Hamam Persian Baths Travel Guide: Top Sights in Tanzania, Tours &

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Hamam Persian Baths- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Tanzania; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 1 hours

The Hamamni Persian Baths, located in the historic core of Stone Town, Zanzibar, were constructed between 1870 and 1888 under the patronage of Sultan Barghash bin Said. Designed by Shirazi architects, the baths reflect Persian architectural influence and served as public bathing facilities until 1920. The complex featured a network of hot and cold bathing rooms, toilets, grooming areas, and even a restaurant, with hot water supplied via underground aqueducts. Access required payment, making regular use largely limited to wealthier residents. Although no longer operational, the restored structure offers insight into Zanzibar's late 19th-century urban planning and cultural life and remains open to travelers interested in the region's architectural and social history.

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Reviews of Hamam Persian Baths

Pin Your Footsteps - Travel Blog

1
Reviewed: 2025-03-15

Don't bother. There is nothing to see. It is being renovated not and the guy will let you in for a few shillings but it's a waste of money.
Paulina Lipets

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-19

Interesting bath house, absolutely lavish and luxurious for the time it was built for Sultan’s use around 1870. Beautiful marble flooring, shaving areas, area where Sultan was getting massages, hot and cold spas. Make sure to have a private tour with the groundskeeper who knows everything about the baths, including going on the roof to see the system of skylights and water supply
Idrissa Othman

5
Reviewed: 2023-01-21

A public bath built in 1870-1888 During the Third sultan of Zanzibar A best place to visit to learn a history of Zanzibar during the sultans ruling sysytem
Janaye Graham

2
Reviewed: 2022-08-17

Not worth the visit if you’re short on time. There’s not much information about the history of the baths in the site. I would recommend reading up on the history before you go. You can tour the baths by yourself and then one of the workers will walk you to the rooftop entrance. It was interesting, but a little underwhelming. Takes less than 10 mins to see inside the baths and to go to the roof. The workers will probably ask for a tip after you’re finished, make sure to have 1,000 or 2,000 shillings to give as a tip.
Joe Weiss

4
Reviewed: 2022-07-25

Difficult to find but persist and ask the locals. $2 each admission (July 2022) it is an official historical site. Persist with the lady at the entrance to see a secondary water heating site and view over the roof. This is round the back, north side, through a usually locked door.