Where to stay in Zanzibar: every beach compared
8 min readUpdated July 2026Written by the Zanzibar in One booking team
Nungwi and Kendwa for swimming at any tide and nightlife, Paje and Jambiani for kitesurfing and a young budget crowd, Matemwe and Pongwe for quiet high end beach, Michamvi for sunsets, Stone Town for history and your first or last night.
The single biggest mistake on a Zanzibar trip is picking the wrong beach. The island is small on a map but a north to south transfer is a two hour drive, and the tide behaves completely differently on each coast. Here is how locals split it.
North: Nungwi and Kendwa
The north tip has almost no tidal drop, so you can swim all day, every day. Nungwi is busier with dhow builders, beach bars and dive centres. Kendwa is a short walk south, wider and calmer, and it holds the famous full moon party.
Drive from the airport is around 1 hour 30 minutes. Expect the widest range of hotels of anywhere on the island, from hostels to five star resorts.
- Swim at any tide
- Best nightlife
- Busiest beach on the island
South east: Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu
This is the kite coast. A shallow turquoise lagoon protected by a reef, wind through December to March and June to September, and the best value beach accommodation on the island. At low tide the water walks far out and locals farm seaweed on the flats, which is beautiful but not swimmable.
Jambiani is quieter and more village like than Paje. Bwejuu sits between them with almost nothing going on, which is the point.
East and north east: Matemwe, Pongwe, Kiwengwa
Matemwe faces Mnemba atoll, so it has the shortest boat ride to the best snorkelling and diving in Zanzibar. Pongwe is a small protected cove that keeps water at low tide. Kiwengwa is where most of the big all inclusive resorts sit.
Stone Town and the west
Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a 20 minute drive from the airport. One or two nights here at the start or end of a trip gives you the spice market, the old fort, Forodhani night food and a real sense of the Swahili coast. The sea in town is for sunset dhows, not for swimming.
How to split a one week trip
The pattern that works for most guests: one night Stone Town on arrival, four nights north or east on the beach, then a final night near the airport if the flight is early. We can price the whole thing including both transfers in one cart.
Common questions
Which side of Zanzibar has the best beach?
For swimming and sunsets, the north west tip at Nungwi and Kendwa. For photogenic turquoise lagoon and kitesurfing, the south east at Paje and Jambiani. For quiet snorkelling access, Matemwe on the north east.
Is it worth staying in Stone Town?
For one or two nights, yes. It is the cultural heart of the island and the easiest base for a spice farm tour or a Prison Island trip. Most guests then move to a beach for the rest of the stay.
How long does it take to drive across Zanzibar?
Airport to Stone Town is about 20 minutes, to Paje about 1 hour, to Kiwengwa or Matemwe about 1 hour 15, and to Nungwi or Kendwa about 1 hour 30.
Can I stay on two different beaches in one trip?
Yes, and many guests do. Add both stays to the cart and we drop the inter beach transfer in between at a fixed price.
Plan it while it is fresh
Add a stay, a transfer and a tour to one cart and send it as a single request. We confirm with every supplier and come back with one itinerary and one price.
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