Thatched beach shelter and sun loungers on the white sand at Kendwa

Where to Stay in Nungwi & Kendwa

Every beachfront room here faces the sunset. Here is where to sleep.

Nungwi and Kendwa are the most popular places to stay on Zanzibar, and for good reason: sunset over the ocean every evening and swimming at most tides. The choice comes down to atmosphere and budget more than location — the two beaches are only 3 km apart.

Nungwi is a real village with a lively beach strip: restaurants, bars, dive centres and dhow trips on the sand, plus quieter resorts on the east side of the point. Kendwa is calmer, with a wide beach and the best all-tide swimming, and fewer places to eat outside the hotels.

Rates below are indicative starting prices per night for a double room in US dollars and change constantly with season and demand — every card links out to Trip.com for live availability.

Where to stay

Staying in Nungwi

The widest choice, from backpacker guesthouses to five-star villas, and everything within walking distance: restaurants, bars, dive centres, the turtle pond and the lighthouse.

Turaco Nungwi Resort, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

★★★★

8.8 125 reviews

A Marriott Tribute Portfolio resort on the beach in Nungwi, with a pool, ocean-view rooms and international-brand service — the dependable mid-to-upper choice in the village.

Beachfront with pool
International-brand service standards
Full-board option available

from US$142 / night See rates & availability

Nungwi Dreams by Mantis

★★★★★

8.9 110 reviews

A five-star, low-rise beach resort run by Mantis, with a pool, an attentive team and a quieter feel than the hotels in the centre of the village.

Five-star service, low-key feel
Away from the busiest stretch
Good choice for couples

from US$158 / night See rates & availability

Flame Tree Cottages

★★★

8.5 51 reviews

A long-running family-owned hotel of cottages in a tropical garden a few steps from the beach — breakfast is served on your own veranda.

Garden cottages, beach a minute away
Family-run and personal
Half or full board on request

from US$114 / night See rates & availability

Smiles Beach Hotel

★★★★

8.1 55 reviews

A friendly, well-placed beachfront hotel right among Nungwi’s restaurants and bars on the west beach — handy if you want to walk everywhere.

On the lively west beach
Walk to restaurants and dhow departures
Good value for the location

from US$87 / night See rates & availability

Safaya Luxury Villas – Adults Only

★★★★★

9.1 46 reviews

Adults-only luxury villas with private plunge pools — built for honeymooners and anyone who wants Nungwi without the day-trippers.

Adults only
Villas with private pools
Very high guest scores

from US$269 / night See rates & availability

SafiraBlu Luxury Resort & Villas

★★★★★

9.7 33 reviews

An exclusive boutique resort a few minutes east of Nungwi village, with suites and villas, a spa and one of the highest guest scores on the island.

Outstanding guest reviews
Spa and private villas
Secluded beach setting

from US$550 / night See rates & availability

Amaan Beach Bungalows

★★★

7.9 43 reviews

The classic Nungwi budget-to-mid-range option: simple sea-view rooms right in the middle of the west beach, with dive centres next door.

Central beachfront location
Sunset views from the terrace
Dive and boat operators on the doorstep

from US$69 / night See rates & availability

Nungwi House

A small, friendly guesthouse a few minutes’ walk from the beach — one of the best-value beds in the village if you plan to spend your days on tours.

Excellent value
Short walk to the beach
Helpful with tours and transfers

from US$38 / night See rates & availability

See all Nungwi hotels

Staying in Kendwa

Three kilometres south, with the calmest, most swimmable water in the north and a quieter mood — except on full-moon party nights.

Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel

★★★★

9.1 64 reviews

Kendwa’s best-known address, right on the widest part of the beach — rooms and bungalows, a big beach bar and the famous full-moon party once a month.

On Kendwa’s swimmable beach
Beach bar and restaurant
Lively, sociable atmosphere

from US$150 / night See rates & availability

Canary Kendwa Beach Resort

★★★★

9.0 51 reviews

A newer four-star resort on Kendwa beach with high guest scores, a pool and easy access to the calm, swimmable water Kendwa is known for.

Strong guest reviews
Pool and beachfront
Swimming at all tides

from US$114 / night See rates & availability

Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa

★★★★★

9.4 74 reviews

A five-star beach house resort and spa on Kendwa beach — spacious suites, excellent service and a price to match. A splurge rather than a base.

Five-star beachfront
Spa and fine dining
Top-tier guest scores

from US$860 / night See rates & availability

Zuri Zanzibar

★★★★★

9.3 72 reviews

Design-led five-star resort at Kendwa, with bungalows and villas in a spice garden and its own stretch of sand.

Architect-designed bungalows and villas
Spice garden and private beach
Consistently excellent reviews

from US$940 / night See rates & availability

Sunseabar Beach Hotel Kendwa

A newly listed small hotel on Kendwa with an infinity pool and a beach bar — worth a look if the big resorts are out of budget.

Infinity pool
Beach bar
Kendwa beach within a few steps

from US$85 / night See rates & availability

See all Kendwa hotels

Nungwi or Kendwa?

Base	Good for	Less good for	From
Nungwi (west beach)	Restaurants, nightlife, dive centres, sunsets, walking everywhere	Quiet nights; swimming at the very lowest tides	US$40
Nungwi (east side)	Quieter resorts, couples, calmer atmosphere	Walking to bars and restaurants on the west beach	US$150
Kendwa	All-tide swimming, wide beach, families	Independent restaurants; quiet on non-party nights	US$85

How to choose

First time, want a bit of life? Nungwi’s west beach. You can walk to dinner every night.
Families with young children? Kendwa, for the calm, swimmable water, or a resort with a pool in Nungwi.
Honeymoon? An adults-only villa or a boutique resort on the quieter side of Nungwi.
On a budget? Guesthouses in the village behind the beach are much cheaper than beachfront rooms, and the sand is five minutes away.

Booking tips

July, August and the Christmas–New Year fortnight sell out early. Book two or three months ahead for those dates.
Check whether rates are room-only, half board or all-inclusive; eating out in Nungwi is easy, in Kendwa less so.
Ask whether the hotel adds a local tourism levy per night on top of the rate.
Sea-view rooms on the west side get the sunset — worth the upgrade.

Once your bed is sorted, pick the experiences: our ranked tour comparison covers the boat trips and day tours worth adding.

Accommodation links go to Trip.com. Ratings, review counts and starting prices were taken from Trip.com and are indicative — check the live page for current availability. We do not accept payment for inclusion in this list.

Plan your days at the tip of Zanzibar

Turn beach days in Nungwi into the trip of a lifetime

Snorkel Mnemba Atoll, sail a dhow into the sunset, swim with turtles and walk the lanes of Stone Town. Compare the best-rated experiences and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Nungwi tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to stay in Nungwi or Kendwa?

Nungwi for atmosphere, restaurants and dive centres; Kendwa for calmer water and a quieter beach. They are 3 km apart, so you can enjoy both whichever you choose.

Are there all-inclusive resorts in Nungwi?

Yes, several of the larger resorts in Nungwi and Kendwa offer all-inclusive or full-board packages. Nungwi’s restaurant scene makes room-only or half board a good choice too.

How much does a hotel in Nungwi cost?

Guesthouses start from around US$40 a night, good beachfront hotels from around US$90–150, and five-star resorts and villas from roughly US$250 to well over US$800 in high season.

Which side of Nungwi has the best sunset?

The west beach and Kendwa face straight out to sea at sunset. The east side of the point looks towards the sunrise instead.

Should I also stay in Stone Town?

If you can, yes — one or two nights at the start or end of your trip lets you explore the old town at its best, in the evening and early morning.