Freddie Mercury's House in Stone Town: the museum, visit and what you see
Freddie Mercury, the singer of Queen, was born in Stone Town in 1946 as Farrokh Bulsara, and his family left Zanzibar during the 1964 revolution. The Freddie Mercury Museum, opened in November 2019 in the Shangani district, tells of his childhood in Zanzibar and his schooling in India; it is presented as officially associated with Queen Productions. According to the page of a partner hotel it is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and entry is 10 dollars for a non-resident adult (6 dollars for a child). Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
Highlights
The facade and door
The house is identified by a plaque and a carved wooden door, in a lane of Shangani. Many visitors stop only for the photo: the interior is the real visit.
The Mercury House sign
A sign marks the address, presented as the house where Freddie Mercury grew up; the wording is cautious, as the exact history of the building is hard to confirm.
The exhibition
The route tells of Farrokh Bulsara's childhood in Zanzibar and his studies in India, according to the museum's presentation. Do not expect a large museum: you come for the story more than for collections.
Practical info
Tips
- The 10-dollar price comes from a partner hotel's page; some operators quote about 8 dollars, so check at the entrance. Residents pay 10,000 shillings (6,000 for a child). Guided Stone Town tours generally do not include this ticket: ask your guide. For a full day in town, combine with the Old Fort, the Palace Museum and Stone Town; a route is in Stone Town in one day. The museum is indoors: it also suits rainy days, see Zanzibar when it rains.
How to get there
The museum is in the Shangani district, in Stone Town's old city, on foot from the waterfront and Forodhani Gardens. From the airport, allow 10 to 30 minutes by taxi, see from the airport to your hotel. The streets look alike: keep an offline map.
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