Things to Do in Mombasa: Top Attractions and Experiences

Mombasa is Kenya’s second city and its oldest, with a history stretching back to Arab trading settlements in the 9th century. The blend of Swahili, Arabic, Portuguese, and British colonial heritage is visible at every turn, and the Indian Ocean coastline provides some of East Africa’s best beaches and marine environments.

History and Culture

Fort Jesus

Entry: Approx USD 12 non-resident adults / KES 1,200 resident adults (as of 2026) Opening hours: 8am–6pm daily Location: Old Town waterfront

Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in 1593 to control the East African coast trade route and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its walls — up to 9 metres thick in places — have absorbed more than four centuries of conflict: Portuguese, Omani, and British colonial forces all fought over it. The Omani House of Mazrui eventually took control in 1837 and the British converted it to a prison in 1895.

The on-site museum inside the fort displays Portuguese, Omani, and Chinese porcelain recovered from the site, plus an explanation of the fort’s architectural evolution across three colonial eras. Allow 90–120 minutes. The view from the battlements over the old harbour is excellent.

Old Town Walking Tour

Cost: Free (self-guided); guided tours approximately KES 1,500–3,000 pp through operators Duration: 1–2 hours

Old Town is the most intact Swahili urban settlement on the East African coast. The streets — too narrow for cars in most places — are lined with three- and four-storey stone buildings featuring elaborately carved wooden doors, carved coral walls, and overhanging balconies. The architectural tradition blends Arabic, Indian, and Swahili influences.

Key points on a self-guided walk: the Mandhry Mosque (built 1570, the oldest working mosque on the Kenya coast), the Old Law Courts (now the Fort Jesus access point), the German Post Office building (1905), and the Portuguese Chapel ruins at the southern end of Old Town.

Haller Park (Bamburi Nature Trail)

Entry: Approx KES 1,000 adults / KES 500 children (as of 2026) Opening hours: 8am–5pm daily Location: Bamburi, North Coast (12km from Mombasa city)

Haller Park is one of East Africa’s more unusual wildlife stories: it was created by reclaiming a limestone quarry that Bamburi Cement abandoned in the 1970s. Dr René Haller spent decades rehabilitating the land into a functioning ecosystem. Today it holds hippos, giraffes, buffalo, crocodiles, giant tortoises, and a large bird collection. The animal feeding sessions — hippos fed in the late afternoon — are popular with families. The fish farm and butterfly centre are additional attractions.

Nyali Beach

Nyali Beach, 8km north of Mombasa city centre, is the closest accessible beach to the city. The beach is wide and the water is calm inside the reef. Public access is straightforward, though most beach sections are in front of resort hotels. Watersports operators on the beach offer jet ski hire (approximately KES 4,000 per 30 minutes), glass-bottom boat trips (approximately KES 2,000 pp), and snorkelling equipment rental.

Water Activities and Day Trips

Dhow Cruises

Several operators run dhow cruises from Mombasa Old Harbour and from Nyali Beach. The most established is Tamarind Dhow (departs from Tamarind Village, Nyali), which runs a dinner cruise on a traditional sailing dhow with live Swahili music. Prices from approximately KES 8,000 per person as of 2026, including a three-course seafood dinner.

More basic sunset dhow cruises depart from the Old Harbour area for approximately KES 2,000–3,500 per person. These are shorter (2 hours) and focus on the harbour and Mombasa island views rather than open-water sailing.

Snorkelling — Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park is on the South Coast, approximately 40km south of Diani Beach (which is already 35km from Mombasa). The marine park holds pristine coral, diverse reef fish, sea turtles, and regular dolphin sightings.

Day trips from Diani operate by speedboat and include snorkelling equipment, dolphin watching, and a stop at Wasini Island for lunch. Operators including Charlie Claw’s (based in Shimoni) and Pilli Pipa Dhow Safaris charge approximately USD 70–100 per person for a full day including transfer from Diani.

From Mombasa city, full-day excursions take around 3 hours each way. It’s more practical to base yourself at Diani for this trip.

Spice Tours

Several operators run half-day spice plantation tours to farms around Mtwapa, 15km north of Mombasa. These cover cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, and vanilla cultivation. Cost approximately KES 2,000–3,500 per person. Adventure Kenya and Mombasa City Tours both offer this.

Ferry to South Coast

The Likoni Ferry crossing is free for pedestrians and approximately KES 60 for vehicles. It’s an experience in itself — the short channel crossing carries thousands of people daily, with vendors selling roasted maize and mandazi on the boarding platforms. Once across, matatus head south along the A14 to Diani (approximately KES 150–200 per person).

Around Mombasa: Practical Notes

Getting around the city: Tuk-tuks (three-wheeled auto-rickshaws) are everywhere in Old Town and around the city centre, costing approximately KES 100–300 per journey. They’re the practical way to navigate the narrow Old Town streets. Uber and Bolt operate in Mombasa from approximately KES 500–1,500.

Best time to visit: November through March is the optimal coast season — dry, sunny, and warm. April and May bring the long rains; June through August is drier with cooler Indian Ocean winds. July and August are active months but not the peak season for the coast as they are for Nairobi.

Combine with Watamu: If you have a week on the Kenya coast, Watamu (100km north) adds a different beach atmosphere, a marine park with whale sharks from October to March, and a sea turtle conservation programme.

For accommodation options, see our Mombasa hotels guide. For local food, see our Mombasa food guide.