Explore on your own rating
You can walk from the port into Stone Town, but the lanes are a maze: a licensed guide helps.
Where ships dock
- Larger ships anchor off Stone Town and tender to Zanzibar's Malindi port
- Smaller ships berth alongside at Malindi wharf
Getting to town
Stone Town's old streets, the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens are about 5 to 20 minutes' walk from the port.
Walk Stone Town with a licensed guide, or take a ship's tour for the spice farms, Jozani Forest and Prison Island. Agree taxi fares before you set off.
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS). U.S. dollars are widely accepted for tours and in tourist shops; carry small notes.
Entry: U.S. citizens need a visa: the U.S. tourist visa is multiple-entry, US$100, valid 12 months. Apply on the official e-visa portal (visa.immigration.go.tz) or get one on arrival; ask your cruise line how it handles entry. Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages. Zanzibar also requires its own mandatory travel insurance, US$44 per adult, bought from the Zanzibar government site or on arrival. (Embassy of Tanzania / U.S. State Department, checked Oct 2026.)
Top sights nearby
- Stone Town's lanes and carved doors (UNESCO)
- The Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens
- The Anglican Cathedral and the East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition
- A spice farm tour (tour)
- Jozani Forest and its red colobus monkeys (tour)
- Prison Island and its giant tortoises (boat)
Beaches
- Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast, about an hour away (tour)
- Prison Island and sandbank trips (boat)
Safety & tips
- The State Department rates Tanzania Level 2 (Exercise increased caution; advisory dated Oct 16, 2026) for crime, terrorism, unrest and arbitrary enforcement of laws. The dress code is conservative, especially in Zanzibar.
- Zanzibar's mandatory travel insurance (US$44 per adult) applies even with other insurance: check whether your cruise line arranges it.
- Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town, and dress modestly during Ramadan.
- Don't photograph police, government buildings or the port.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
The port is a short walk from Stone Town. From the north-coast beaches allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes. Be back 45 minutes before all-aboard, or at the tender pier 30 minutes before the last tender.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.
Shore excursions that get you back on time
Prefer a guided option in Zanzibar (Stone Town)? Browse shore excursions with reviews, and pick one that returns well before all-aboard.
Find Zanzibar (Stone Town) shore excursions on Viator ↗
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Quick answers
Can you explore Zanzibar (Stone Town) on your own?
Yes, with some planning (rated Moderate). You can walk from the port into Stone Town, but the lanes are a maze: a licensed guide helps.
How far is it from the cruise dock to town in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?
Stone Town's old streets, the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens are about 5 to 20 minutes' walk from the port.
Do I need a passport for Zanzibar (Stone Town)?
U.S. citizens need a visa: the U.S. tourist visa is multiple-entry, US$100, valid 12 months. Apply on the official e-visa portal (visa.immigration.go.tz) or get one on arrival; ask your cruise line how it handles entry. Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages. Zanzibar also requires its own mandatory travel insurance, US$44 per adult, bought from the Zanzibar government site or on arrival. (Embassy of Tanzania / U.S. State Department, checked Oct 2026.)
When should I head back to the ship in Zanzibar (Stone Town)?
The port is a short walk from Stone Town. From the north-coast beaches allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes. Be back 45 minutes before all-aboard, or at the tender pier 30 minutes before the last tender.
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