Best Hotels In Stone Town, Zanzibar (Where I’d Actually Stay)
I spent about a week in Zanzibar and jumped between a few Stone Town accommodation options – plus a couple that definitly did not make the cut. The short version is simple: stay in Stone Town for one or two nights, then move to the beach.
If budget allows, I would book one night at Park Hyatt Zanzibar. Yes, it is fancy. And yes, it is waaaay above my usual budget bracket. But Stone Town is one of those places where the right old-building, waterfront, sunset-drink stay does stick in your memory more than another cheap bed ever will.
If that feels rude to your wallet, Zanzibar Coffee House is the character pick I would look at first. Lost & Found is the hostel option, Tembo Palace is the practical budget hotel, and Emerson Spice is the more atmospheric boutique stay.
Table of Contents
How I Would Choose
Stone Town is not where I would spend a whole Zanzibar holiday. It is where I would arrive, wander the lanes, drink coffee, visit the old slave market, eat at Forodhani, have one sunset drink, then head for the coast.
That is why I would not over-optimise this. For most travellers, the Stone Town hotel is a short-stay decision, not the centrepiece of the whole trip. Location matters more than a long facilities list. Character matters more than a massive room. And air conditioning matters more than pretending you are too rugged to care.
So the hotel decision is different from a beach resort decision. You do not need seven nights of facilities. You need a good location, air conditioning, a room that does not feel miserable, and ideally a building with a bit of character.
Budget-wise, I would think in tiers rather than exact prices because Zanzibar hotel rates move around a lot. Hostel beds can still be cheap, private budget rooms are the next step up, Zanzibar Coffee House sits in the characterful mid-range, and Park Hyatt is the obvious splurge. If a cheap listing looks too good to be true, read the bad reviews first.
Tip: For most first trips, I would book two nights in Stone Town, then move to Paje, Jambiani or Kendwa. My Zanzibar beach guide explains which coast to choose.
Park Hyatt Zanzibar: The One-Night Splurge
My go-to recommendation is still Park Hyatt Zanzibar, but with a caveat: I do not think most people need to spend their whole Stone Town stay here. I think one night is the sweet spot.
I would not normally even consider staying somewhere like this. It is above my usual price range and slightly too polished for the way I normally travel. But I have slowly come around to the fact that the occasional stupidly nice night in the right place can stick with you far more vividly than five forgettable budget rooms.
The location is the big win: right on the Stone Town waterfront, close enough to wander the old town, then retreat to a pool, proper room and sunset terrace when the heat has cooked you. For a first or final night in Zanzibar, it makes sense.
Zanzibar Coffee House: The Character Pick
Yep, I thought this was a cafe at first too. It is a cafe, to be fair, but upstairs it is also one of the more interesting small hotels in Stone Town.
This is the option I would look at if Park Hyatt feels too steep but you still want your stay to feel like Zanzibar, not a beige transit hotel. Old building, narrow streets, coffee downstairs, rooftop above the surrounding roofs. Good stuff.
The tradeoff is that it is historic and characterful rather than resort-slick. If you want lift-access everything, big-pool afternoons and international-hotel predictability, this is not that.
Lost & Found Hostel: Best For Solo Travellers
I stayed at Lost & Found on the night I arrived in Stone Town, and it does the job well if you want somewhere central, social and affordable. For a solo traveller landing in Zanzibar, that combination is hard to argue with.
This is not the place for a romantic Stone Town splurge. It is a hostel. Expect dorms, people coming and going, and a more functional stay. But for meeting people and keeping the first night simple, it still makes sense.
Tembo Palace Hotel: The Practical Budget Hotel
Tembo Palace is the less romantic recommendation, but I understand why people book it. You are near the waterfront, you get a private room, and you are not committing Park Hyatt money for a short Stone Town stopover.
Just be clear on what you are booking. Tembo has different room types and annex-style options, and the name can get a bit muddy when you are comparing listings. Read the room description properly before paying.
Emerson Spice: The Atmospheric Boutique Stay
Emerson Spice is the atmospheric boutique pick I would use here. Resort-style places outside the old town can be useful for pool-and-shuttle logistics, but Emerson is the one that actually belongs in a Stone Town hotel article.
This is the atmospheric boutique option: old Swahili architecture, carved details, courtyards, stairs, colour, quirks, and a proper sense that you are sleeping inside the old town rather than near it. It is not the polished international-hotel answer. That is the point.
Where I Would Not Stay
I would be careful with the absolute cheapest Stone Town beds unless recent reviews look genuinely good. Stone Town is hot, humid and old. A cheap room can go from charmingly rough to miserable very quickly if the aircon, cleanliness or bathroom situation is off.
I would be wary of places like Salama Hostel and St Monica’s Lodge unless the recent reviews have improved dramatically. Apply the same rule to any cheap bed rather than treating price as a win: if the reviews mention cleanliness, security, water or broken air conditioning more than once, keep scrolling.
I also would not stay far outside the old town just to save a tiny amount. Once you add taxis, hassle and the fact that Stone Town is best early and late in the day, the saving often stops looking clever.
