Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

Our verdict

Riu Palace Zanzibar is the RIU hotel we suggest when you want five-star, 24-hour all-inclusive in the north without the size and noise of a big family resort. It's on Nungwi beach at Zanzibar's northern tip, about an hour from the airport, where the tide matters least. We've sold it since 2012, when it was the Hideaway of Nungwi. RIU bought it in 2018, rebuilt it and reopened it in November 2019 with about 200 rooms, three pools in a large garden, a private beach and suites with swim-up access or their own pools. It opened under RIU as adults only. RIU no longer lists it that way, and trade press in 2026 describes it as open to families too, so we confirm the age policy for your dates. The trade-offs: no kids club is listed, the spa and diving are paid, and a 461-room family resort is next door. For children, choose its neighbour Riu Jambo, with RIU Land. For a smaller all-inclusive of about 100 rooms in 13 hectares of gardens, Diamonds Mapenzi at Kiwengwa, on the north-east coast.

Best for

• couples who want five-star and 24-hour all-inclusive
• swimming in the north, where the tide matters least
• a swim-up suite, or a villa
• a smaller RIU hotel (about 200 rooms) next to the bigger Riu Jambo
• honeymooners and anniversaries: suites and villas, and a romantic open-air restaurant when it opened

At a glance

Which room to book

• Couples: a Junior Suite. A Junior Suite with courtyard view costs less.
• Swim-up: a Junior Suite Swim-Up steps straight from your terrace into the pool.
• Sea view: a Superior Ocean Suite.
• The most private: a Villa. RIU added rooms with private pools when it rebuilt the hotel; we confirm which categories have one.
• Families: confirm the age policy with us first. If you're travelling with children aged 4 to 12, Riu Jambo next door is the better choice for RIU Land and its Family Rooms.

Children

• No kids club is listed at Riu Palace Zanzibar. RIU Land is at Riu Jambo, next door.
• Age policy: the hotel reopened in 2019 as adults only, in RIU's adults-only Palace line. RIU's site no longer labels it adults only (it does label Riu Palace Swahili, the third RIU hotel on this beach), and trade press in 2026 says families are welcome. We confirm the current rule before you book.
• Our view: we'd send families to Riu Jambo and couples here. If you want adults only for certain, choose Riu Palace Swahili, or Zanzibar's other adults-only hotels.

Meal plans

Riu Palace Zanzibar sells only all-inclusive, 24 hours a day: meals, snacks and drinks at any hour, in the main restaurant, the themed restaurants and the bars, plus entertainment, shows and live music.

What's paid:

• the spa;
• diving and motorised water sports;
• excursions.

Guests of all three RIU hotels on the beach can join the weekly RIU party held at Riu Jambo.

Restaurants

• The main restaurant: buffet, with local and international dishes.
• Themed restaurants: when it reopened in 2019, RIU listed a fusion restaurant (Krystal), a steakhouse and a romantic open-air restaurant alongside the main restaurant (Promenade), plus a grill bar.
• Bars: three bars and the Ginger coffee bar at the reopening. Guests still mention the Ginger bar in 2026.
• All included in the 24-hour all-inclusive.

Honest downsides

• The age policy isn't clear. It opened under RIU as adults only; RIU no longer says so. If a child-free hotel matters, we'll confirm it, or suggest Riu Palace Swahili next door.
• A huge family resort next door. Riu Jambo (461 rooms) shares the beach, and its weekly RIU party draws guests from all three hotels.
• No kids club of its own.
• The spa and diving are paid.
• Room sizes aren't published by RIU. We give them to you with the quote.
• Nungwi is the lively end of the island. For a quiet beach, the south-east coast is calmer.

Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar holiday packages

Packages from R27,749 per person, including flights from Johannesburg (prices checked 15 Nov 2026).

R500 off your holiday when you book with us by 31 December 2026.

• Riu Palace Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R27,749 pps

  From R27,749 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.

• Riu Palace Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R27,815 pps

  From R27,815 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.

Get a quote for Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

From our clients

Other resorts in Zanzibar

• Diamonds Mapenzi Beach
• Hotel Riu Jambo
• Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa
• Reef & Beach Resort
• Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
• The Mora Zanzibar
• Zanzibar Bay Resort