Darajani Market in Stone Town: spices, fish and visiting tips
Darajani Market (Marikiti Kuu, "the big market") is Stone Town's everyday market: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, spices and household goods, under a covered hall and in the streets around it, along Creek Road. It is where residents do their shopping, not a souvenir shop. No official hours are published: guides describe it as open from early morning until evening, liveliest in the morning. Allow about an hour; entry is free.
Highlights
The fruit and vegetable stalls
Pineapples, mangoes, bananas, tomatoes and chillies are piled on carts and tables. It is the best place to taste seasonal fruit and see what grows on the island.
The spice corner
Cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla and pilau mixes are sold by weight or in bags. Prices are lower than in souvenir shops, but bargain: nothing is priced. See also the spice farm visit.
The fish and meat hall
Fish, octopus and meat are sold inside the hall, with strong smells and wet floors: wear closed shoes. If the smell bothers you, take a quick look and move on to the outdoor stalls.
Practical info
Tips
- Come in the morning to see the market at its liveliest, or in the afternoon for fewer people (one guide recommends it for a calmer visit). Carry small notes in Tanzanian shillings, as vendors struggle to give change for large bills. Ask before photographing a person or a stall; some vendors refuse or ask for a tip. Keep your bag in front of you in the crowd, see scams and safety in Zanzibar. A local guide helps if you want to understand the products, but agree the price before you leave. For an evening meal, continue to the Forodhani Gardens night market, and to plan the town read Stone Town in one day. There is no entry fee: only what you buy costs money.
How to get there
The market is on the east side of Stone Town's old city, along Creek Road, a few minutes on foot from the Anglican cathedral square and the waterfront. From the airport, allow 10 to 30 minutes by taxi, see from the airport to your hotel. The dala-dala minibuses to the beaches pass through this area, see getting around Zanzibar.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
See on the map →
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