Discover ten of Zanzibar’s best-rated stays, selected for their Booking.com guest scores, trusted reviews and locations across the island.
Compare highly rated resorts and boutique stays from the north coast to Stone Town. Tap a hotel to jump to its profile.
| Hotel | Best for | Area | Booking guest score | Reviews | Indicative price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar Queen Hotel | Quiet beach escape | Matemwe | 9.3 / 10 | 213 | From $252 | See live prices ↗ |
| Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa | Full-service beach resort | Kendwa | 9.2 / 10 | 239 | From $497 | See live prices ↗ |
| Zuri Zanzibar | Design-led luxury | Kendwa | 9.2 / 10 | 295 | From $800 | See live prices ↗ |
| Treasures of Zanzibar House | Central, characterful base | Stone Town | 9.1 / 10 | 1,074 | From $87 | See live prices ↗ |
| The Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town | Boutique city stay | Stone Town | 9.1 / 10 | 422 | From $417 | See live prices ↗ |
| The Mora Zanzibar | All-inclusive resort | Muyuni / Matemwe | 9.0 / 10 | 1,662 | From $487 | See live prices ↗ |
| Zoi Retreat Hotel Zanzibar | Low-key retreat | Matemwe | 9.0 / 10 | 360 | From $108 | See live prices ↗ |
| Riu Palace Zanzibar | Adults-only all-inclusive | Nungwi | 8.9 / 10 | 1,144 | From $4663-night stay | See live prices ↗ |
| Kisiwa on the Beach | East-coast beach days | Paje | 8.7 / 10 | 403 | From $220 | See live prices ↗ |
| The Z Hotel & Z2 Hotel | Boutique Nungwi stay | Nungwi | 8.7 / 10 | 466 | From $2473-night stay | See live prices ↗ |
Ordered by Booking guest score, with review volume and a mix of neighbourhoods considered. This is an editorial shortlist, not a live ranking of every Zanzibar hotel.
A smaller beachfront stay on Matemwe’s quieter coast. Choose it for a slower pace and easy access to the north-east reef rather than nightlife.
A polished Kendwa resort for travellers who want a broad sandy beach and a full range of facilities in one place.
A design-forward stay on the north-west coast, well suited to travellers who value privacy, landscaped grounds and beach time.
A well-reviewed base in the historic centre, useful for a first or last night when you want to explore on foot.
A boutique option for travellers who want an elegant city base with Stone Town’s waterfront and sights close by.
A large all-inclusive resort on the north-east coast, attractive if you prefer to settle in and have dining and activities on site.
An intimate Matemwe choice for people who want an unhurried east-coast stay with the sea close at hand.
An adults-only resort near Nungwi for a classic beach break with a broad facilities package and less day-to-day planning.
A Paje beachfront option if the east coast’s open beaches, changing tides and watersports atmosphere appeal more than the north.
A livelier boutique choice on Nungwi’s beach, suited to travellers who want sunset views and restaurants within easy reach.
Choose your dates to explore nearby hotels, guest feedback and live nightly prices in US dollars.
The map includes other Booking.com properties in the area, not just our shortlist. Prices and availability change with your dates; confirm the final rate and terms before booking. Open the map in a new tab ↗
Why each stay made the shortlist, and what to check before you book.
A smaller beachfront stay on Matemwe’s quieter coast. Choose it for a slower pace and easy access to the north-east reef rather than nightlife.
Matemwe is a quieter base than Nungwi or Kendwa. Compare the tide at your travel dates and plan transport if you want regular evenings elsewhere on the island.
Check availabilityA polished Kendwa resort for travellers who want a broad sandy beach and a full range of facilities in one place.
Choose the exact room and meal plan carefully: a full-service resort can offer different inclusions by rate. If privacy matters more than a large resort setting, compare smaller Kendwa stays.
Check availabilityA design-forward stay on the north-west coast, well suited to travellers who value privacy, landscaped grounds and beach time.
The appeal is the north-west coast and the more secluded setting. Compare room categories and what is included before treating it as interchangeable with a conventional all-inclusive resort.
Check availabilityA well-reviewed base in the historic centre, useful for a first or last night when you want to explore on foot.
This is a town base, not a beach holiday hotel. It works particularly well when walkable streets matter more than a resort pool or an all-day beach setup.
Check availabilityA boutique option for travellers who want an elegant city base with Stone Town’s waterfront and sights close by.
Stone Town rewards time on foot, but it is not the same experience as staying on the north coast. Pair it with a beach hotel if swimming is the main reason for your trip.
Check availabilityA large all-inclusive resort on the north-east coast, attractive if you prefer to settle in and have dining and activities on site.
An all-inclusive label does not make every activity or drink part of the rate. Check the exact package and the east-coast tide pattern before booking.
Check availabilityAn intimate Matemwe choice for people who want an unhurried east-coast stay with the sea close at hand.
The smaller retreat feel is the selling point, not a long list of resort facilities. Check the room category and sea access if uninterrupted swimming matters to you.
Check availabilityAn adults-only resort near Nungwi for a classic beach break with a broad facilities package and less day-to-day planning.
The adults-only format suits couples seeking a resort-focused break. Confirm the current meal-plan terms and whether the room you select has the outlook you want.
Check availabilityA Paje beachfront option if the east coast’s open beaches, changing tides and watersports atmosphere appeal more than the north.
Paje has a distinctly east-coast rhythm, with tides that can change the swimming experience through the day. Choose it for the setting rather than expecting north-coast beach conditions.
Check availabilityA livelier boutique choice on Nungwi’s beach, suited to travellers who want sunset views and restaurants within easy reach.
Nungwi is more active than Matemwe or a secluded villa resort. If quiet is essential, read recent room-specific reviews and check the exact building and room type.
Check availabilityStart with the coast: north-west beaches, east-coast tides and Stone Town serve different trips. Then compare the exact room, meal plan, transfer time and cancellation terms rather than treating all island hotels as equivalent.
We prioritised high Booking.com guest scores backed by substantial review counts, then included different island bases and travel styles. Check the latest reviews, exact room category, meal plan, tide conditions and cancellation terms before booking.
The first photo in each gallery comes from the Booking.com property feed; additional photos come from the hotels’ own galleries or property-specific travel listings. Images and rooms may change.
There is no single best hotel for every trip. Zanzibar Queen suits a quieter Matemwe escape, Gold Zanzibar and Zuri offer north-west coast resort stays, while Stone Town properties are better for historic streets than beach days. Start with the coast and travel style you want.
Nungwi and Kendwa suit travellers focused on north-coast beach time and sunsets. Matemwe is calmer, Paje has an active east-coast scene, and Stone Town is best for a city stay. Compare tides and transfer times before committing.
Both are on the north-west side of the island, but individual hotels can differ greatly in atmosphere and exact beach position. Compare the property setting, recent room reviews and access to the places you expect to visit rather than choosing by area name alone.
Yes. Indicative starting prices on this page are in US dollars, but they are not live quotes and may reflect different dates or room types. Open the property listing for the final price, taxes, meal plan and cancellation terms for your exact stay.
Not automatically. Transfers may be included, offered for an extra charge or arranged independently. Check the property rate and confirm the pickup point, journey time and arrival-hour arrangements, especially for north-coast hotels.
No. The listed guest scores and review counts were checked in October 2026 and can change. Read the most recent reviews on Booking.com, particularly for the room category, service and facilities that matter to you.
The galleries show photos associated with each listed property; the first image comes from the Booking.com property feed. Images, room furnishings and facilities can change, so open the current property listing and check the exact room you intend to book.
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