The best hotel in Zanzibar is Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa, where the beach stays swimmable at every tide and the sunsets are the best on the island. For a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, book andBeyond Mnemba Island, a private island off the northeast coast. Families should look at The Residence, where every villa has its own pool. Want everything included? Baraza on the southeast coast is the island's best all-inclusive.
Our Top 5 Picks at a Glance
Best overall: Zuri Zanzibar
Best splurge: andBeyond Mnemba Island
Best for families: The Residence Zanzibar
Best all-inclusive: Baraza Resort & Spa
Best in Stone Town: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Why Zanzibar, and Why Picking the Right Hotel Matters
Zanzibar sits off the coast of Tanzania, a short flight from the Serengeti. That's why so many people tack it onto the end of a safari. You get white sand and turquoise water, plus Stone Town's carved doors, spice farms and Swahili food.
The island is bigger and more varied than most people expect. The tides alone can make or break a beach stay. On parts of the east coast, the sea pulls back hundreds of yards at low tide. That's beautiful for walking, but frustrating if you just want a swim. Picking the right coast matters as much as picking the right resort. For more ideas around the region, see our Africa travel guides.
This guide combines research on rates, recent openings and guest feedback with the same standard we use for every Boujist list. We haven't reviewed a Zanzibar property in person yet. When we do, the full review will be linked here.
Which Part of Zanzibar Should You Stay In?
The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, has the deepest water and the smallest tidal swing. You can swim almost any time of day, and the sunsets are excellent. It's also the busiest stretch, with more bars and boats.
The northeast, around Matemwe and Muyuni, faces the Mnemba Atoll. This is the island's best snorkeling and diving base. It's quieter, but the tides are noticeable.
The east and southeast coast, from Pongwe down through Dongwe, Bwejuu and Paje, has the classic powder-white beaches. The tides here are big, so look for a resort with a great pool. Paje is a kitesurfing hub.
The southwest, around Kizimkazi, is remote and calm. It's known for dolphin trips and fewer crowds.
Stone Town is the historic heart of the island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most people spend one or two nights here before or after the beach.
Zuri Zanzibar
Zuri is our best all-around pick. It sits on Kendwa Beach on the northwest coast, where the water stays deep enough to swim at any tide. There are 55 rooms set in lush gardens, and guests rave about both the grounds and the service. The design is modern and polished without feeling corporate. Rates on major booking sites have recently run around $770 a night. If you want one hotel that does beach, food and sunsets well, start here.
andBeyond Mnemba Island
This is Zanzibar's ultimate splurge. Mnemba is a tiny private island off the northeast coast, and only lodge guests can set foot on it. The thatched bandas have no doors and no keys, just sand and sea breeze. The surrounding atoll is some of the best snorkeling and diving in East Africa. Rates are fully inclusive and run from about $2,150 per person per night in fall to around $3,000 in high season, plus a conservation levy. The WILDchild program means older kids are welcome too.
The Residence Zanzibar
The Residence is our family pick. It's a villa resort at Kizimkazi on the quiet southwest coast, and every villa has its own private pool. Two- and three-bedroom family villas give everyone room to spread out. Reviewers rate the food highly, and it's offered across several meal plans. Kizimkazi is also the island's dolphin-spotting area, which kids love. The trade-off is distance. You're about an hour from Stone Town and the airport.
Baraza Resort & Spa
Baraza is the island's best all-inclusive. It's an all-villa resort on Bwejuu Beach on the southeast coast, with 30 one- and two-bedroom villas. Every villa has a private plunge pool. The architecture leans Swahili and Omani, with carved doors, arches and antique furnishings. Meals across the resort's restaurants and drinks are included. The Frangipani Spa is a highlight. Choose Baraza if you want to settle in and never sign a bill.
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Park Hyatt is the most polished stay in Stone Town. It's on Shangani Street with 67 rooms, a pool and a spa right on the waterfront. You can walk out the door into the old town's alleys and markets. It's also just 8 km from the airport. Rates have recently landed roughly $360 to $510 a night. The beach out front is a busy city beach, so treat this as your Stone Town base, not your beach resort.
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
White Sand is the most stylish stay in Paje. It's a Relais & Châteaux property that opened in 2014 and was extensively remodeled in 2024. Villas mix contemporary and rustic design, and there's a full-service spa. The beach is huge, white and famous for kitesurfing. Recent rates have run about $500 to $650 a night. Pick it for design, a smaller crowd and easy access to the wind.
