Stone Town City Tour: Sultans, slaves and explorers on foot

Follow the trail of sultans and slaves through Stone Town's layered past

A guided walking tour of Stone Town that traces the history of sultans, slaves and explorers through the winding streets, stopping at landmarks like the former Slave Market, House of Wonders, Sultans' Palace Museum and Old Arab Fort. The route is flexible and can be adapted to suit your interests, whether you want to hunt antiques, explore markets or focus on the slave trade and David Livingstone's time in Zanzibar. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs between two and eight hours depending on what you choose to see.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Stone Town's historic sites

• Follow trail of sultans and explorers
• Visit former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral
• See House of Wonders and Sultans’ Palace Museum
• Explore Old Arab Fort and Dispensary
• Walk through markets and fish market
• Observe local street life and residential areas
• Optional stop at Zanzibar Coffee House

The experience

The tour moves through Stone Town on foot, following the buildings where Zanzibar's history unfolded. Your guide leads you past the former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral, the House of Wonders and Sultans' Palace Museum, the Old Arab Fort and Dispensary: each one a landmark in the story of the sultans, the slave trade and the explorers who shaped the island. The guide speaks English, French or German and can recommend routes tailored to what interests you most, whether that's antiques, souvenir shopping, the history of the slave trade or the path David Livingstone walked in Zanzibar.

Between the historical sites, the walking tour opens onto modern life in Stone Town. You'll pass through the markets where fish and seafood pile high, bread sits in wicker baskets and fruit and vegetables stack neatly as traders call out their wares. In the residential areas, children play in the streets while locals sit outside and play board games. An optional stop at The Zanzibar Coffee House lets you rest from the heat and the pace of the streets, with drinks, local sweets and seasonal fruits available to refuel before you continue.

Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the start. The tour length is flexible. It can run anywhere from two to eight hours depending on how many stops you want and how long you linger at each one. This means you can fit it around the rest of your day or take the full span if you want to move slowly through the streets and absorb the layers of history.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• a live guide in English, French or German.
• a flexible walking route through Stone Town's historical sites that you can customize to your interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 25 years) · Senior (26 to 52 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bohobe Travels

Is this one for you?The tour length ranges from two to eight hours, so you can fit a quick walk through the main sites into a morning or dedicate a full day to moving slowly through the streets and markets. Choose the shorter version if you want to see the key landmarks and still have time for the beach or other activities. Pick the longer route if you want to linger at each stop and explore the residential areas and markets in depth.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (5 to 10 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the Stone Town City Tour actually take?

The tour runs between two and eight hours depending on which sites you want to see and how much time you spend at each stop. Your guide can adjust the route and pace to fit your schedule and interests.

What are the main historical sites we'll visit on this walking tour?

The tour passes the former Slave Market, Anglican Cathedral, House of Wonders, Sultans' Palace Museum, Old Arab Fort and Dispensary. Your guide tells the story of each building and how it connects to the sultans, the slave trade and the explorers who shaped Zanzibar.

Can the guide customize the route if I'm interested in a specific part of Stone Town's history?

Yes. The tour is very flexible and your guide can adapt the route and itinerary to suit your interests, whether you want to focus on the slave trade, follow David Livingstone's path in Zanzibar, hunt for antiques, explore the markets or concentrate on the palaces and forts.

Is there a break during the tour, or a place to get a drink?

An optional stop at The Zanzibar Coffee House is built into the tour. It offers drinks, local sweets and seasonal fruits, giving you a chance to rest from the heat and the pace of the streets before you continue walking.