Overview
Heavenly moments of pure pleasure await at the 5-star Riu Palace Zanzibar, an adults-only (18+) sanctuary nestled along Nungwi Beach in northern Zanzibar. This all-inclusive hotel boasts a 24-hour service of delicious food and refreshing beverages...
Heavenly moments of pure pleasure await at the 5-star Riu Palace Zanzibar, an adults-only (18+) sanctuary nestled along Nungwi Beach in northern Zanzibar. This all-inclusive hotel boasts a 24-hour service of delicious food and refreshing beverages, marvellous vistas of the turquoise Indian Ocean, 3 inviting swimming pools, and a daily programme of exciting entertainment. Enjoy sun-kissed relaxation or delve into a world of watersports on the beach, keep up your fitness routine at the well-equipped gym, and choose from a varied menu of rejuvenating spa treatments. After a fantastic day in paradise, retreat to your luxurious suite or villa for a peaceful night of rest.
How far is the nearest beach?
Riu Palace Zanzibar is located on Nungwi Beach.
Distance from resort centre
The hotel is close to a small selection of restaurants, bars and shops.
Distance from the airport
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is approximately 66km away from Riu Palace Zanzibar.
![Pools]( "Swimming Pools")
Pools
![Restaurant]( "Restaurants")
Restaurant
![Bar]( "Bars")
Bar
![Beach]( "Beachfront Location")
Beach
![Spa]( "Spa")
Spa
![Wifi]( "Free Wi-Fi")
Wifi
![Adults-Only]( "Adults-Only (18+)")
Adults-Only
Facilities
- Swimming pools
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Gym
- Spa
- Watersports (including kayaking, pedalos and stand-up paddle surfing)*
- Daily group fitness activities
- Scuba diving (local charge)
- Introductory scuba diving lessons in pool
- Daily entertainment programme
- Daily live music or shows
- Complimentary pool and beach sun loungers and parasols
- Boutique/kiosk
- Free Wi-Fi
*Please note that charges may apply to some activities and for the use of some facilities.
All-inclusive
The Riu Palace Zanzibar 24-hour all-inclusive concept includes the following:
- Breakfast served buffet style
- Lunch served buffet style OR at Pepe’s Food grill
- Dinner served buffet style at the main restaurant OR à la carte style at Krystal restaurant, Beef Steak House or ia fish restaurant (reservations required)
- Snacks served between mealtimes
- A selection of local and imported beverages served 24 hours a day
- Premium branded drinks served throughout the hotel
- Regularly restocked minibar
- Access to the gym
- Use of steam bath and whirlpool bath
- Daily group fitness activities
- Stand-up paddle surfing, pedalos and kayaking
- 1 introductory scuba diving lesson in pool
- Daily entertainment programme
Please note that details, including times and benefits, may be subject to change without notice. Charges may be applied for dining at some restaurants, special dinners and dishes, some beverages, and other amenities. You will be provided with full details of the all-inclusive programme on arrival at the hotel.
Dining
Promenade
- Main restaurant
- Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, buffet style
- Live cooking stations
- Twice weekly special evenings
Krystal
- Fusion cuisine
- Serves dinner, à la carte style
- Reservation required
Beef Steak House
- Serves dinner, à la carte style
- Reservation required
ia
- Fish restaurant
- Serves dinner, à la carte style
- Reservation required
Pepe’s Food
Ginger
Snacks will be served outside mealtimes. Romantic open-air dinners are also available (local charge).
Guests can also enjoy access to the restaurants located at the neighbouring hotel Riu Jambo, including the Asian restaurant, Kulinarium gourmet à la carte restaurant, and the Italian restaurant (reservation required).
4.5
Google reviews (1492)
shreya kanani
Our experience here was amazing! The service was outstanding, the manager Dijana gave us a beautiful upgraded room for our honeymoon and checked in on us throughout our stay. She went above and beyond to help us locate some medicine during our stay and was always around on site. Just check weather in the month you’re planning on going as we went during rainy season (March) which meant some days we were inside waiting for the rains to stop before we could head down to the beach. I would advise doing Dolphin Watching and Mnemba island for snorkelling on a sunny day!
The food was spectacular, my husband and I are both vegetarian and we had such a great variety each day. The buffet was actually outstanding and we preferred going there to the restaurants on some days! The chefs got to know us and would make fresh food for us - big thank you to Victor, Vyaan and to Haji for making the best fresh aglio e olio pasta! Victor is the head chef and would always ask if there was anything on the menu we’d like specially. One evening one of the chefs Idris even made us fresh eclairs just as the buffet was closing.
