Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar with Hassan
by Hansver tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$50Overview
This Stone Town walking tour in Zanzibar, led by Hassan, lasts about three hours and covers many important historical sites. The tour begins at the House of Wonders, a large 19th-century ceremonial palace built by Sultan Baraghash bin Said, located between the Old Fort and the People’s Palace Museum. Next, the group visits Forodhani Gardens, originally laid out in 1936 to commemorate Sultan Khalifa’s silver jubilee, and known for its night food market. The tour continues to the Old Fort, the oldest building in Stone Town, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and now used for festivals. Visitors then see the Freddie Mercury Museum, dedicated to the famous singer born in Zanzibar in 1946. The route includes St. Joseph’s Cathedral, started by French missionaries in 1863 and completed in 1898, followed by Jaws Corner, a local meeting place known for coffee and conversation. The Anglican Zanzibar Diocese is next, formerly the slave market until 1873, later converted into a church by Bishop Edward Steere. The tour proceeds to Darajani Bazaar, the largest central market designed by British architect J. H. Sinclair in 1904, where fish, spices, meat, fruits, and vegetables are sold. Visitors also see the Old Dispensary, built in the late 19th century as a charitable hospital but completed after several delays. The Malindi Mosque, renovated in 1994 in a modern Arabesque style, is another stop. The group passes a building constructed around 1865 as the home of Zam Zam, daughter of the first Sultan of Zanzibar, which later served as the Customs House until 1987. The tour concludes at the People’s Palace Museum, originally built in the 1830s by Seyyid Said bin Sultan, damaged during the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar war, and opened as a museum in 1994. Hassan, a professional and certified English-speaking guide, leads the tour and provides a bottle of water. Transport to the meeting point is not included unless arranged in advance for hotels in Stone Town.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
House of wonder
Constructed in Stone Town by Sultan Baraghash bin Said, this was the largest and tallest building in the 19th century. It faces the Forodhani gardens and lies between the old fort and the palace museum. It served as a ceremonial palace and reception hall.
10 min
Forodhani Gardens
Visitors can experience the night food market where both tourists and locals come for simple dinners. The Forodhani gardens were originally established in 1936 to mark the silver jubilee of Sultan Khalifa.
17 min
The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
This fort, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, is the oldest building in Stone Town and currently hosts various Zanzibar festivals. It is also known as the Arabic fort in the capital.
10 min
Freddie Mercury Museum
Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar Town on 5 September 1946. He became a British singer and songwriter, famous as lead vocalist and pianist of Queen. He died on 24 November 1991.
7 min
St. Joseph's Cathedral Parish
Construction began in 1863 by French missionaries from Reunion Colony around 1857-1860. Work stopped upon discovering graves on site, then resumed 30 years later. The first mass was held at Christmas 1898.
7 min
Jaws Corner
This location is the town’s center and a common meeting place where locals and tourists gather to drink coffee and socialize.
3 min
Anglican Zanzibar Diocese
Formerly a slave market closed in 1873 by Sultan Baraghash, it was later replaced by an Anglican Church built by Edward Steere, the third Bishop of Zanzibar from 1874 to 1882. Steere died of a heart attack nearby and was buried behind the altar.
20 min
Darajani Bazaar
The largest structure of the Central Market, designed in eclectic style by British architect J. H. Sinclair, opened in August 1904. It faces the Creek and contains sections for fish, spices, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
15 min
Old Dispensary
Commissioned in 1887 by Tharia Topan as a charitable hospital for the poor, construction halted after his death in 1891. His widow resumed work but stopped in 1893 due to lack of funds. The building was sold and completed by a new owner in 1894.
15 min
Malindi Mosque
Built in the 19th century, Zanzibar mosques are generally plain compared to others. The Ijumaa mosque was fully renovated in 1994 with modern arabesque designs, a style that other large mosques may adopt.
9 min
Zam Zam House
Built around 1865 as the home of Zam Zam, daughter of Seyyid Said, and her husband Sayyid Humud bin Ahmed. After his death, Zam Zam left the house. In 1928 it became the Customs House until 1987.
18 min
People's Palace Museum
Constructed in the 1830s by Seyyid Said bin Sultan for his family, it was the second palace after Mtoni. Bombarded in the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar war, it was halved in size. It remained the Al Busaidy palace until the 1964 Revolution, then renamed the People's Palace and used as government offices. It opened as a museum in 1994.
