Calling all paradise enthusiasts! We are excited to share with you our handpicked collection of the best hostels in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Seriously, these hostels are to die for.
This African archipelago off the coast of mainland Tanzania is your answer to beachside accommodation, hammocks, endless sunshine and lively nightlife.
We warn you now; it’s likely you’ll have a tough time choosing just one hostel to stay at!
Backpacking in Zanzibar is going to blow your socks off, we promise you that.
Your shortcut:
- New Teddy’s on the Beach (Jambiani) – top pick for couples
- Demani Lodge (Paje) – great for solo travellers
- Your Zanzibar Place (Paje) – perfect for female solo travellers
Any questions about hostels in Zanzibar?
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As you can see, we’ve mentioned the area on the island that each budget accommodation in Zanzibar can be found. To help you with any confusion about Zanzibar, have a look at our quick introduction to Zanzibar section.
Read: best hostels in Arusha
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
- tired of bad and crappy hostels
- want to avoid the “young party kids”
- happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience
Included: We found a fun party hostel that isn’t too OTT, yet offers a wonderful social vibe for anyone looking to have a good time.
Note: Sorry folks, but Ten to Ten Hostel Zanzibar has closed its doors.
What we cover in this article?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Zanzibar
- best hostels in Zanzibar for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Zanzibar
- hostels in Stone Town
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQ
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Zanzibar
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Zanzibar cost 13€ – 20€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 30€ up to 54€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Zanzibar Archipelago explained: Zanzibar actually consists of several islands, the largest one known as Unguja Island, yet more commonly called Zanzibar Island. This is the island we are focusing on in this guide, and all of the hostels mentioned here are found in different areas on the island. Note: We’ve made sure to make it clear where exactly each hostel is located – check the handy map to double check your chosen hostel’s location before you book.
Money: It’s a really good idea to withdraw enough money in Stone Town before heading to more remote areas of the island. Paje only has one ATM that apparently only works sometimes, for example, so don’t get caught out!
Getting around: There are two options to exploring Zanzibar if you’re not taking a tour. Either take a local dala dalas taxi, or take a local bus from Stone Town to the best beaches. As there’s no need to rent a car, you needn’t have to worry about finding free parking.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Zanzibar
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Zanzibar and view what they have to offer.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Demani Lodge |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Your Zanzibar Place |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Drifters Zanzibar |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | New Teddy’s on the Beach |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | New Teddy’s on the Beach |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Your Zanzibar Place |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | New Teddy’s on the Beach |
1. New Teddy’s on the Beach (Jambiani)
Who’s ready to experience a jaw-dropping backpackers in Zanzibar right on the beach of Jambiani?! Errr, yes please!
New Teddy’s on the Beach is both new and on the beach… obvious, but still worth repeating!
It’s no wonder this hostel has been described as “paradise on earth” and “a super relaxing place to stay a short walk from plenty of nightlife”. We even added it to our list of “the best beach hostels worldwide”.
Picture this: wake up and feel the sand under your toes as you climb out of bed, and walk outside to see crystal clear blue water.
To be honest, it just keeps getting better. This hostel offers:
- 18 meter swimming pool
- Onsite bar-restaurant
- Hammocks, swings, day beds
- Volleyball net
- Slackline
So yeah, even when the tide is low and you’re feeling rather sluggish, simply take a dip in the pool instead.
Good to know: The bar also works as the reception area and is open until 1am.
Teddy’s is a great place not only for backpackers, but also couples, families and anyone that enjoys a private room amidst a social atmosphere.
There are private bungalows suitable for one, two, three or even four people and all of them come with an ensuite bathroom.
Honestly though, we’d opt for the spacious dorm rooms which come with a sand floor – super cool!
Fancy a cocktail? See you at the bar. Hungry? Breakfast is included.
The only downside about this hostel is that you can only stay for a maximum of 14 days. Well.. make the most of it!
Location: In the sleepy fishing village of Jambiani. On one side of Teddy’s is the ocean, on the other side is the village which is home to little shops and plenty of locals.
This is one of the best hostels in Zanzibar for
- Couples
- Backpackers
- Families
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Demani Lodge (Paje)
Let’s now wander barefoot to the equally stunning retreat oasis known as Demani Lodge.
“If green, tropical gardens with Palm trees, Banana, Papaya, Aloe Vera and Lemongrass, white powdered sand between your toes and an informal but social atmosphere sound appealing, Demani Lodge is the place for you!”
The keywords that stand out here are: cosy, laid-back, social and relaxed.
Sounds fabulous, right?
You should definitely consider staying here if these are your top priorities whilst in Zanzibar:
- Relaxing in a hammock by the pool
- Walking less than 5 minutes to reach the beach
- Feasting on fresh local food at the hostel restaurant
Tick, tick and tick – Demani Lodge offers all of the above and more.
What’s more, the staff team is well connected to local guides and would love to help you book on to great activities and trips around the island.
You can get involved in everything from spice tours and a trip to Stone Town, to exploring Jozani Forest and scuba diving around the coast.
Back at the hostel, there is a fun BBQ (meat & vegetarian) and live music/DJ every Thursday evening. This is the perfect way to meet new people.
Otherwise, the bar always has cocktails in flow and the free breakfast each morning includes cardamom pancakes.
Important: It’s not possible to cook or bring your own food and drinks into the lodge.
As for rooms? There’s a huge selection! Single, double, twin, triple and family-size privates are all available, alongside a 10-bed mixed dorm for budget travellers.
