Hostels in Zanzibar, Tanzania

17 hostels available. Prices start from $3 for a dorm bed.

Hostels in Zanzibar

New Teddy's on the Beach

Jambiani
Free Breakfast
Adventure Hostels Beach Lovers Retreat Female Solo Traveller Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Whatever you need. You can play, use our strong wifi or try the slackline. Our 18-meter pool will refresh you in the low tide times of the beautiful ocean. We are sure you will find your … More

Demani Lodge

Paje
Free Breakfast
Solo Traveller
"…However, its location is not very good and, what is more, the location as shown on the above map is incorrect. The hostel is not located on the beach, but much more further towards the south and … More

Your Zanzibar Place

Paje
Free Breakfast
Beach Lovers Retreat Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Check out before 11.00am Breakfast (yummy) included Free WiFi (fast) included Payment by cash or VISA (+5%) card or Directpay (+5%) (only for accommodation) upon departure. There is one ATM ( … More
Party Hostel Youth Hostel
"…20. We also have plenty of bevies and snacks for purchase. Our facilities include a mixed dorm, a female dorm, a private room, and hammock rentals. The dorms are equipped with A/C, have … More

Kameleon Blue


Free Breakfast
Party Hostel
"…In case of a late cancellation or No Show, you will be charged the first night of your stay. Check in from 13:00 to 22:00 . Check out from 08:00 to 11:00 . Payment upon arrival by cash, … More
Family-Friendly Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Check in from 14:00 Check out before 12:00 . Payment upon arrival by cash Stone Town House does not accept credit cards yet, so please bring cash money in Dollars, Euros or Tanzanian shillings … More

Evergreen Bungalows


Free Breakfast
Party Hostel
"…This hotel has one of the best-rated locations in Bwejuu! Guests will appreciate the fact our hotel has a private beach area in Zanzibar. The atmosphere is intimate and tranquil, with spectacular … More
Party Hostel
"…Payment upon arrival by cash, credit cards. This property may pre-authorise your card before arrival. Taxes not included - 5.00% Breakfast included. General: 24 hour Reception. No … More
Digital Nomads Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…We are located at the prime spot in Stone Town and most tourist attractions are within a walking distance from our hostel. About 10 minutes walk from the ferry and only 7 km from the airport. … More
Beach Lovers Retreat Party Hostel Youth Hostel
"…So what is stopping you from booking your stay with us and joining the Drifters family? Drifters Zanzibar Policies & Conditions: Cancellation policy: 72 hours before arrival. Payment upon … More

New Jambo Bungalows

Paje
Free Breakfast
Digital Nomads Family-Friendly Hostel Quiet Rest
"…When you arrive in Stonetown you can easily get here within 2hrs with the daladala,45min with taxi or shared bus. Once you are in Paje you turn left on the roundabout and keep going. We are … More

Lost & Found

Stone Town
Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…The nearest airport is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, 7 km from the property. Every room at this hostel is air conditioned and comes with a TV. Certain rooms include a seating area … More

Mount Zion Lodge


Free Breakfast
Party Hostel
"…We can also provide car and motorbike renting. It's located a five minute walk from a beautiful and quite white beach. If you really want to relax this will be the right place, a great break … More
"…We offer shared rooms, a fully equipped kitchen and Air conditioned rooms aswell as Hot water and Wifi With a great location, only few steps from the beach, around us you will find great … More
Beach Lovers Retreat Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
Michamvi Kae Zanzibar More
Digital Nomads Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…All revenue generated from our Hostel is going into our educational programs to support the local community. International Youth Hostel Makunduchi-Zanzibar Policy and Conditions: … More

Mamarasta

Bwejuu
Free Breakfast
Party Hostel
"…Taxes included Breakfast included General: Reception from 08.00 to 23.00 No curfew No special conditions" …"Abeid Amani Karume International Airport 33 km Julius Nyerere International … More
"…No curfew. We do not accept customers younger than 5 years of age. Non smoking. The maximum period of stay is of 14 days." …"From airport its 15 mins drive to Funguni Malindi, from the port its … More

