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Zanzibar Serena Hotel

5.0 star property

Photo gallery for Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, lifeguards on site
On the beach, white sand, sun-loungers, beach umbrellas
View from property
Honeymoon Suite | View from room
Boating

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Parking included
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

Map
Kelele Square, Stone Town, Zanzibar Town
  • Shangani Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Old Fort
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Forodhani Gardens
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Executive Suite

Executive Suite | Living room

Executive Suite

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Superior Room

Superior Room

Superior Room

  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Double room

Standard Double room

Standard Double room

  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Zanzibar Town

With a stay at Zanzibar Serena Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Zanzibar Town, steps from Nakupenda Beach and within a 5-minute walk of Shangani Beach. .This beach hotel is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Old Fort and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Forodhani Gardens.

What's nearby

  • Shangani Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Old Fort - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Forodhani Gardens - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Slave Market - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Zanzibar Ferry Terminal - 15 min walk - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Passing Show Hotel - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Meeting Point Cafe - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Lukmaan - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Livingstone Beach Restaurant - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Zenji Garden Café - ‬8 min walk

About this property

Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Luxury hotel on the beach, with outdoor pool
Zanzibar Serena Hotel offers 51 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and laptop-compatible safes. Rooms open to balconies. Each accommodation is individually furnished. Beds feature premium bedding. 21-inch LCD televisions come with premium satellite channels. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers, bathrobes, slippers, and designer toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea makers. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily. Amenities available on request include in-room massages.

An outdoor pool and a children's pool are on site.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

The onsite spa has 2 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include facials, body scrubs, body treatments, and manicures and pedicures. The spa is open daily.
Make yourself at home in one of the 51 individually furnished guestrooms, featuring minibars and LCD televisions. Rooms have private balconies. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature designer toiletries and hair dryers.
Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. You can take advantage of recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and bicycles to rent. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and babysitting (surcharge).
Grab a bite at Baharia Restaurant, one of the hotel's 2 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of the 24-hour room service. Snacks are also available at the coffee shop/cafe. Mingle with other guests at the complimentary reception, held daily. Unwind at the end of the day with a drink at the bar/lounge or the poolside bar.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Planning an event in Zanzibar Town? This hotel has 621 square feet (58 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and a meeting room. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary manager's reception is offered each day.
Baharia Restaurant - Overlooking the ocean, this restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Terrace Restaurant - Overlooking the ocean, this restaurant specializes in seafood and serves dinner only. Reservations are required. Open daily.
24-hour room service is available.

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and public transport

  • Free self-parking on site
  • On-site parking includes off-street options
  • 24-hour return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Airport shuttle on request

Food and drink

  • 2 restaurants and 1 coffee shop/cafe
  • 1 poolside bar and 1 bar
  • Free daily reception
  • 24-hour room service

Restaurants on site

  • Baharia Restaurant
  • Terrace Restaurant

Things to do

  • Arcade/games room
  • Bike rentals
  • Children's pool
  • Full-service spa
  • Lifeguards on-site
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private picnics

Family friendly

  • Arcade/games room
  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Children's pool
  • Free cots/infant beds
  • In-room childcare (surcharge)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • Banquet hall
  • Free newspapers in reception
  • Front-desk safe
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Library

Guest services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Concierge services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Dry-cleaning service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Business services

  • 24-hour business centre
  • Conference space (621 square feet)
  • A meeting room

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Beachfront location
  • Garden
  • Lifeguards on site
  • Picnic area
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Spa

  • 2 treatment rooms
  • Body scrubs
  • Body treatments
  • Couples treatment room(s)
  • Facials
  • Manicures and pedicures
  • Massages
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Spa open daily

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have any lifts
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible (may have limits)

More

  • Beach towels
  • Couples dining
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Mosquito nets
  • Romance packages available

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Bed sheets
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free cots/infant beds
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Separate bath and shower
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • 21-inch LCD TV
  • Premium channels
  • Satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Champagne service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Desk
  • In-room massage
  • Individually furnished
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • Phone
  • Slippers
  • Turndown service

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: midnight
Early check-in subject to availability
An early check-in fee will be charged
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after noon please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 90800 per person (one-way)
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Property Registration Number Z0000010668

