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    Mombasa
    Chris huh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kenya

    Mombasa

    City

    Mombasa is Kenya's second-largest city and the historic center of the Swahili Coast, an island city connected to Nairobi by the Madaraka Express in four and a half to six hours, depending on the train.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Coast
    9. Mombasa
    Mombasa is Kenya's second-largest city and the historic center of the Swahili Coast, an island city connected to Nairobi by the Madaraka Express in four and a half to six hours, depending on the train. The Portuguese built Fort Jesus here starting in 1593, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the narrow streets of the Old Town adjoining its walls.North of the island lies Haller Park, located in a rewilded quarry, as well as the beaches of Nyali and Bamburi with hotels, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

    Sights in Mombasa

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Haller Park
    Park

    1Haller Park

    A former limestone quarry of the Bamburi Cement Factory, which Swiss agronomist René Haller began transforming into a nature area in the 1970s. You'll see animals such as giraffes, hippos, and giant tortoises. Inquire about feeding times on site.
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    Nyali Beach
    Attraction

    2Nyali Beach

    The beach north of Mombasa Island is lined with hotels, restaurants, and beach bars, and together with neighboring Bamburi, forms the center of nightlife.
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    Fort Jesus
    Museum

    3Fort Jesus

    The Portuguese fortress, built 1593-1596 to Giovanni Battista Cairati's designs, was captured by Omani troops in 1698 after a long siege. Today it is a museum of the National Museums of Kenya and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011.
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    Restaurants in Mombasa

    1

    Tamarind Restaurant

    Seafood restaurant with views over the inlet, known for fish soup, mangrove oysters, and seafood platters. They also offer dhow trips.
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    2

    Jahazi Coffee House

    Cozy cafe in the Old Town, themed around Mombasa's history. Serving homemade Swahili snacks, Biryani, fish curry with coconut (Samaki wa Nazi), and ginger-spiced Swahili coffee, open daily.
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    3

    Barka

    Spot in the Old Town (Mji wa Kale) with Swahili cuisine. Highlights: Biryani, fish in coconut sauce (Samaki wa Nazi), and Shawarma.
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    4

    Island Dishes

    Long-known spot in the Old Town offering Swahili cuisine, great for watching the district's activity. Guidebooks also recommend the tamarind juice.
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    Food and Drinks

    The Swahili cuisine of Mombasa thrives on coconut, tamarind, and spices like cloves and cardamom, which trade across the Indian Ocean brought to the coast.

    Biryani

    Spiced rice with turmeric and golden-brown fried onions, with a sauce of yogurt, tomatoes, and spices. In the Old Town, it’s on almost every menu.

    Pilau

    Reisgericht mit Nelken und Kardamom, milder als die indische Variante und manchmal mit Kokosmilch gekocht. Dazu gibt es oft Kachumbari, einen Tomaten-Zwiebel-Salat.

    Swahili Spiced Fish

    Gegrillter Fisch, der mit einer dicken Soße aus Kokosnuss und Tamarinde bestrichen wird. Der Name bedeutet sinngemäß bestrichener Fisch.

    Mahamri

    Fried yeast pastry, a classic Swahili breakfast. Traditionally, it's served with pigeon peas, slowly cooked in coconut milk.

    Mishikaki

    Gegrillte Fleischspieße, die abends an Garküchen und in kleinen Lokalen der Altstadt verkauft werden.

    Culture and History

    Fort JesusMilanese architect Giovanni Battista Cairati designed the fortress, built between 1593 and 1596. From 1696 to 1698, Omani troops besieged and eventually captured the fort. Under British rule, it served as a prison from 1895, becoming a national museum in 1958, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. It is managed by the National Museums of Kenya.Old TownThe Old Town (Mji wa Kale) stretches north of the Fort, featuring mosques, carved wooden doors, and small cafés. In cafés like the Jahazi Coffee House, you'll find Swahili snacks and ginger-spiced coffee.Swahili InfluenceCenturies of trade across the Indian Ocean have shaped Mombasa. African, Arab, and Indian influences blend in its cuisine, language, and architecture, with coconut, tamarind, cloves, and cardamom defining many dishes.

    Nightlife

    1

    Mint Lounge

    Club in the Petrocity shopping center in Bamburi, local press calls it one of Bamburi's most popular nightlife spots.
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    2

    Moonshine Beach Bar

    Beach bar in Nyali, recommended by travel guides as a meeting point after sunset, with music, dancing, and parties with live bands and DJs.
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    Travel and On the Go

    Getting ThereMoi International Airport is located on the mainland, west of the island.The Madaraka Express (SGR) connects Nairobi and Mombasa several times daily. The express train takes approximately four and a half to five hours, while the Inter-County train with stops takes just under six. Tickets are available from Kenya Railways (metickets.krc.co.ke), bookable up to 60 days in advance.Within the CityTaxis, tuk-tuks, and ride-hailing apps are the most practical modes of transport. Nyali and Bamburi are located north of the island, a short taxi ride from each other.To the south, towards Diani, you can go via the Likoni Ferry, which can take considerable time during peak hours, or via the southern section of the Dongo-Kundu-Bypass, opened to traffic in 2024.SafetyFor current and authoritative travel and safety advice, see the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice, linked on the country page.

    Accommodations in Mombasa

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    Nearby

    Diani Beach

    Diani Beach

    Diani Beach is the most famous resort town on Kenya's South Coast, south of Mombasa, about an hour's drive from the city center depending on the route and traffic. A long white sandy beach, restaurants, and hotels are situated right next to coastal forest, where the organization Colobus Conservation protects endangered colobus monkeys.At the southern end of Diani, you can visit the sacred Kaya Kinondo forest of the Digo on guided walks.
    Shimba Hills National Reserve

    Shimba Hills National Reserve

    The Shimba Hills National Reserve is a forested highland near Kwale, approximately 33 kilometers from Mombasa and 15 kilometers from the coast. It is known for Kenya's only population of Sable Antelope, for elephants, and for the Sheldrick Falls, to which a path leads through the coastal rainforest.To the north, it is adjoined by the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, a corridor through which elephants roam between the areas.
    Kilifi

    Kilifi

    Kilifi is situated on a wide creek, approximately halfway between Mombasa and Malindi. The Kilifi Creek, with its mangroves, sailboats, and birdlife, defines the area, and on the southern bank, atop a hill, stand the Mnarani ruins of a Swahili city.Kilifi also features Bofa Beach, a long sandy beach with several beach restaurants and a kitesurfing centre.
    Coast

    Coast

    Kenya's coast on the Indian Ocean stretches from the Tanzanian border to the Lamu Archipelago, combining white beaches, coral reefs, and a Swahili culture shaped over centuries. Here are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Lamu Old Town, the Gede Ruins, and the sacred Kaya Forests of the Mijikenda.Many travelers combine an inland safari with a few days by the sea, for example in Diani, Watamu, or Malindi.
    Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti

    Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti

    Wasini Island and the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park are located in the very south of the Kenyan coast, approximately 75 kilometers south of Mombasa, near the Tanzanian border. Boat trips from Shimoni lead to dolphins and coral reefs, and on the car-free island, seafood lunches are served.On the mainland in Shimoni, the Shimoni Slave Caves are a reminder of the slave trade on the coast.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI