Paje is the busiest resort on the east coast and boasts the largest number of tourist services, excursions, restaurants and bars.

After Nungwi in the north of the island, Paje is in my opinion the second busiest resort on Zanzibar.

Why did I like Paje?

• A lively resort full of shops, street bistros and bars
• Lots of excursions on offer
• lively and quiet beaches

Beaches full of fun

Paje's beaches are covered in fine white sand and are virtually endless - loosely connected to Jambiani in the south, while continuing on to Bwejuu in the north.

Swimming is only possible at high tide, at low tide the sea recedes up to a kilometre from the shore.

Paje has perhaps the most diverse beach of all the east coast resorts.

The town centre is surrounded by hotels, bars and restaurants that stay open late into the night.

Conversely, the further you go from the centre, the quieter the beach environment will be. On the outskirts, you'll be all alone.

On the beach you will come across many vendors selling souvenirs, coconuts and other snacks.

Discover local life

Paje is a great combination of a bustling tourist resort with many shops, minimarkets and restaurants, but also a very local poor town that you can safely walk through.

Like most seaside resorts in Zanzibar, Paje is very safe.

The best hotels in Paje

Paje is primarily a resort for the self-drive traveller, as travel agencies don't offer many holiday packages and tours here.

The town is ideal for those looking for a combination of beach holidays, nightlife and local atmosphere. Thanks to its cheap hotels, Paje is often popular with young people.

We would recommend these hotels:

• Tumbili Hotel Boutique - a small modern resort with great ratings about 100 meters from the beach
• Hi Zanzibar - a popular budget hotel for young people 50 metres from the beach
• Oxygen Paje Hotel - a cheap and well-rated hotel right by the beach

How to get there

If you are travelling around Zanzibar by public transport (dala-dala buses), the following routes will get you to Paje:

• 340 - Michamwi, Dongwe, Zanzibar Town (Kwerekwe)
• 630 - Michamwi, Dongwe, Jambiani, Makunduchi

Both routes run very frequently, on average once every 5-15 minutes.

Regular taxis or tuk tuks are also widely available in Paje, and everywhere along the main road.

Be inspired by our experiences travelling around Zanzibar:

• All about car rental
• How to travel by taxis and public transport

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Zanzibar.