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Hotel Serena Zanzibar
Serena Hotel Zanzibar
Serena Zanzibar
Serena Zanzibar Hotel
Zanzibar Serena
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Zanzibar Serena Hotel Hotel
Zanzibar Serena Hotel Zanzibar Town
Zanzibar Serena Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Zanzibar Serena Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 146 out of 224 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 52 out of 224 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 14 out of 224 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 224 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 224 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Diana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Absolutely amazing! I will definitely be back. Everyone treats you like family. Excellent service. Fabulous food. Beautiful accommodations.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

melissa

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

cindy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely property in a quiet corner of Stonetown. Great swimming pool. Historic quality of hotel added a charming feel. Most rooms overlook the ocean. The amenities were complete and the room was very comfortable. Spend a little extra to get an outside balcony or verandah. The staff was wonderful and helpful. There are lots of restaurants nearby. I can't speak for the food at the on property restaurant since I had to leave early and skipped the breakfast. I would definitely stay here again on a Stonetown visit.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zachariah

Liked: Amenities
This was a great stay
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Ian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The property is in a good location but is extremely tired and old fashioned. They are installing an elevator but this was right next to our room so very noisy works. The entire facilities need a major renovation. The staff were wonderful especially Johannes in the concierge.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Angela

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location and pool were great. The restaurant food was excellent, free breakfast excellent. Pool service from Damian especially was fabulous.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laureen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My third stay here! I love Zanzibar and love staying here. It's so convenient to everything and the staff are exceptional. Big Joe is always there to welcome us! And Johannes and Suliman also are great. Food is good, view is spectacular, rooms are big and have an "Old World" feel. I love it here!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Rozmin, AURORA

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Hotel does not have an elevator. People struggle to take stairs up to their floors. Rooms look tired and need refurbishing. Rooms also need more lighting - feel dark and depressing.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

2/10 Terrible

Igor

Disliked: Cleanliness
Upon check out I received the bill which had 2 same numbers in it. When I argued, they cancelled one of them but afterwards, on the way to ferry they called the driver and started asking for more moneys. Even after check out. Hotel after all is good, most of the staff are friendly. But guys, check the bills and be careful.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Alkarim

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane, Memphis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, staff very courteous. I had a great room with a balcony facing the ocean. Very comfortable. Breakfast was plentiful and delicious.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Diane

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly staff, beautiful hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Alastair

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Great location
Excellent location next to the beach with a very nice pool. Shame the sea has some litter in it. The bar service around the pool is very slow. The young staff in particular need to learn more English and a sense of urgency. Stone town is very interesting but beware fake guides
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Kimberly

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
I was not offered a room Upgrade or acknowledged for VIP on Expedia like usual . At check out I asked about bottle of wine and 10 usd credit . They forgot the wine and they usually give a fruit basket instead of 10 dollars credit . I didn’t receive the fruit basket after discussing they agreed to take 10usd off the restaurant bill. I rather be given the options stated when booked then ask for it . Also no elevator . One party member couldn’t use the stairs and this we didn’t realize . We had lunch at hotel and the food was amazing . The staff is not terrible just not aware of what’s going on . Also we booked the same morning for the room why there was confusion maybe . location is good . Property is old . It’s on the beach which is a plus . Breakfast is good . Room was clean and ac worked well .
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bashir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Fantastic Amazing
Excellent Service with excellent Friendly Staff
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kara

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property is immaculate. Staff are utterly courteous. The hotel itself is beautiful and carefully maintained.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2024

4/10 Poor

Ann

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Old glory and poorly managed
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alka

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Superbly helpful and friendly staff. Located in a very central area….easy to walk to nearby attractions like Freddie Mercury house etc. Plenty of taxis right outside the hotel. Hotel staff very very friendly and helpful for organizing any tours/taxis.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent
Excellent service from the time we arrived to the time we left.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aateqa

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, historic property with amazing views. Everyone working there was friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

4/10 Poor

Dialla

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
they give expedia customers the rubbish rooms, i had to fight to get my room changed, they gave me a horrible room.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne G

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Zanzibar Serena Hotel is a gem. The staff is extremely helpful and courteous. They helped us find guides, get to Prison Island, find places to shop for certain items, the list goes on. The room was quiet and very comfortable with a large balcony. The food was excellent. The location is fabulous -- right on the water. Also, we had a late flight out and were able to store our luggage and use the all the amenities of the hotel. We could even shower before leaving! I highly recommend this hotel. I can't imagine finding a better one.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023