Where to stay in Stone Town, Zanzibar? (the 24 best cheap hotels)

A fascinating place, steeped in history, Stone Town is a must-visit on any Zanzibar holiday! But, where to stay in Stone Town Zanzibar on a budget? Here are the 24 best cheap hotels in Stone Town on the main island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. 

Best Cheap Hotels in Stone Town Zanzibar

The cheapest Zanzibar accommodation is to be found in Stone Town (on Unguja - the main island of Zanzibar). 

• Cheap Budget Hotels in Stone Town - from $35 to $75 per night 
• Mid-Range Budget Hotels in Stone Town - from $75 to $125 per night
• Affordable Upmarket Hotels in Stone Town - from $125 to $200 per night
• Affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages - from under $200 per night (including transfers, breakfasts, Stone Town tour, beach resort trip, and more) 

A good way to save on travel costs is to spend more nights of your Zanzibar holiday in Stone Town. Some budget travellers use Stone Town as their base for exploring Zanzibar Island and take day trips from there to free up more budget for activities, and tours.

Although this is a good way to save money on Zanzibar accommodation we recommend spending most of your time at the beautiful beaches the Zanzibar Islands are famous for worldwide.

That said, don't miss out on Stone Town either! Set aside at least two full days in Stone Town to explore this intriguing old quarter of Zanzibar City.

And, when you go, these are the best budget-friendly hotels in Stone Town Zanzibar.

Best Ultra Cheap Hotels in Stone Town - from $35 to $75 per night for a room

Reputable cheap hotels in Stone Town, listed from cheapest to most expensive (see pricing note below*). 

1. Stone Town Cafe and Bed & Breakfast - from $48 per night

• Rated 8.4/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

2. Dhow Palace Hotel - from $58 per night

• Rated 4.2/5 on Expedia, 8.4/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

The Dhow Palace Hotel is one of our preferred budget Stone Town hotels used on our Zanzibar Holiday Packages. 

3. Jafferji House & Spa - from $58 per night

• Rated 4.2/5 on Trip.com, 8.5/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

4. Zenji Hotel - from $57 per person per night

• Rated 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor / Top Rated on Tripadvisor.

5. Antonio Garden Hotel - from $59 per person per night

• Rated 4.1/5 on Expedia & Trip.com, 8.3/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

6. Spice Palace Hotel - from $56 per night 

• Rated 4.3/5 on Trip.com, 8.3/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

7. Al-Minar Hotel - from $56 per night

• Rated 4.2/5 on Expedia, 8.3/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

8. The Seyyida Hotel & Spa - from $62 per night

• Rated 4.1/5 on Expedia & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

Seyyida Hotel & Spa is one of the budget Stone Town hotels our guests stay at on our affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages. 

9. Forodhani Park Hotel - from $62 per night

• Rated 4.2/5 on Expedia, 8.4/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

One of our favourite cheap hotels in Stone Town Zanzibar. Many of our overland adventure tours stay at the budget-friendly Forodhani Park Hotel in the heart of Stone Town.

10. Beyt Al Salaam Zanzibar - from $65 per night

• Rated 5/5 on Trip.com, 8.1/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

11. Mizingani Seafront Hotel  - from $67 per night

• Rated 8.6/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor / 2022 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

Mizingani Seafront Hotel is one of our budget Stone Town hotels of choice used on our affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages. 

12. Zanzibar Coffee House - from $71 per person per night sharing a standard en-suite room B&B & $114 per room for a single-person booking

• Rated 4.7/5 on Expedia & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor / 2022 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

The Zanzibar Coffee House is one of our preferred budget Stone Town hotels that our guests stay at on our affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages. 

Low season rates (1 March to 30 April) at Zanzibar Coffee House start from about $61 per person sharing and $95 per single-person booking.

[*The rates above are the starting prices for 2 adults per room per night.]

Best Mid-Range Budget Hotels in Stone Town - from $75 to $125 per person

13. Kholle House - from $80 per night

• Rated 4.5/5 on Expedia & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor / 2021 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

Kholle House is one of our favourite places to stay in Stone Town! This budget Stone Town hotel is highly recommended by our travel expert Dan De Lapelin Dumont. 

Kholle House is one of our preferred budget Stone Town hotels used on our Zanzibar holiday packages.

14. Tembo Palace Hotel - from $84 per night

• Rated 4.2/5 on Expedia, 8.3/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor

15. Zanzibar Palace Hotel - from $87 per night

• Rated 4.5/5 on Expedia & 4.5/5 stars on Tripadvisor / 2021 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

16. Tembo House Hotel in Stone Town - from $89 a night

• Rated 4.2/5 stars on Expedia, 8.3/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor / 2021 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

Another one of our favourite Stone Town hotels! Most of our Zanzibar Holiday Packages stay at Tembo House Hotel in Stone Town because it offers such exceptional value for money.