Hotels in Zanzibar

"…At Canary Nungwi Hotel & SPA all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. Burlington Hostel Policy and Conditions: Cancellation policy: 72h before arrival. In case of a late … More

Waikiki Resort


Free Breakfast
"…Right on the beach we are next to Neptune Resort and close to Next Paradise resort in Pwani Mchangani. A short walk from us you will find Ocean Paradise resort, Dream of Zanzibar, Mapenzi and … More

Hostels in Zanzibar, Tanzania

18 hostels available. Prices start from $7 for a dorm bed.
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Get to know Zanzibar (no more "I wish I knew this before")

This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Zanzibar.

 Get to know Zanzibar (no more

Zanzibar will not leave you disappointed -- the island is a perfect getaway from the dust of major East African cities, and a good place for diving and beach bumming.

Zanzibar, along with its neighboring islands, is an autonomous region of Tanzania; prepare your passport for stamping in and out at the harbor or airport. Zanzibar is famous for producing saffron, ginger, nutmeg, and other spices, and you even can take a spice tour around the plantations. The city also offers you a visit to the old Slave Market, where guides can tell you about this dark page of Zanzibar's history. Forodhani Gardens on the waterfront is a perfect place to visit at night for an evening snack at the market. Be sure to bring your bargaining skills!

Zanzibar's Stone Town is a World Heritage Site with a nice Arab feel to it -- there are narrow streets, lots of cats, and tons of dates sold at the market. Stone Town offers plenty of tour companies who can arrange your diving, kiteboarding, spice sampling, or boat trips around the island. For a more authentic experience, head to the rural parts of the coast, such as Jambiani Village in the southeast, to see seaweed plantations and fishing boats, sit on the beach, and enjoy the sun. Keep in mind that Zanzibar is a Muslim community, so dress and behave accordingly, especially when invited to local houses outside of main tourist areas.

Zanzibar's hostels and hotels are generally more expensive compared to the mainland, but the conditions are better, despite the occasional power shortages. You can also find some traditionally equipped Zanzibari guesthouses where local families will share their life with you.

Stone Town

Stone Town, Tanzania, is the old part of Zanzibar City on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, and is hugely popular with tourists and travelers of every type. It is accessible by several daily ferries from Dar Es Salaam; the crossing takes about two hours.

The tiny alleys of Stone Town make for an intriguing wander; initially, travelers will get lost almost immediately. It's a maze of narrow streets, but heading toward the ocean will eventually get you reoriented. Watch out for motorbikes, though; the streets -- too narrow for cars -- are filled with motorbikes and cycles.

Stone Town has so much of interest to see -- it's mostly architectural, with a huge range of styles represented, which makes Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stone Town has been an immensely important port since the eighth century, and became a center of trade for spices and slaves during the nineteenth century. The architecture reflects the diversity of the people who traded here with examples of the original Swahili settlers and the Arab, Persian, Indian, and European traders who came here.

Stone Town's houses are characterized by ornately carved doorways, verandas with carved wooden balustrades, and long stone benches on the outside walls. Most of the major historical buildings can be found on the seafront with many former palaces, churches, mosques, and municipal buildings -- all made largely with coral stone, which gives the town its name. Among the most well-known and striking buildings are the Beit-Al-Ajaib (House of Wonders), The Old Fort, The Old Dispensary, and the Palace Museum. All of these are found on the seafront. Dotted around town are many small old mosques and churches.

As befitting a destination so popular with international tourists and travelers, Stone Town is loaded with accommodation choices. Most of the upmarket hotels are located in some of the oldest and most beautiful old houses in Stone Town. Budget travelers are well served by a small number of hostels in Stone Town, Tanzania. It helps to have detailed directions to get to these as the streets are difficult to navigate. Stone Town, Tanzania hostels all have dorm accommodation and are great sources of information for onward travel around the island of Zanzibar. There are a number of destinations around the island on the coast that also have hostel accommodation and recommendations are easily had in Stone Town, Tanzania hostels.

