Zanzibar is East Africa's most magical destination — an island of extraordinary contrasts where ancient Arab architecture meets powder-white beaches, spice plantations border coral reefs and the birthplace of Freddie Mercury sits a short walk from some of the finest seafood restaurants in Africa.

Stone Town is the heart of Zanzibar and one of the most extraordinary places in Africa. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a living, breathing city of narrow lanes, carved wooden doors, Arab palaces, Indian merchant houses and Swahili architecture that has barely changed in 200 years. The Forodhani Night Market on the waterfront is one of the great street food experiences on the continent. The House of Wonders, the Old Fort and the Sultan's Palace tell the story of Zanzibar's extraordinary history as a centre of the Arab slave trade and the world's spice market.

The beaches of the north coast — Nungwi and Kendwa — are among the finest in Africa. The sand is powder-white, the water is turquoise and calm, and the beach bar atmosphere is lively and welcoming. Unlike the east coast beaches, which are affected by significant tidal variation, the north coast beaches are swimmable at all times of day.

The diving and snorkelling is world-class. Mnemba Atoll, a private island just off the northeast coast, is one of the finest dive sites in the Indian Ocean — extraordinary coral, turtles, dolphins and whale sharks (October to February). The dolphin swimming tours at Kizimkazi on the south coast are one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in East Africa.

Zanzibar is most commonly combined with a Tanzania safari — a few nights in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater followed by a week on the beach is one of the great African itineraries. The best time to visit is June to October and December to February. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals, with the FIBI discount applied automatically.