Beit-el-Ajaib — the House of Wonders — was built in 1883 as a ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash and became the first building in East Africa to have electricity and a lift, hence the name. Its three storeys of slim cast-iron pillars and tiered verandas dominate the seafront and make it the most photographed building in Stone Town, with the four-faced clock tower lit above the harbour at night.
Sadly the building has been closed for restoration since a partial collapse in 2020. Even from outside it is worth circling slowly: the great carved doors at the entrance are among the largest in Zanzibar, and the cannons in the forecourt were captured from the Portuguese garrison at Fort Jesus in Mombasa. Check the latest reopening status with your hotel before planning a visit inside.