The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Zanzibar

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Zanzibar

Zanzibar, Tanzania Zanzibar, Tanzania

If it's your first trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Zanzibar. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Zanzibar. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Zanzibar for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Zanzibar beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Zanzibar for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Tembo House Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $85 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Shangani Street, P.O. Box: 3974, Tembo House Hotel has great rooms from $85 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.2 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and golf at this relaxing hotel. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $161 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $161. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Mbweni. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, child care, laundry services, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 5 km from the city center. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Zanzibar Serena Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $197 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Zanzibar
  • Beach

We found Zanzibar Serena Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $197. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Kelele Square Stone Town. You'll also find a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, child care, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.3 km from the center of town. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Park Hyatt Zanzibar

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $316 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $316, Park Hyatt Zanzibar, at Shangani Street, Stone Town provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, child care, laundry services, and golf. It's located just 1.4 km from the city center, too. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Tikitam Palms hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $171 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Tikitam Palms hotel has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $171 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Mwadudu Ponwge Zanzibar. Furthermore, it also offers scuba diving, breakfast, a free breakfast, a spa and wellness center, and a game room, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.6 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Being able to relax at the pool bar is a great way to spend your time here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Annex of Tembo hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $74 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Annex of Tembo hotel is 8.30 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $74, and it's located at Kenyatta Road. We also love the outdoor tennis, child care, laundry services, golf, and a game room which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1.1 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Spice Palace Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $44 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

A cool place is Spice Palace Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $44. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Soko Muhogo Street Jaws Corner. Only 0.9 km from the city center, travelers will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, rooms with kitchenettes, a free breakfast, and cooking classes at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Kids' club


Hiliki House

Guest House with prices starting at $28 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zanzibar
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

Hiliki House offers scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, breakfast, and a free breakfast which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $28 (before taxes). It's located at Victoria Street, Vuga, Stone Town and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers city views, a hot tub, free parking, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.9 km from the city center. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms


Jungle Paradise Beach Resort & Spa at Mbweni Ruins Hotel Zanzibar

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $82 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Located at Plot Number 143/93, Mbweni Street, Jungle Paradise Beach Resort & Spa at Mbweni Ruins Hotel Zanzibar has great rooms from $82 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling. It has a terrific 9.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, breakfast, laundry services, a free breakfast, and a spa and wellness center which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 5.2 km from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Zanzibar Palace Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $117 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Zanzibar
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Zanzibar Palace Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $117. Offering room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Kiponda area housenumber 831. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers breakfast, child care, laundry services, a free breakfast, and city views. It's located just 0.8 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam, Jambiani, and Nungwi.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Zanzibar, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Beach Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Luxury Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for One Week in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for One Night in Zanzibar, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Zanzibar, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Zanzibar, or Best Business Hotels in Zanzibar.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Zanzibar?

Zanzibar Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$94

After analyzing 35 first time trip hotels in Zanzibar, Tanzania, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $94. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Zanzibar.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $197
  • 4-star hotels: $79
  • 3-star hotels: $65
  • 2-star hotels: $77


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