All of the rooms come with mosquito nets and fans. Some privates also have an ensuite bathroom.
Location: Situated near one of the finest beaches on the east coast of Zanzibar in a small place called Paje. The beach is 100 metres from the hostel, and the nearby village is also just a short walk away.
This is one of the best hostels in Zanzibar for
- Solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Your Zanzibar Place (Paje)
Whilst Your Zanzibar Place may be listed as our #3 recommendation, it’s difficult to put any of these three hostels in front of the other.
Because yes, yet again we have another gorgeous accommodation to show you!
In fact, this is sister hostel to New Teddy’s on the Beach and used to be known as New Teddy’s Place.
So, let’s jump in and have a look at the highlights:
- Free breakfast (eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit etc)
- Woven palm leaf bungalows (makuti bandas)
- Super fast free Wifi
- Onsite bar-restaurant
- Slackline, beach ball, darts
The restaurant-bar area stands to be the best place for hanging out at the hostel. Delicious food and drinks are ready to be served whenever you feel like it, and the bar is open to travellers and locals alike.
Digital nomads can also set up a work station here as it’s shaded and the wifi is fast.
Important: It’s not possible to cook your own food here.
Otherwise, make sure you take advantage of the outdoor seating areas surrounded by palm trees – there are swings, hammocks and even a little tree house!
Keen to do some kitesurfing? This is the best place on the island for it. Ask the wonderful staff about discounts on local lessons.
When it’s time to get some beauty sleep, you won’t be disappointed by the beautiful rooms, no matter which one you choose.
There are bungalows and Banda’s suitable for single travellers and couples. Otherwise, the more sociable dorms of 4 and 7-beds are ideal for a cheaper price.
Super cool: The dorm rooms have single beds instead of bunk beds!
Location: Situated in the south of Paje just a short walk from the beach and local village supermarket.
This is one of the best hostels in Zanzibar for
- Female solo travellers
- Digital nomads
Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Zanzibar?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget hotels!
We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Zanzibar.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Zanzibar
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Hostel Baby Bush Lodge is a cheap option, yet we do not think it is as good as the other hostels mentioned in this guide.
Best Hostels in Zanzibar for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Zanzibar for solo-travellers?
Well, quite honestly, all of the hostels in this guide are great for solo travellers. They all offer a mix of shared and private rooms, plus big open communal areas to meet other travellers.
Yet, if we had to choose just one, we’d go with Demani Lodge every time.
The weekly BBQ and live music event is loved by guests and for good reason; it’s an easy way to meet people if you want to!
Otherwise, the widespread facilities and beach location offer up a perfect blend of quiet time to yourself.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Zanzibar
Looking for a tasteful party experience during your time on Zanzibar island?
Being the only backpackers on Paje beach, Drifters Zanzibar is well set up for a good time.
Whether you’re tanning by the pool, floating in the ocean or relaxing under the mosquito net in your room, rest assured that cold drinks and cocktails are well-stocked in the hostel bar.
“Drifters is run by David who has worked with the best hostels around the world such as Loki Hostels in Peru, Green Tortoise hostel in Seattle and Mombasa Backpackers.”
Frequent family dinners are on offer to bring people together, and the unique wooden dhow boats that have been turned into tables are perfect for drinking games.
Beachfront yoga and free coffee will surely help sort out your hangover in the morning.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Hostels in Stone Town Zanzibar
It’s likely that you will begin your Zanzibar journey in Stone Town, also known as Zanzibar city, mainly because the main airport is just south of the town and the ferry port from mainland Tanzania is here.
So, with that in mind we wanted to include a good hostel Stone Town in case you want to spend a night or two in the area.
zLife Hostel is a good base for a short stay as it’s super close to the main tourist attractions and is only a 10-minute walk to the ferry terminal.
Unlike many other hostels on the island, this one offers a communal kitchen as well as Swahili cooking classes.
There are bicycles for rent if you fancy exploring this way!
Choose between mixed and female-only dorms, and range of budget and deluxe private options.
Be aware: The $9 per night per person city tax is not included in the room rate.
Friendly staff will gladly help you book tours and activities around the island.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.
Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- New Teddy’s on the Beach: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Demani Lodge: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Your Zanzibar Place: Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Zanzibar best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
Any Discounts?
Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Zanzibar. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.
What about Airbnb Zanzibar? Here is our full review of Airbnb.
Our Favorite Hostels in Zanzibar put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Zanzibar hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
What are some must do activities in Zanzibar, and what about things to do in Zanzibar?
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Jozani Forest
- Mnemba Island
- Changu Island
- Old Fort
- Spice & Stone Town Tour
- Darajani Bazaar
Any questions about hostels in Zanzibar? 🤔
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Flights to Zanzibar?
The Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is around 7km south of Stone Town, the main town on Zanzibar Island.
Good to know: It’s also possible to take a ferry from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town which is around a 2 hour crossing. First you would need to fly to Dar es Salaam intl Airport.
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Zanzibar. We also have a guide on the best hostels in Arusha, Tanzania.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in Africa:
- best hostels in Johannesburg, South Africa
- best hostels in Cape Town, South Africa
- best hostels in Marrakech, Morocco
- best hostels in Nairobi, Kenya
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
Before you read this guide you had no idea that backpacking Zanzibar could be so affordable and luxurious, right?! Prices in Zanzibar are budget friendly, that’s for sure.
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Zanzibar hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.
Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.
Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
At Hostelgeeks we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. Our promise is to only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
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