20 min
Meeting point
Travelers can come to the forodhani Gardens, in the centre of the gardens, there is a bandstand, so I will be waiting for you at a bandstand
End point
Travelers can come to the forodhani Gardens, in the centre of the gardens, there is a bandstand, so I will be waiting for you at a bandstand
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Stone Town Walking Tour in Zanzibar with Hassan
by Hansver tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$50Overview
This Stone Town walking tour in Zanzibar, led by Hassan, lasts about three hours and covers many important historical sites. The tour begins at the House of Wonders, a large 19th-century ceremonial palace built by Sultan Baraghash bin Said, located between the Old Fort and the People’s Palace Museum. Next, the group visits Forodhani Gardens, originally laid out in 1936 to commemorate Sultan Khalifa’s silver jubilee, and known for its night food market. The tour continues to the Old Fort, the oldest building in Stone Town, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and now used for festivals. Visitors then see the Freddie Mercury Museum, dedicated to the famous singer born in Zanzibar in 1946. The route includes St. Joseph’s Cathedral, started by French missionaries in 1863 and completed in 1898, followed by Jaws Corner, a local meeting place known for coffee and conversation. The Anglican Zanzibar Diocese is next, formerly the slave market until 1873, later converted into a church by Bishop Edward Steere. The tour proceeds to Darajani Bazaar, the largest central market designed by British architect J. H. Sinclair in 1904, where fish, spices, meat, fruits, and vegetables are sold. Visitors also see the Old Dispensary, built in the late 19th century as a charitable hospital but completed after several delays. The Malindi Mosque, renovated in 1994 in a modern Arabesque style, is another stop. The group passes a building constructed around 1865 as the home of Zam Zam, daughter of the first Sultan of Zanzibar, which later served as the Customs House until 1987. The tour concludes at the People’s Palace Museum, originally built in the 1830s by Seyyid Said bin Sultan, damaged during the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar war, and opened as a museum in 1994. Hassan, a professional and certified English-speaking guide, leads the tour and provides a bottle of water. Transport to the meeting point is not included unless arranged in advance for hotels in Stone Town.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
House of wonder
Constructed in Stone Town by Sultan Baraghash bin Said, this was the largest and tallest building in the 19th century. It faces the Forodhani gardens and lies between the old fort and the palace museum. It served as a ceremonial palace and reception hall.
10 min
Forodhani Gardens
Visitors can experience the night food market where both tourists and locals come for simple dinners. The Forodhani gardens were originally established in 1936 to mark the silver jubilee of Sultan Khalifa.
17 min
The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
This fort, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, is the oldest building in Stone Town and currently hosts various Zanzibar festivals. It is also known as the Arabic fort in the capital.
10 min
Freddie Mercury Museum
Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar Town on 5 September 1946. He became a British singer and songwriter, famous as lead vocalist and pianist of Queen. He died on 24 November 1991.
7 min
St. Joseph's Cathedral Parish
Construction began in 1863 by French missionaries from Reunion Colony around 1857-1860. Work stopped upon discovering graves on site, then resumed 30 years later. The first mass was held at Christmas 1898.
7 min
Jaws Corner
This location is the town’s center and a common meeting place where locals and tourists gather to drink coffee and socialize.
3 min
Anglican Zanzibar Diocese
Formerly a slave market closed in 1873 by Sultan Baraghash, it was later replaced by an Anglican Church built by Edward Steere, the third Bishop of Zanzibar from 1874 to 1882. Steere died of a heart attack nearby and was buried behind the altar.
20 min
Darajani Bazaar
The largest structure of the Central Market, designed in eclectic style by British architect J. H. Sinclair, opened in August 1904. It faces the Creek and contains sections for fish, spices, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
15 min
Old Dispensary
Commissioned in 1887 by Tharia Topan as a charitable hospital for the poor, construction halted after his death in 1891. His widow resumed work but stopped in 1893 due to lack of funds. The building was sold and completed by a new owner in 1894.
15 min
Malindi Mosque
Built in the 19th century, Zanzibar mosques are generally plain compared to others. The Ijumaa mosque was fully renovated in 1994 with modern arabesque designs, a style that other large mosques may adopt.
9 min
Zam Zam House
Built around 1865 as the home of Zam Zam, daughter of Seyyid Said, and her husband Sayyid Humud bin Ahmed. After his death, Zam Zam left the house. In 1928 it became the Customs House until 1987.
18 min
People's Palace Museum
Constructed in the 1830s by Seyyid Said bin Sultan for his family, it was the second palace after Mtoni. Bombarded in the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar war, it was halved in size. It remained the Al Busaidy palace until the 1964 Revolution, then renamed the People's Palace and used as government offices. It opened as a museum in 1994.
20 min
Meeting point
Travelers can come to the forodhani Gardens, in the centre of the gardens, there is a bandstand, so I will be waiting for you at a bandstand
End point
Travelers can come to the forodhani Gardens, in the centre of the gardens, there is a bandstand, so I will be waiting for you at a bandstand
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.