Spices of Stone Town
The old harbour quarter of Zanzibar City, a UNESCO site of coral-stone houses, carved doors and spice shops.
Traded and grown here
Best time: June to October, and December to February.
Stone Town was a centre of the Indian Ocean trade in spices, ivory and enslaved people, and later the capital of the Omani sultanate. Its narrow streets hold mosques, Hindu temples, old merchants' houses and the Darajani market.
Spices and trade
Darajani Market sells spices, fruit and fish, and shops in the lanes sell cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper and masala mixes. Forodhani Gardens fills with food stalls at dusk, offering seafood, grilled skewers and Zanzibar mix, a spiced soup.
The place and its people
Swahili, Arab, Indian and Persian influences meet in the town. The former slave market site and its memorial remind visitors of the history of the trade.
Visiting
Walk without a rigid plan, and visit the Old Slave Market site. Dress modestly, as the community is largely Muslim.
A trail idea for Stone Town
- Darajani Market See spices, fruit and fish.
- Forodhani Gardens Eat at the evening food stalls.
- The Old Slave Market Visit the memorial and church.
- Carved doors Look for old Zanzibar doors.
Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Stone Town" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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