Stone Town walking tour with lunch: Historical sites and market

Walk the old town's layers, then eat where locals do

A guided walking tour of Stone Town's historical sites including the old slave market, House of Wonder, Old Fort, Freddy Mercury's house and Tippu Tippu, with time to browse souvenirs and jewelry shops, followed by Swahili lunch at a Stone Town restaurant. The guide speaks English, pickup is included, and the tour runs 3 to 4 hours. Book a morning departure if you want lunch. Afternoon departures skip the meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stone Town historical walking tour

• Visit old slave market
• See House of Wonder
• Explore Old Fort
• Visit Freddy Mercury house
• Visit Tippu Tippu house
• Shop at souvenir and jewelry shops
• Enjoy Swahili lunch in Stone Town

The experience

The tour starts with pickup and moves straight into Stone Town itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the guide walks you through the old town's interconnected streets and historical landmarks. You'll see the old slave market, House of Wonder, Old Fort, Freddy Mercury's house and Tippu Tippu house: each one a piece of Zanzibar's layered past. The guide gives context as you move between them, so the buildings and their stories stay connected rather than blurring into a list of stops.

Between the historical sites, you get time to wander into different shops (souvenirs, jewelry, stones) at your own pace. This is not a rushed march. The tour builds in space for browsing and buying if you want to. After the walking portion, if you booked a morning departure, you head to lunch at a Swahili restaurant in Stone Town itself. The food is local and the meal is included. Morning bookings (between 8am and 10:30am) reserve your lunch order in advance. Afternoon departures skip the meal entirely.

The whole outing runs 3 to 4 hours. An air-conditioned vehicle is included for pickup and transport, and the walking itself is manageable for most fitness levels. The guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• entry to all historical sites.
• Swahili lunch at a Stone Town restaurant (morning departures only).
• time to browse souvenirs, jewelry and stone shops.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 3h–4h, runs every day, 13 start times, from US$ 130 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 41 pickup points.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (8 to 70 years) · Child (2 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Zanzibar marab

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure if you're staying elsewhere in Zanzibar without a car: hotel pickup and a guided route through Stone Town's historical sites mean you navigate the old town with someone who knows its stories, not alone.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional19 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 7 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What historical sites do I actually see on this Stone Town walking tour?

The tour visits the old slave market, House of Wonder, Old Fort, Freddy Mercury's house and Tippu Tippu house. Each one is a landmark in Zanzibar's history, and the guide explains what you're looking at as you move between them.

Is lunch really included, or is that an add-on?

Lunch is included in the tour price, but only if you book a morning departure between 8am and 10:30am. Afternoon departures do not include a meal. The lunch is Swahili food eaten at a restaurant in Stone Town.

How much time do I get to shop for souvenirs and jewelry?

The tour builds in time for browsing souvenirs, jewelry and stone shops between the historical sites. You're not rushed through. You can spend as much or as little time shopping as you want during those windows.

How long does the whole tour take?

The walking tour runs 3 to 4 hours from start to finish, including the historical sites, shopping time and lunch if you booked a morning slot.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the tour, or is transport included?

Pickup is included. An air-conditioned vehicle collects you and handles transport for the day. You don't need a car or need to find your own way to Stone Town.