It is the largest city in Tanzania but not the capital. With lots of possibilities for water activities besides exploring the city and beach areas.
A heart deep in love has no patience. ~ unknown
We stayed there for around five days in an Airbnb after finding no guesthouses on the spot. The city itself is more calm and very local. Street food is the best I have ever eaten in Africa. We would hang out here mainly on some street markets and the beach areas, visiting some restaurants, swimming, or parties in the evening. They have lots of wild, crazy clubs on the ocean side, with insane decorations, mainly dominated by prostitutes and older white people.
Kariakoo Market
A super busy market. Don't forget to bargain here, and you'll find 100% what you need, clothes, food, shoes, simply everything. Still, try not to carry backpacks or take only the things you need with you.
Askari Monument
Suitable for having a quick look or walk. Located in the city's center, you can see and enter this impressive Monument. It is a memorial to the fight of Germany and the British Army in East Africa and presents a proud, self-confident, and muscular soldier ready to defend his country.
Coco Beach
It is a long beach line with multiple huts, bars, and restaurants. You can go swimming, enjoy live music. They offered us tourist prices and tried to force us to pay more simply because of being white. It was a long discussion that was solved by the manager in the end, firing one of the barkeepers. Well, be aware of higher prices. Lots of artist's families were trying to sell nuts or paintings. Often it was not easy spending a quiet time there. Overall still lovely, with palm trees as well as sandy beaches and a relaxing atmosphere with a full African vibe.
Hotel Slipway
If you want to feel more for yourself without being talked to, we advise you to eat or spend some time in the hotel terrains. You will meet here only tourists and no local people. Often they offer exquisite food courteous service and are closed to some tramps from the outside. This hotel has good restaurants in front of the beach. It is nearby to an old harbor with slips for the boats. You can get cocktails and seafood, stroll around or even go shopping in the hotel shopping mall.
Sea Cliff Hotel
This hotel has a huge restaurant, extravagant right on top of the cliffs with an insane view over the ocean. Here we found either the hidden tourists or the upper-class Tanzanian citizens; very calm and beautiful area to get some time. The food is fantastic and highly recommended.
The Ferry Terminal
The ferry terminal leads to the ferry that takes you to Zanzibar. You can get tickets at one of the tourist ferry terminals in the city. Watch out for the prices and bargain as always. Also, our hostel owner proposed to buy it for it - another option to avoid additional stress. The terminal was packed. Even in front of the entrance, you would encounter many sellers offering food, drinks, or clothes. Police officers checked the people to wear masks and then checked our tickets for the ferry.
After entering the ferry, it was calm again. Lots of free spaces inside and outside you could enjoy the cold wind.
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