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Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
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Africa & Indian Ocean

Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

Nungwi Rd, Nungwi, North Coast Zanzibar 73107, Tanzania

Details last verified July 2026 · How we research

Five-StarNear CoastMid-Size
4.5
★★★★★
2,468 reviews on Google
8.8Out of 10
Palmprint

Our own independent rating: beach, food, service, value and more. No pay-to-play, ever.

See how we scored it

Highlights

·3 pools
·3 restaurants & bars
·Full-service spa
·Swim-up suites

Activities & Experiences

Spa & WellnessWater SportsKids Activities

Best Time to Visit

Jan
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Location

Nungwi Rd, Nungwi, North Coast Zanzibar 73107, Tanzania
Nearest airport: ZNZ
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
+255 24 550 1500

Guest Reviews

★★★★★
Anisha Bramdaw · a month ago

Our stay at Riu Palace was absolutely amazing from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel welcome and valued, and were pleasantly surprised with a room upgrade, which made our experience even more special. The staff were exceptional throughout our stay—friendly, attentive...

★★★★★
Priyanjana Kumar · a month ago

Jambo jambo! We had an incredible stay at Riu Palace Zanzibar (all-inclusive). We spent a week there with no particular expectations and it exceeded them in every way. The rooms were beautiful, the food was outstanding, and the evening entertainment was consistently excellent. The level of hospital...

★★★★★
José Silva · a month ago

My experience at Rio Jambo Hotel in Zanzibar was well below expectations. Although the staff were friendly and polite, they were often overly pushy and intrusive towards guests. The buffet was very repetitive throughout the stay, with little variety in both fruits and desserts. For a tropical desti...

★★★★★
mnar musabbah · a month ago

This hotel was beyond my expectations, truly an amazing experience. The rooms and the views were beautiful, and the staff were incredibly friendly. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were included, and all the food was absolutely delicious. The beach was clean and stunning, with so many fun activities to...

★★★★★
Burak S. · 2 months ago

During our honeymoon at this wonderful hotel, we had the pleasure of meeting three very special young women who truly found a place in our hearts: Elina, Regina, and Dorcas. With their warmth, their smiles, and their kind-hearted nature, they made our stay even more beautiful. They work with so muc...

What we recommend

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Nightly rate
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·Resort website·Booking.com·Expedia·Tripadvisor reviews
About the Location
Tanzania

Passport, safety, tipping & more, read before you fly.

Read the country guide
The Vibe
What's actually included

What the all-inclusive plan covers at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

The line between “all-inclusive” and “all-inclusive except the good stuff” is where trips get expensive. Here's what's genuinely covered, and what still costs extra.

Premium & à la carte dining
RIU official and Expedia details confirm buffet and à la carte meals, snacks and beverages are included.
Included
Top-shelf liquor
24-hour drinks and cocktails are included, but specific premium-label exclusions should be confirmed by rate.
Partly included
Wi-Fi
Included
In-room minibar
Expedia states all minibar beverages are included.
Included
Non-motorized water sports
Expedia lists kayaking and onsite fitness/water activities; exact watersport menu should be confirmed.
Partly included
Spa treatments
Spa treatments are available but not evidenced as included.
Costs extra

Inclusions change and vary by room category and season, so always confirm with the resort before booking. How we verify this.

Rooms & Suites

Who fits where at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

All 5 room categories, from the resort's own accommodations pages.

The right room is personal: a swim-out for the pool people, a top floor for the view people, two real bedrooms and two baths for families who like a little distance. Here's the lineup from the resort's own accommodations pages.

Jr Suite
1 bedroom
Junior Suite Courtyard View
1 bedroom · Courtyard
Superior Ocean Suite
1 bedroom · Ocean
Junior Suite Swim-Up
1 bedroom · swim-out pool access
Villa
1 bedroom

From the resort's own accommodations pages. Categories and occupancy change with renovations, and connecting rooms are usually request-only, so confirm when you book.

The Daily Reality

Food, pools & the beach itself

Where you'll actually spend the week: how many places there are to eat and drink, what the pool scene offers, and what the water in front of the resort is really like.

Dining & bars

3 restaurantsReservations at some venues· International buffet · Steakhouse · Mediterranean · Grill

Official RIU gastronomy page confirms a 24-hour all-inclusive concept with buffet, grill/snacks, steakhouse and Mediterranean restaurant; Expedia lists three restaurants.

Pools & waterplay

3 poolsSwim-up bar

Expedia confirms three outdoor pools and a swim-up bar.

The beach itself

Calm, swimmable waterGradual walk-in entrySnorkeling from shoreNo sargassum (outside the Atlantic belt)

Nungwi/Kendwa area is one of Zanzibar's stronger swimming-beach regions, with guest and OTA sources emphasizing fine sand, clear water and beach access.

Venue counts come from the resort's own pages; beach conditions draw on monitoring data and consistent traveler reports. The sea doesn't read press releases, so treat seasonal notes as odds, not promises.

For Families

Taking the kids to Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?

A family week turns on the details brochures skip: whether the kids' club is genuinely supervised, who watches the baby on date night, and whether four of you fit in one room. Here's what we've verified.

Beach for young swimmers
Gradual, calm entry: toddler-friendly
Dinner reservations
Needed at some restaurants

Children are allowed under the current RIU Palace Zanzibar positioning, but no supervised kids-club program was verified on the Palace page.

Questions parents ask

Is the beach at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar good for young children?

The water in front is typically calm, and the entry is a gradual walk-in a young child can stand in.

Do you need dinner reservations at Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?

At some restaurants: book the à la carte venues early in your stay and keep the buffet as the no-plan fallback for meltdown nights.

Kids' club ages, hours, and babysitting availability change seasonally, so confirm with the resort before booking.

Not sure this one fits your crew? Match resorts to your kids' exact ages for verified facts, not brochure claims.

Group Travel

Bringing the whole crew to Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar?

Girlfriend trips, milestone birthdays, three generations under one roof: group logistics make or break the week. Here's how this resort handles them.

Nightlife
Low-key: quiet by late evening

Upscale beachfront RIU with access to a livelier wider Nungwi resort zone; recent guests note music from neighboring Riu Jambo can affect quiet.

Group policies vary by season and party size, so confirm with the resort's group desk before booking.

The Palmprint file

How we scored Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

Our independent research: the score, the evidence behind every mark, and what guests actually say.

Palmprint
8.8/10
RIU Hotels & Resorts
Zanzibar
88% complete · Good review coverage
✓ Official site verified
How we score →

Scores

Beach9.1
High
Food8.3
Medium
Service8.8
High
Rooms8.7
High
Pools8.8
High
Value8.2
Medium
Family7.2
Medium

Pros

  • True 24-hour RIU all-inclusive model.
  • Strong Nungwi beachfront setting.
  • Three-pool setup with swim-up bar.
  • Good suite and swim-up room options.

Cons

  • Neighboring resort noise can affect quiet.
  • Buffet periods may feel busy.
  • Kids-club evidence is not verified despite family-friendly positioning.
  • Coordinates are not verified as the exact main entrance.

Things to know

  • Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar is a true 24-hour all-inclusive beachfront resort.
  • It is no longer clearly adults-only in current RIU/OTA positioning, so treat it as family-friendly unless RIU changes policy.
  • The beach and pools are stronger selling points than nightlife.
  • Neighboring resort noise and busy buffet periods appear in recent guest feedback.

Hidden tips

  • Request a quieter room away from neighboring entertainment if sleep matters.
  • Book specialty restaurants early, especially during high occupancy.
  • Beach-first travelers should prioritize ocean-view or swim-up categories depending on budget.

What guests say

Most loved
  • Beach and clear water
  • Pools and swim-up bar
  • Staff friendliness
  • Room and suite product
Most common complaints
  • Neighboring entertainment noise
  • Buffet crowding
  • Specialty restaurants not always standout
  • Family-policy change confusion
Things people wish they knew
  • Recent travelers describe it as family-friendly rather than adults-only.
  • Some rooms may be affected by music from the neighboring Riu Jambo.
  • The resort is best for beach and pool relaxation rather than a quiet boutique stay.
From Reddit

Recent Reddit discussion praises the upscale feel, beach and staff but flags that the resort can feel big and busy, with buffet congestion and late music from neighboring Riu Jambo.

Rooms

Rooms To Avoid:Rooms closest to neighboring Riu Jambo entertainment if quiet is importantLow

Recent Reddit feedback mentions music from the neighboring resort carrying late at night.

Best Value Room:Jr SuiteMedium

Best value if guests plan to spend most of the stay on the beach, at pools and dining around the resort.

Best Room Category:Superior Ocean SuiteMedium

Best broad-fit category for travelers prioritizing the ocean-view Zanzibar beach experience.

The facts

100
Room Count
3
Number Of Pools
3
Number Of Restaurants
SpaGood WifiBeachfrontSwim Up BarSwim Up SuiteFamily FriendlySwimmable Beach

How we scored it

Food
Restaurant Count: 3Guest Food Signal: 8Buffet Crowding Penalty: 6.8All Inclusive 24h Support: 1
Restaurant Inventory And Guest Synthesis · sources: RIU, official_gastronomy, Expedia, Reddit · verified 2026-07-19
Beach
Sand Quality: 9.1Swimmability: 9.1Beachfront Support: 1Clear Water Signal: 9.2
Nungwi Beach And Guest Synthesis · sources: RIU, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit, Mapcarta · verified 2026-07-19
Pools
Guest Pool Signal: 8.8Outdoor Pool Count: 3Swim Up Bar Support: 1
Pool Inventory And Guest Synthesis · sources: RIU, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit · verified 2026-07-19
Rooms
Room Count: 100Guest Room Signal: 8.7Suite Category Count: 5Swim Up Suite Support: 1
Official Room Inventory And Review Synthesis · sources: RIU, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit · verified 2026-07-19
Value
Beach Score: 9.1Service Score: 8.8Noise Crowding Penalty: 6.8All Inclusive 24h Support: 1
Inclusion Depth Vs Guest Caveats Synthesis · sources: RIU, official_gastronomy, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit · verified 2026-07-19
Family
Beach Score: 9.1Kids Club Support: 0Children Allowed Support: 1Adjacent Family Resort Signal: 1
Children Allowed And Resort Access Synthesis · sources: RIU, Expedia, Reddit · verified 2026-07-19
Overall
Room Count: 100Restaurant Count: 3Expedia Review Count: 748Expedia Score 10 Scale: 9.2
Weighted Review And Source Synthesis · sources: RIU, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit, Mapcarta · verified 2026-07-19
Service
Expedia Staff Score: 9.4Guest Service Signal: 8.8
Review Platform And Guest Sentiment Synthesis · sources: Expedia, Tripadvisor, Reddit, RIU · verified 2026-07-19

Sources

RedditExpediaMapcartaOfficialTripadvisorReddit HoneymoonOfficial Gastronomy

Scored with Palmprint methodology v1.0.

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On our lists

Where Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar ranks

See all RIU resorts ranked →Read the Tanzania travel guide →