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— Beach areas guideWhere to stay
Where to stay
in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar isn't one beach. It's a 60-by-20km island with four genuinely different coasts. This guide picks each apart — what each is for, who they fit, when to visit, what they cost, and the specific lodges we book with. Skip to the section that matches you.
01 · Nungwi · north tip— Area 01 · North tipNungwi & Kendwa.
Nungwi & Kendwa.
The classic.
The north tip of Zanzibar — geologically and culturally distinct from the rest of the island. The only coast where the tide doesn't recede a kilometre at low water, so swimming is reliable all day. The classic Zanzibar postcard: turquoise water, white sand, palm trees, sunsets directly behind you on west-facing beach.
Nungwi proper is the busier of the two — a working fishing village turned tourist town, plenty of restaurants, sundowner bars, a famous (and frankly touristy) restaurant called The Rock perched on a tidal outcrop. Kendwa, the next bay south-west, is quieter — bigger resorts spaced further apart, the moon-party every full moon at Kendwa Rocks.
Best for
- First-time Zanzibar travellers
- Couples who want some evening life
- Travellers who care about swimming any time of day
- Sunset photographers (the only coast with sundown over water)
Maybe not
- Travellers seeking solitude — Nungwi is the island's busiest beach
- Honeymooners wanting genuine quiet (try Matemwe instead)
Lodges we book with Per room/night, full-board
Z Hotel — boutique, Nungwi village edgeFROM $260
Riu Palace Zanzibar — large all-inclusive, Nungwi northFROM $340
Kilindi Zanzibar — small luxury (only 15 villas), KendwaFROM $880
The Royal Zanzibar — mid-range, mass-tourism feelFROM $190
Zuri Beach Villa — top-tier, KendwaFROM $720
02 · Matemwe · east— Area 02 · East coast premiumMatemwe & Pwani Mchangani.
Matemwe & Pwani Mchangani.
The quiet luxury stretch.
The east coast's premium stretch — small lodges set back from broad reef-protected lagoons. Mnemba Atoll lies offshore here, so the island's signature snorkel day leaves directly from your jetty. The tide effect is real — at lowest water the lagoon recedes 800m, leaving a wide flat of seaweed and exposed reef. But every lodge has a pool and the swim is back by mid-afternoon.
This is the quietest of Zanzibar's tourist coasts that still has serious lodges. Matemwe village proper is a working fishing community; the tourist properties sit north and south of it on a 5km stretch. Pwani Mchangani is the southern extension — more recently developed, slightly cheaper for similar quality.
Best for
- Honeymooners
- Travellers wanting genuine quiet
- Snorkellers / divers (Mnemba Atoll on your doorstep)
- Couples who plan to mostly stay at the lodge
Maybe not
- You need ocean swimming at any hour (try Nungwi)
- You want nightlife or to walk out to bars
Lodges we book with Per room/night, full-board
Matemwe Lodge — Asilia, 12 beachfront suitesFROM $640
Zuri Zanzibar — large, design-led, infinity poolFROM $480
Mnemba Island Lodge — own atoll, 12 bandasFROM $2,400
Kasha Boutique — small, intimate, Pwani MchanganiFROM $360
Sunshine Hotel Zanzibar — mid-range, family-friendlyFROM $180
03 · Paje · south-east— Area 03 · South-eastPaje & Jambiani.
Paje & Jambiani.
The kitesurf + boho coast.
The south-east — long flat beaches, steady cross-shore wind funneled by the reef, and the kitesurf capital of East Africa. Roughly half the visitor mix here is kiters; the other half are budget-conscious or boho travellers who like the rougher, less polished feel.
Paje is the busier of the two, with proper kitesurf schools, beach yoga, a handful of beach bars, and a stronger backpacker / digital-nomad vibe. Jambiani 8km south is quieter and more village-like — fewer restaurants, lower prices, and a proper Swahili fishing community feel to the streets behind the beach. Tide effect is dramatic on both — exposed reef and tidal pools at low water.
Best for
- Kitesurfers (intermediate to advanced)
- Beginners learning to kite — the lagoon is world-class for learning
- Younger travellers / digital nomads
- Budget-conscious — cheapest end of the island
Maybe not
- Travellers wanting high-end luxury (limited options)
- Honeymooners — vibe leans casual not romantic
- People bothered by constant wind (it is constant)
Lodges we book with Per room/night, B&B mostly
Paje by Night — boutique boho, central PajeFROM $130
Cristal Resort — kite-school adjacent, mid-rangeFROM $95
Mr. Kahawa — small, design-forward, beachfrontFROM $180
Jambiani Beach House — village-feel, quietFROM $85
The Loop Beach Resort — bigger, all-inclusive optionFROM $220
04 · Stone Town · west— Area 04 · Cultural capitalStone Town.
Stone Town.
The history bookend.
The west-coast historic capital. UNESCO World Heritage. The dense Old Town stretches a kilometre back from the seafront — Swahili-Omani architecture, carved doors, narrow alleys built for shade not vehicles, the world's oldest functioning Stone Town. It's not a beach base — but 1–2 nights here changes how you see the rest of the island.
The hotels worth staying in are inside the Old Town walls. Park Hyatt sits on the seafront overlooking the dhow harbour. Emerson Spice is the historic Omani palace turned boutique hotel. The cheaper guesthouses inland still have charm and put you in the alleys' rhythm. We don't recommend staying outside the Old Town — it defeats the point.
Best for
- Anyone — we strongly recommend 1–2 nights for everyone
- Culture, history, architecture travellers
- Photographers (alleys at dawn and dusk)
- Foodies — Forodhani Gardens night market + Swahili kitchens
Maybe not
- As a base for more than 2 nights — gets repetitive
- Travellers wanting swimming as part of every day
- Heat-sensitive travellers (no breeze in the alleys at midday)
Lodges we book with Per room/night, B&B
Park Hyatt Zanzibar — seafront, Omani Mansion propertyFROM $580
Emerson Spice — historic Omani palace, characterFROM $260
Emerson on Hurumzi — sister to Spice, rooftop kitchenFROM $240
Karibu Stone Town — mid-range guesthouse, friendlyFROM $110
Zanzibar Palace Hotel — boutique, central, restored mansionFROM $190
— Our honest take
If you have to pick one coast, here's what we'd say.
For 3 days: Matemwe — quiet, Mnemba on the doorstep, decompresses you fast. For 5 days: 1 night Stone Town + 4 in Matemwe. For 7 days: 2 + 2 + 3 across Stone Town / Nungwi / Matemwe (our 7-day Immersion). For 10+ days, add Paje at the end if you're learning to kite.
Things we'd avoid: a single base on the east coast for more than 5 nights (gets samey), staying anywhere outside the Old Town walls in Stone Town, and visiting any of these coasts during the long rains (15 April – 25 May). When in doubt, lean east coast premium — it does the most things well for the most people.