Xanadu Luxury Villas & Retreat
Xanadu is a tiny, nine-villa hideaway at Dongwe on the southeast coast. Each villa is free-standing with its own plunge or rooftop pool and a signature domed ceiling. All-inclusive rates are available. It's intimate enough to feel like a private home, which makes it great for couples or a small group buyout. Recent rates have ranged from about $825 to over $1,200 a night.
The Mora Zanzibar
The Mora is a strong luxury all-inclusive at a lower price point. It sits on the beach at Muyuni near Matemwe in the northeast, close to the Mnemba Atoll. Guests get three restaurants, a spa and an outdoor pool set in manicured gardens. Rates on booking sites have been around $390 a night. It's a good pick if you want Mnemba snorkeling without Mnemba prices.
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Essque Zalu is a boutique resort at Nungwi on the island's northern tip. It's built around a soaring makuti thatched roof and has 48 suites and villas. There are five places to eat and drink, including a restaurant at the end of its jetty and a cookery studio. Nungwi has the same tide-friendly swimming as Kendwa, plus more going on nearby. It's a solid mid-luxury choice.
Check rates at Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Coming Soon
Two big names are on the way. Four Seasons has announced a 60-villa resort on 126 acres at Pongwe, with a kids' club and five restaurants, but no firm opening date. Anantara has a 181-key resort planned for Nungwi, with private-pool villas, targeting 2027. We'll add both once they open and we can check them out.
How to Choose the Right Zanzibar Resort
Start with the tides. If swimming off the beach whenever you want matters, stay in the north at Zuri or Essque Zalu. If you're happy to use a pool and walk the flats at low tide, the east and southeast open up Baraza, Xanadu and White Sand.
Next, think about who's coming. Families should look at The Residence first, then Baraza's two-bedroom villas. For more family-friendly island ideas, see our best family resorts in French Polynesia. Couples will love Xanadu, Mnemba or White Sand.
Then set your budget. Mnemba sits at the top, at roughly $2,150 to $3,000 per person per night, all-inclusive. Zuri and Xanadu land in the high hundreds to low thousands per night. The Mora and Park Hyatt come in well under that.
Finally, add Stone Town. Even one night at the Park Hyatt lets you see the old town at sunset and eat at the night market without a long drive back.
Best Time to Visit and Book Zanzibar Hotels and Resorts
The best time to visit Zanzibar is June through October. It's dry, sunny and a little cooler. It also lines up with the Great Migration in the Serengeti, which is why so many safari-and-beach trips land here then. Late December through February is the other dry window, but it's hotter and more humid.
The long rains run roughly March through May. Rates drop, but some resorts close for part of that stretch. November brings shorter rains, which usually pass quickly.
Book early for July, August and the Christmas holidays. The smallest properties, like Mnemba and Xanadu, can sell out six months or more ahead.
FAQ
What is the best hotel in Zanzibar?
Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa is the best all-around hotel in Zanzibar. andBeyond Mnemba Island is the top splurge, and The Residence is the best pick for families.
Which part of Zanzibar is best to stay in?
The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, is best for swimming because the tides are small. The east and southeast have the prettiest white-sand beaches but big tides. Stone Town is best for one or two nights of culture.
Is Zanzibar good for families?
Yes. Villa resorts with private pools, like The Residence and Baraza, work especially well with kids. Dolphin trips, spice farms and Stone Town give families plenty to do off the beach.
How many nights do you need in Zanzibar?
Five to seven nights is ideal. Spend one or two in Stone Town, then the rest on the beach. If you're coming after a safari, even four nights feels like a real rest.
Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?
Zanzibar is a popular and generally welcoming destination. Use normal city sense in Stone Town at night, and dress modestly away from the resorts, as it's a largely Muslim island.
Is there a Four Seasons in Zanzibar?
Not yet. Four Seasons has announced a 60-villa resort at Pongwe, but there's no confirmed opening date. Its existing Tanzania property is the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti.
Are Zanzibar resorts all-inclusive?
Some are. Baraza, The Mora and Mnemba all include meals and drinks. Others, like Zuri and The Residence, offer a choice of meal plans.