Memories of Zanzibar

Zanzibar Town


This place calls itself an emporium, and it does indeed have a massive range of souvenirs: carvings, clothing, books, ornaments, furnishings, jewellery, fabrics, toys and more, all in a modern environment. Everything has a price label, so there's no haggling, and absolutely no pressure as you browse.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Zanzibar Town attractions

1. Mercury House

0.06 MILES

Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer of Queen, was born in Zanzibar in 1946 where his name was Farrokh Bulsara. His father worked for the British…

2. Catholic Cathedral

0.09 MILES

One of the first sights travellers see when arriving by ferry are the twin spires of the Roman Catholic cathedral. Serving the local Catholic community,…

3. Old Fort

0.15 MILES

With its pale-orange ramparts overlooking Forodhani Gardens and the ocean beyond, the fort was built by Omani Arabs when they seized the island from the…

4. Forodhani Gardens

0.18 MILES

One of the best ways to ease into Zanzibar life is to stop by this waterfront public space. It's a social hub for tourists and locals alike; there's a…

5. House of Wonders

0.2 MILES

An icon of Stone Town, the House of Wonders rises in impressive tiers of slender steel pillars and balconies overlooking the waterfront. Its enormous…

6. Hamamni Persian Baths

0.24 MILES

Built by Sultan Barghash in the late 19th century, these were the first public baths on Zanzibar. The various rooms were renovated in 2017 and, although…

7. Victoria Hall & Gardens

0.28 MILES

Sitting quietly on Kaunda Rd, surrounded by decaying and overgrown gardens, Victoria Hall housed the legislative council during the British era. It's now…

8. State House

0.29 MILES

Zanzibar's presidential palace was originally designed by British architect John Sinclair as the British Residency in 1903. Today it is not open to…