West Coast Zanzibar
Chuini Beach
Palace ruins above a quiet west-coast bay
About Chuini Beach
Chuini, north of Bububu, is where Sultan Barghash built a summer palace in the 1870s; the ruins still stand above the beach inside a boutique lodge's grounds. The bay is calm, shaded and rarely busy, and Stone Town is twenty minutes away.
Best time to visit
Tide information
Things to do
- Explore the Chuini palace ruins
- Sunset dhow cruise
- Mangapwani caves trip
- Spice farm tour
- Stone Town excursion
Nearby hotels
- · Chuini Zanzibar Beach Lodge
- · Mbweni Ruins Hotel
- · Stone Town hotels
Nearby restaurants
- · Chuini lodge restaurant
- · Stone Town dining
Where it is
Getting around from Chuini Beach
Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
Excursion stops on the way: Stone Town old quarter · Mangapwani Slave Caves
Nungwi (North)
Excursion stops on the way: Mkokotoni fish market · Kidichi Persian Baths
Kiwengwa (Northeast)
Excursion stops on the way: Spice farms (Kizimbani) · Kiwengwa Caves
Paje (East Coast)
Excursion stops on the way: Jozani Forest (red colobus) · Zanzibar Butterfly Centre
Kizimkazi (South)
Excursion stops on the way: Jozani Forest · Kizimkazi Dolphin Point
Distances and drive times are planning estimates for a private transfer; traffic in Stone Town can add 15–20 minutes.
Travel tips
- The ruins are on private lodge land — buy lunch or a drink to visit.
- Good half-day stop on a Mangapwani or spice tour.
Tours & excursions from Chuini Beach
Every tour includes hotel pickup from this beach. Tell us where you are staying and we handle the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Chuini palace ruins?
Yes, through the beach lodge that occupies the site. It pairs well with a Mangapwani or spice-farm day.