The beach space at Palace was on the cliff however you can just walk over to the beach on Riu Jambo and be directly the oceanfront which was perfect for us to go and dip into the ocean! I would advise going to the Jambo Jetty bar for sunset and evening stargazing, not to be missed! We had the best trip, big thank you to the staff for making it so special :)
Asim Ghulam
Nice hotel but has some downsides. The hotel is on a big hill so requires walking up a steep hill every time you need to get to your room.
Also outside of breakfast and dinner, you are limited with food/snack options. The bars have limited snacks and the ‘grill’ has poor quality food and is self service.
Also you often cannot swim in the pool as there is limited space and when you find space they are playing volleyball and splash guests as they play.
Amber Car
Recently vacationed at the RIU Palace Tanzania. My vacation was riddled with issues and not in line with a 5 star property. I booked an airport transfer through the resort with Fisherman Tours. The transfer price was not disclosed until I checked into the resort and was asked to pay. The rep Wahid never showed for the presentation to confirm my return pick up. I texted him after waiting for more than an hour and he apologized and confirmed pickup details. At checkout, the pickup did not show at the appointed time, 12:15. I spoke with the receptionist who reached out to the company. Fisherman's Tours said the driver forgot to pick me up. They scrambled to find another driver to take me to the airport. I was not picket up until 12:40am. My flight was at 3am and the resort is more than an hour from the airport. This was not acceptable. I almost missed my flight.
Other issues I encountered, where my room had no hot water. I dined at Krystal for dinner and there were cats inside of the restaurant.
The BIGGEST issue of all was roaches in my room. I saw numerous roaches in my room. I told the front desk the morning after I arrived. They had someone come and spray the room but, I still continued to see more roaches. This really ruined my stay. I have never encountered this at a resort and this is not in alignment with the RIU experience.
Claudio Colicchio
From the moment I set foot in the enchanting Hotel Riu Palace in Zanzibar, I knew my stay would be nothing short of extraordinary. This hotel isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a destination in itself, offering a mesmerizing experience that lingers in your memory.
The architecture and ambiance of the hotel are a perfect blend of luxury and comfort, set against the backdrop of Zanzibar’s breathtaking natural beauty.
But what truly sets Hotel Riu Palace apart are its culinary offerings. Each restaurant is a gateway to gastronomic delights, serving a wide array of delicious cuisines that tantalize your taste buds. Every meal is a celebration of flavors, expertly prepared and beautifully presented, making dining here an experience in itself.
The service at Hotel Riu Palace is the epitome of excellence. Every staff member goes above and beyond to ensure guests feel special and well-cared for. Their attention to detail and warm, welcoming demeanor make you feel like royalty.
A special shoutout to Allen from the Ginger Bar at the main pool. His remarkable skill in making everyone feel comfortable and his exceptional service truly enhances the overall experience. Allen’s dedication and charisma add a personal touch that makes your stay even more memorable.
In conclusion, my stay at Hotel Riu Palace, Zanzibar, was an unforgettable experience. It’s a place where luxury meets comfort, culinary delights meet impeccable service, and every moment is a treasure. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a five-star experience in every sense. Thank you, Hotel Riu Palace, for an incredible stay!
Trev S
From start to end the staff were more than accommodating to our requests....We stayed here for 7 nights .. On arrival we met Isaac who took the time to help us understand everything from meal times to best tourist sites or places we should steer clear off. ... We went to our allocated room which was great but we had a request to be moved closer to the pool area , Isaac advised us that currently all rooms were occupied and even though he was going to be off duty the next day ,he would ensure the next shift was aware ...
True to the word that morning after breakfast we recieved a call from the front desk and Orisabel was kind enough to over see the move ...
This resort is beautiful and the staff are super friendly and kind ...
The cleaning staff really ensured every area of our room was squeaky clean and would always makes sure a new pattern of flowers was on our bed every day we stayed over..
The resort has 4 other gourmet style restaurants besides the main restaurant, sometimes it's not so easy to get a reservation as this is done via the Riu app. but once again Isaac came to the rescue, made some calls and got me a booking. The food was great in all of them . The head chef would always also take the time to ask if all was well to the guests... .
Every morning we would be greeted and helped by Sabrina who took great care of our every request from almond milk to our own style of meals with a huge smile ... At the Ginger bar which is open 24 hours , Zabron took care of us and he was awesome... specially prepped drinks was call of the day everyday... All in all was a super expierence for us... These guys are in tune and even the small touches are done so with love...
The security keeps all guests safe at the private beach and on exit as well , ensuring that all details of drivers leaving with guests are recorded and the gates are only opened when they satisfied with the answers..
We would go back to this slice of paradise in a heart beat and really do wish the team at Riu Palace all the best for the future...
A heartfelt thank you for making our time in Zanzibar a memorable expierence...
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