My Stone Town Hotel Verdict
If I were booking again, I would either do one memorable night at Park Hyatt or book Zanzibar Coffee House and spend the savings on food, coffee and a proper wander through town. Lost & Found is the easy hostel pick, Tembo Palace is the practical private-room fallback, and Emerson is the boutique pick if you want the old-town atmosphere turned right up.
Once the hotel is sorted, use my Zanzibar things to do guide for the Stone Town day plan. Do the old slave market, Darajani, coffee, Forodhani and one sunset drink. Then leave before you start pretending the beach can wait.
Tanzania Travel Planning Cheatsheet 🇹🇿
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for Tanzania?
100% YES! — Tanzania has now introduceed “free” healthcare but it’s only for citiens! Tourists need travel insurance in case anything happens on your visit. Also be aware many policies won’t cover high altitude hiking as it’s a high risk activity!
(That’s right, check the t&c’s on your complimentary credit card insurance)
I highly recommend World Nomads as you can get specific add-ons for high altitude hiking UP TO 6000m (Which most travel insurance companies don’t offer!)
🎫 Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Probably not — Tanzania now provide a visa on arrival (VoA) for most western countires which allows you stay for up to 90 days. However, some other countries do need a pre-approved eVisa (check here!). VoAs cost $50 USD for a single entry – Note, US Citizens are required to get a Multi-Entry visa which costs $100 USD. (View visa prices here)
If transiting through Kenya (a lot of people fly via Nairobi), you’ll need a Kenyan visa too. Visa’s cost $20 for a 3 day transit visa and $50 for a toursit visa
(By the way, on both my interactions with the imigration officers in kenya they tried to scam me, so know what your obliged to pay and BRING THE EXACT CASH for the visa!)
💉Do I need any vaccinations for Tanzania?
YES! Make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccines. Common travel vaccines include Hep A/B + Typhoid, and Diphtheria + Tetanus.
A yellow fever vaccination isn’t a requirment to visit Kilimanjaro but is for neighbouring areas in East Africa. In reality, you will might not be allowed back into your home country on your return (I was asked for proof of vaccination upon returning to Australia) so getting this jab prior made for good peace of mind.
Rabies is an issue in Tanzania but the vaccine is expensive and ineffective as a preventative measure (it only lasts a few years and you’ll need to get them again if you require treatment). If bitten by a stray dog seek immediate medical attention!
As always, talk to your GP or specialised travel doctor a few weeks BEFORE you leave.
🏩 What’s the best Kilimanjaro Tour operators?
Your only realy two options here are Kumano Travel and Booking.com. Its a complicated process so I wrote this guide here on the best kumano kodo accomodation options
If you don’t want to figure it all out (it’s meant to be a holiday after all) you can book a package tour. Here are my recommendations for both guided and self-guided.
💸How do you pay for things in Tanzania?
Cash is king in Tanzania, so you’ll want to get some folding tender out from an ATM when you land. Larger businesses and hotels will take Debit / Credit Card but most resturants, and street vendors want cash. I even had to pay for my Kili trip in cash!
I personally use a Wise debit card for all my international money needs as they only convert the funds when you make payment, plus they offer a much better spread (margin on the true exhange rate) than the banks do. They work in all the Tanzanian ATMs I tried.
🚌 What’s the public transport like in Tanzania?
There is a good basic network of local and inter-city busses in Tanzania and travel this way is very cheap. Domestic flight are also very affordable and a far more comfortable option. Checkout Busbora for booking bus tickets online.
📲 How do I get internet/data/wifi in Tanzania and on the mountain?
This one needs a whole nother article, but the short version is prepaid SIM cards are cheap and availible to tourists and locals alike (You don’t need a pricey tourst SIM!)
Your cheapest option is buying a physical sim card on the street corner once landed and getting the shop assistant to help you set it up. I went with Vodacom and had generally good coverage, even up on Kili!
Another option is the Saily eSIM. This is a little more expensive but works from the moment you land is is SOOOOO much easier. It also gives you connectivity across 14 neighbouring African Countries and connectivity the moment you step off the plane!
TIP: I used to use Airalo but now find Saily a much better product – you can get 5% off with code SPECIAL5
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to Tanzania?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. Once you find the flight you’re looking for, I’d then suggest booking directly with the carrier (even if it costs a few $$ more than with one of the agreggators/agencies).
💧Can you drink the water in Tanzania?
Safest not to — tap water in Tanzania may be OK (the locals drink it) but is generally untreated and not reccommended for tourists. Purchase bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing.
🏔️💧Can you drink the water on Mount Kilimanjaro?
Yes — Your tour company with ensure the water provided to you is safe to drink by either carrying in bottled water, or by treating stream water with purification tablets or by boiling it. If you want to drink water from the rivers and streams you generally can but should do so at your own risk. ALWAYS follow best practice and drink from fast flowing water as far up stream as possible. I’d also recommend a Brita Water Bottle for rehydrating on the trail safely.