17. Emerson on Hurumzi - from $89 per night

• Rated 8.9/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor / minimum 2-night stay / 2021 Travelers' Choice Award on Tripadvisor

18. Golden Tulip Stone Town Boutique - from $94 per night

• Rated 4/5 on Expedia & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

19. Tembo B&B Apartments - from $96 per night

• Rated 4.5/5 on Expedia, 8.7/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

20. Kisiwa House - from $99 per person per night for two people sharing a deluxe room B&B booking & $198 for a single-person B&B booking

• Rated 4.4/5 on Expedia, 8.6/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

Kisiwa House is one of our preferred affordable Stone Town hotels where our guests stay on our Zanzibar Holiday Packages.

Low season rates (1 April to 30 June) at Kisiwa House start from about $70 per person sharing and $140 per single-person booking.

21. Maru Maru Hotel - from $75 per person sharing per night B&B stay & $112 per single person B&B booking 

• Rated 4.3/5 on Expedia, 8.2/10 on Booking.com & 4/5 on Tripadvisor.

The Maru Maru Hotel is one of our preferred mid-range budget Stone Town hotels that guests stay at on our affordable Zanzibar Packages. 

Low season rates (1 April to 30 June) start from about $67 per person sharing and $89 per single-person B&B booking.

Upmarket Budget Hotels in Stone Town - from $125 to $200 per night

22. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Zanzibar, Stone Town - from $129 per night 

• Rated 4.4/5 on Expedia, 8.2/10 on Booking.com & 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor.

During the low season, DoubleTree Stone Town by Hilton Zanzibar is one of our preferred Stone Town hotels used on our affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages. 

23. Freddie Mercury Apartments - from about $160 per night

• Rated 8.6/10 on Booking.com

24. Emmerson Spice Hotel - from about $225 per night (minimum two-night stay at $450)

• Rated 4.9/5 on Expedia, and 5/5 on Tripadvisor & recommended by Johnny Africa.

* Please note that all hotel prices listed above serve as guidelines only and do not account for seasonal changes, price increases, or special offers.

Affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages that include a stay in Stone Town

The following well-priced Zanzibar Holiday Packages all visit Stone Town. These Zanzibar packages include a stay at one of the reputable mid-range budget hotels (from $75 to $125 per night). Guests usually stay at the popular Tembo House Hotel, which has a swimming pool. If Tembo House Hotel is fully booked another of the best budget hotels in Stone Town (in the same price range) is used.

Our carefully selected Zanzibar packages visit the gorgeous beaches of Zanzibar Island AND spend some time in Stone Town.

All of our Zanzibar Holiday Packages can be customized to suit you, and your budget. So, why not save time, money, and energy on planning your Zanzibar holiday? 

• 4-Day Zanzibar Holiday: Beach, Stone Town & Spice Tour - includes 1 night at a hotel in Stone Town & a Stone Town city tour

• 5-Day Zanzibar Vacation Package - includes 2 nights at a hotel in Stone Town, a Stone Town city tour & a full day to explore Stone Town

• 5-Day Zanzibar Holiday Package: Adventure Tour - includes 2 nights at a hotel in Stone Town, a dhow sunset cruise & a Stone Town city tour 

• 6-Day Zanzibar Honeymoon Package - includes 2 nights at a hotel in Stone Town, a dhow sunset sailing cruise & a Stone Town city tour 

• 8-Day Best of Zanzibar Holiday Package - includes 2 nights at a hotel in Stone Town, a half-day to explore Stone Town & a Stone Town city tour 

To spend more time in Stone Town, you can add extra nights to any of these affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages. Any additional nights will be charged at the best rate of the hotel in Stone Town. To book extra nights in Stone Town simply ask one of our friendly travel experts.

Free Zanzibar Travel Advice & Help Planning Your Zanzibar Holiday

Our travel advisors can also give you free travel advice – on when to go and what to do, see and eat in Stone Town and the rest of Zanzibar Island.

For more information about travelling to the Zanzibar Islands, see - Answers to the Most Popular Zanzibar Travel FAQs.

To compare Zanzibar & Tanzania Safaris (that combine Zanzibar with Tanzania and other top African safari destinations) view our affordable Zanzibar Holiday Packages, or chat with one of our friendly advisors at African Budget Safaris.

Landia Davies Content Manager & Sculptor

Landia is a nature and animal lover. This South African woman avoids crowds seeking out quiet places. She has worked in the African safari industry for over 16 years!