Zanzibar is an essential destination for travelers to Tanzania and you might find yourself extending you stay as you get caught up in the Stone Town atmosphere.

Paje

Paje, Tanzania, is a fishing village on the east coast of Zanzibar that is building a reputation as good beach stop for independent tourists. It is fifty kilometers east of Stone Town and at the crossroads of the east coast road that turns south, toward Jambiani and Makanduchi, and north to Bwejuu and Pingwe on the beautiful Michamvi Peninsula. Travel is cheap and easy on the local minibuses (dalla-dallas). The trip from Stone Town takes you past the Jozani forest, which is well worth a couple of hours on the walking trails. You might spot red colobus and Syke's monkeys, duikers, and bush babies.

Paje has long left its fishing village tranquillity behind, as more and more tourists arrive to enjoy its beautiful beach. It's now a prime spot for backpackers looking for a bit of a party scene. Further up the coast toward the tip of the Michamvi Peninsula, visitors will find much more peaceful spots. Kite-surfing is a big draw here, and there are a couple of places in Paje that will arrange this. December to June is kite-surfing season. There's also a dive center with snorkeling trips, too.

One of the focal points for travelers in Paje is Mr. Kahawa's coffee shop, right on the beach. Not only can you get snacks and drinks here, but it's also an outlet for the Jenga organization that gives an opportunity for local people to make and sell handicrafts. There is also a Seaweed Centre. The local villagers have long harvested seaweed here, and the centre now gives them the opportunity to sell their organic perfumes and soaps. Visitors can also take a tour of their workshops.

Accommodation in Paje is mostly geared toward backpackers, so you'll find plenty of Paje, Tanzania hostel dorm beds. Paje, Tanzania hostels are sociable places where backpackers from different countries, each with their own route, can meet and exchange ideas over a drink or two. The hostels in Paje, Tanzania, also help with arranging activities and onward travel. If you need to visit Stone Town, it's an easy minibus trip in under an hour. During kite-surfing season, accommodation is at a premium, so book ahead.

Written by local enthusiast for Zanzibar hostels

Written by local enthusiast for Zanzibar hostels Curly

Zanzibar Hostel Cheatsheet

Above we list every single hostel there is in the city. Let us take a broader look at what you can expect - and what not. We created this cheatsheet for you to get a more complete picture of the hostel quality in Zanzibar, average prices and types of hostels to choose from.
Total number of hostels 17
Average dorm price $17
Average private room price $58
Cheapest hostel in Zanzibar Lost & Found with $7
Party hostels in Zanzibar New Teddy's on the Beach (11 in total)
Most Zanzibar hostels are located in Paje, Stone Town, Michamvi
Average rating of all hostels 6.5

FAQ about Zanzibar Hostels

We've collected the most common questions for hostels in Zanzibar. The more you know, the better you can plan with confidence and ease, right?

Find your Perfect Hostel Match

We've created more special guides for you:

Family Hostels in Zanzibar

Youth Hostels in Zanzibar

8 Best Hostels in Zanzibar

8 Best Hostels in Zanzibar

13 Cheapest Hostels in Zanzibar

13 Cheapest Hostels in Zanzibar

10 Hostels in Zanzibar with Private Rooms

10 Hostels in Zanzibar with Private Rooms

Other Nearby Cities

Stone Town (0.8 Km / 0.5 mi.)
Michamvi (33 Km / 21 mi.)
Paje (39 Km / 24 mi.)
Bwejuu (38 Km / 24 mi.)
Jambiani (42 Km / 26 mi.)
Saadani (49 Km / 30 mi.)

Travel Tips for Zanzibar - from the Community

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