Mombasa at a glance
Mombasa is a port city on an island on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast. The historic part of town sits around Fort Jesus, a Portuguese fortress at the southern edge of the old city. North of the center, beaches such as Nyali and Bamburi form the resort side of Mombasa. The airport is on the mainland, west of the city, and the Madaraka Express train ends at Mombasa Terminus in Miritini.
This page is an independent overview of what to see in Mombasa and how to plan a visit. It is not run by the county, a museum or a tour operator. Prices are listed for 2026 and can change, so confirm them on the day.
What to see in Mombasa
A short list for a day or two in town.
Fort Jesus
The Portuguese built the fort between 1593 and 1596, and it became a World Heritage site in 2011. It is the one stop most visitors plan around. Tickets, hours and tips are on the Fort Jesus page.
Fort Jesus →Old Town
Narrow lanes, small shops and houses with carved balconies. The National Museums of Kenya lists the Old Town as a neighboring stop to combine with the fort. Walk it with someone who knows the area, even by day.
Moi Avenue and the port
The tusk arches on Moi Avenue are a well-known landmark in the downtown area. The port, with its ships and cranes, is a working harbor rather than a sight with a ticket desk.
Haller Park
A former quarry turned into a park with giraffes, tortoises and forest paths on the Mombasa to Malindi road. It is not a national park. See the Haller Park page for the fee list.
Haller Park →Walking the Old Town
The Old Town is best on foot and in the morning. Fort Jesus sits at its southern edge, so many visitors start at the fort and continue through the lanes. The ticket for the fort does not automatically include an Old Town walk, so ask the guide what a tour covers and what it costs before you set off.
Take only what you need, carry a phone with a charged battery, and agree the route and the end point with your guide. Even in daylight, the German Federal Foreign Office advises going with someone who knows the area.
Our picks: Mombasa tours
A guided city tour, a food walk in Old Town and a full day with Haller Park.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mombasa city tour with Haller Park
A guide, tuk-tuk, water or a soft drink and hotel transfer in Mombasa, plus food for the giraffe feeding. The Fort Jesus and Haller Park entries and lunch are extra.
Check availability →
Old Town food tour with 15+ tastings
More than 15 tastings at 7 to 8 stops with a local guide and water, in groups of up to 8.
Check availability →
Mombasa guided city tour
Air-conditioned hotel transfer, a guide, water or a soft drink, a tuk-tuk from the spice market to the Tusks and a spice tasting. The Fort Jesus museum entry is not included.
Check availability →Mombasa tours and day trips
City tours, boat trips and day trips from Mombasa and the coast, with live prices and availability.
Nyali and Bamburi beaches
Nyali and Bamburi are the beaches of Mombasa, with Bamburi lying north of the city. Beach conditions change with the tide. A kite school on Diani Beach describes changing water depth, surf at high tide, and corals, stones, shells and sea urchins at low tide, and advises reef shoes. The same caution is sensible on other stretches of this coast. Ask your hotel or a local boatman about tide times before you swim.
Haller Park lies on the Mombasa to Malindi road and combines well with a beach morning. Boat trips to the reef are a separate purchase, covered in the marine park section below.
Mombasa Marine Park and Reserve
Coral gardens for snorkeling and diving, with a separate park fee.
Kenya Wildlife Service describes the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve with coral gardens, snorkeling and diving. The park fee is not a boat price. Boat hire or a full excursion costs extra, and there is no single boat rate from Nyali or Bamburi, so ask for the full price before you book. KWS also lists separate parking fees at some marine parks, with an exception for visitors who hold a paid parking ticket.
| Visitor category | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident | USD 25 | USD 15 |
| Other African citizens | USD 15 | USD 10 |
| Kenya residents | KES 675 | KES 350 |
| East African citizens | KES 500 | KES 250 |
These are the published figures. Kenya Wildlife Service introduced a new fee list from 1 October 2025, and a court stop was reported soon afterward, so treat the amounts as planning figures and confirm them before you pay. A daily fee is valid for one entry and at most 24 hours. Please do not touch, feed or collect marine animals, corals or shells.
Staying safe in Mombasa
Official advice differs by country and by area. Read your own government's page before you travel.
Germany, 21 October 2026
The Federal Foreign Office (valid since 19 October 2026) advises seeing the Old Town only with a local guide, even in the daytime. It points to a higher risk of robbery on beaches and in city centers at night.
United States, 19 October 2026
The US raised Kenya to Level 3, Reconsider travel, because of added health risks. Do Not Travel applies to Kilifi County north of highway C103, coastal areas north of Malindi and Tana River County except Tsavo National Park. That is a different area from Mombasa.
Practical habits
Avoid night walks, keep phones and cameras out of sight, and skip empty beaches. Do not buy safaris or boat trips from touts on the street or beach, and choose an established operator instead. The safety page has more.
Safety →Lamu is further north and has its own guide on our sister site, visitlamu.org.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go with Mombasa.
Fort Jesus
Ticket categories, opening hours and how to combine the fort with the Old Town.
Haller Park
Giraffes, tortoises and the operator's fee list.
Getting to the coast
Moi Airport, the Likoni ferry and the Dongo Kundu bypass.
Madaraka Express
Fares and the 2026 timetable between Nairobi and Mombasa.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and rainfall for Mombasa.
Mombasa: frequently asked questions
Is Mombasa worth a visit?
Yes, if you like history and a working port city. Fort Jesus and the Old Town fill half a day, and Haller Park or the marine park add a second. If you want a beach-focused stay, see Diani Beach.
Is Mombasa safe for tourists?
Governments give different advice, and conditions change. Germany advises a local guide for the Old Town and warns about robbery at night on beaches and in city centers (21 October 2026). The US raised Kenya to Level 3 on 19 October 2026 for health reasons. Check your own country's current advice and see the safety page.
How much is Fort Jesus?
From 7 May 2026, adults from outside Africa pay USD 17 and children USD 8. A combined ticket with the Butterfly House is USD 19 for adults and USD 9 for children. Details are on the Fort Jesus page.
Do I need a visa or insurance for Kenya?
Kenya uses an online eTA, so check whether your nationality needs one. Since 5 October 2026, the UK government says most short-stay foreign visitors also need Kenyan state travel health insurance, and foreign policies do not replace it. An existing eTA does not exempt you. See Getting there.
How do I get from Mombasa to Diani?
You can use the Likoni ferry, which pedestrians use free of charge according to press reports, or the Dongo Kundu bypass. Check the current car fare and road conditions before you go.
Is this the official Mombasa tourism site?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the county, the National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service or any tour operator.