tide, leaving sand flats and rock pools for several hours twice a day. It is beautiful to walk and great for children exploring, but you cannot swim in the sea at those times. If swimming whenever you like matters most, stay in the north, or choose a resort with a good pool. Tide times change daily, and our team can tell you what to expect for your dates.
Where to Stay in Zanzibar by Type of Trip
If you are still unsure, these are the areas we usually suggest:
| You are… | Stay in |
|---|---|
| On a first visit | Stone Town (1 to 2 nights) and Kendwa or Nungwi |
| On honeymoon | Kendwa, or Matemwe for seclusion; see our Zanzibar honeymoon |
| A family with young children | Kiwengwa or Kendwa, at a resort with a pool |
| Kitesurfers | Paje |
| Snorkelers and divers | Nungwi or Matemwe, near Mnemba |
| On a budget | Jambiani or Paje guesthouses, or our excursion holiday with your own hotel |
Should You Split Your Stay Between Two Areas?
On a stay of a week or more, many guests split their beach nights between the north and the south-east, to see both. The drive between them takes about two hours and can include Jozani Forest. On shorter stays, one beach plus Stone Town is easier. Our Zanzibar itinerary guide shows how to plan 3, 5, 7 or 10 days.
Common Questions About Where to Stay in Zanzibar
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
What is the best area to stay in Zanzibar?
For most visitors, Kendwa or Nungwi on the north coast, for swimming at most tides and sunsets over the sea, with one or two nights in Stone Town.
Is it better to stay in Stone Town or on the beach?
Both: one or two nights in Stone Town for the old town and its food, then the rest on the beach. Stone Town has no good swimming beach.
Which part of Zanzibar has no tide problems?
The north coast, around Kendwa and Nungwi, where the sea stays deep enough to swim through most of the tide.
Where should families stay in Zanzibar?
Kiwengwa or Kendwa, at a resort with a pool; our 6-day family holiday stays at Kiwengwa.
Where is the quietest beach in Zanzibar?
Matemwe, Pongwe and Michamvi are among the quietest, with few hotels and village life around them.
Bottom Line: Where Should You Stay in Zanzibar?
Stay a night or two in Stone Town, then at Kendwa or Nungwi if you want easy swimming and sunsets, on the east coast if you want quiet and value, or in the south-east for kitesurfing and village life. Tell us how you like to spend your days and we will suggest the hotels; or start from one of our Zanzibar holidays, which already include them.