1 dayHalf or full day
Mombasa
Mombasa City Tour
See Mombasa with someone who knows it: Fort Jesus, the lanes of Old Town, the Tusks and sunset snacks on Mama Ngina Waterfront, with hotel pick-up included.
FromKES5,500per person sharing
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Mombasa County, Coast · Kenya
Mombasa
Kenya's coastal city of forts, food and old streets
Mombasa is Kenya's historic island port and our home city: Fort Jesus, the Old Town, Swahili food and North Coast beaches, an hour's flight or about 4½–6 hours by SGR from Nairobi.
- Best time to go
- December–March (hot, dry) and July–October (cooler, less humid); April–June is the long-rains low season.
- Getting there
- From Nairobi: about 1 hour by air, about 4½–6 hours on the SGR Madaraka Express, or 8–10 hours by road. Direct international flights include Dubai and Istanbul.
- Ideal for
- City-and-beach holidays, history and food lovers, SGR family trips, conferences and corporate travel
Mombasa is Kenya's second city, a historic island port with Fort Jesus, a living Old Town, superb Swahili food and the North Coast beaches on its doorstep. It's also where we're based, so this is the place we know best. Swahili, Arab, Portuguese, Indian and British influences are layered into its streets, and most of it is easy to explore in a couple of days before or after a beach stay.
Why visit
You get a city break and a beach holiday in one trip. Mornings can be spent in the Old Town's lanes, afternoons on the sand at Nyali or Bamburi, and evenings eating mishkaki by the water. Mombasa is also the natural base for Tsavo East, Wasini and Diani day trips, with Moi International Airport and the SGR terminus close by.
What to see and do
- Fort Jesus: built by the Portuguese between 1593 and 1596 to guard the harbour, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Old Town: carved wooden doors, balconies, small mosques, the Old Port and spice and fish markets
- The Mombasa Tusks on Moi Avenue, put up for Princess Elizabeth's visit in 1952
- Haller Park in Bamburi, a former cement quarry turned nature park with giraffe, hippo and giant tortoises
- Mombasa Marine National Park off Nyali and Bamburi, for snorkelling and glass-bottom boats
- The food: biryani, pilau, viazi karai, mahamri with chai, mishkaki and fresh madafu (coconut water)
- Sunset dhow cruises and the Mama Ngina waterfront
Best time to visit
December to March is hot and dry, perfect for the beach. July to October is a little cooler and less humid. The long rains fall roughly from April to June, which is low season, with the best hotel rates. During Ramadan the Old Town is quieter by day and lively after sunset, a lovely time to try the street food.
Getting there from Nairobi
By air: about an hour to Moi International Airport, with several airlines flying daily.
By SGR: the Madaraka Express takes about 4½–6 hours depending on the train, arriving at the Mombasa Terminus in Miritini.
By road: around 8–10 hours on the Mombasa Road.
Mombasa also has direct international flights, including flydubai from Dubai and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul.
Good to know
- Dress modestly in the Old Town, and ask before photographing people or homes.
- Walk the Old Town early or late in the day, ideally with a local guide.
- For the South Coast, take the Likoni ferry from the island or the Dongo Kundu bypass from the mainland.
- Use ride-hailing apps or agree tuk-tuk fares before you set off.
Guide checked October 2026 by the Jeff Tours team. Park fees and visa rules change — we confirm current ones in every quote.
Trips to Mombasa
Ways to see Mombasa
Mombasa: your questions
What is there to do in Mombasa?
Start at Fort Jesus, then walk the Old Town's lanes to the Old Port and try Swahili street food such as viazi karai, mishkaki and mahamri. Spend a day on the North Coast beaches at Nyali or Bamburi, visit Haller Park, snorkel in Mombasa Marine National Park or take a sunset dhow cruise. Tsavo East and Wasini make easy day trips from the city.
How do I get from Nairobi to Mombasa?
You have three main options. Flights take about an hour and land at Moi International Airport. The SGR Madaraka Express takes roughly 4½–6 hours, depending on the train, to the Mombasa Terminus at Miritini, and it's a favourite with families and groups. Driving takes about 8–10 hours on the Mombasa Road, depending on traffic and stops.
Is Fort Jesus worth visiting?
Yes. The Portuguese built Fort Jesus between 1593 and 1596 to guard Mombasa's harbour. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Portuguese military forts of its era. Allow one to two hours for the walls, the museum and the Omani House, ideally with a guide, then continue on foot into the Old Town.
When is the best time to visit Mombasa?
December to March is hot, sunny and dry, ideal for the beach. July to October is slightly cooler and less humid, and also a good time. The long rains fall roughly from April to June, bringing lower hotel rates. Kenyan school holidays, Easter and the December festive season are the busiest periods, so book early for those dates.
Which beaches are best near Mombasa?
On the North Coast, Nyali is closest to town, Bamburi has a long open beach lined with hotels, and Shanzu is quieter. The beaches are reef-protected, so swimming is best around high tide. For a classic resort holiday with a longer stretch of white sand, many visitors head about 30 km south to Diani instead.
What's the best way to explore Mombasa Old Town?
On foot, with a local guide, in the morning or late afternoon when it's cooler. Start at Fort Jesus, wander past carved doors and balconies to the Old Port and the spice and fish markets, and stop for coffee or fresh juice along the way. Dress modestly, and ask before photographing people or their homes.
Planning Mombasa?
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