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Major city · Kenya

Mombasa

Give Mombasa 2–3 nights: Old Town and Fort Jesus on the island, then sleep on the north coast at Nyali or Bamburi for the beach.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
KES
Best months
Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct
avoid Mid-Apr–late May (long rains), Oct–Nov (short rains)
Airport
MBA
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
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  • East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
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  • Kenya ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you fly in.
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Mombasa is Kenya's second city and main port, an island in a creek delta reached by bridges and a free pedestrian ferry. It is one of the oldest cities in sub-Saharan Africa, with a Swahili, Portuguese, Omani and British past visible in Fort Jesus and the Old Town. Most visitors use it as the coast base after a safari: a day or two of history on Mvita island, then beach nights on the north or south coast.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mombasa, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or teaKES 150–350
  • Beerbar or hotelKES 300–500
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTuk-tuk, short tripKES 50–100
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekKES 1,000–3,000
  • Museum or sight ticketFort Jesus entryCheck at the gate
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personKES 1,500
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomKES 9,000
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomKES 20,000

A day, not counting the bed: Budget KES 4,000 · Mid KES 10,000 · High KES 20,000

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Fort Jesus (UNESCO World Heritage)Old Town and the old portNyali, Bamburi and Shanzu beachesCoral reef diving and snorkellingSwahili coast food
Airports
MBA Moi International Airport (In Changamwe, about 6 km from the island; taxi to the centre roughly KES 1,500–3,000 (2026 estimate), tuk-tuk much less if you walk out to the road.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mombasa: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

33°C

23°C

4 rd

Feb

33°C

24°C

2 rd

Mar

33°C

25°C

7 rd

Apr

32°C

25°C

14 rd

May

30°C

23°C

16 rd

Jun

29°C

22°C

11 rd

Jul

29°C

21°C

10 rd

Aug

28°C

21°C

9 rd

Sep

29°C

22°C

8 rd

Oct

30°C

23°C

10 rd

Nov

31°C

24°C

12 rd

Dec

32°C

24°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The island is walkable in the Old Town but the city is spread out. Matatus (minibuses) are the local network and cost from about KES 20–50 a hop; tuk-tuks KES 50–100 for short trips; taxis and ride-hailing apps are the practical choice for visitors, with fares shown in the app. The Likoni ferry to the south coast is free for pedestrians and runs around the clock. Driving is on the left; traffic rules are loosely followed.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Diani Beach

overnight

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Likoni ferry to the south coast, then matatu or taxi south

White sand and reef; better as a 3–5 night stay than a return day trip.

Mtwapa

go

Door to door: About 45 min–1 h

Matatu or taxi north up the coast road

Creek-side bars and restaurants; easy half day from the north coast.

Kilifi

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Matatu or bus north on the B8, or shared taxi

Quiet creek town; a full day or a night if you want to slow down.

Malindi

overnight

Door to door: About 2–2.5 h

Bus or matatu north from Mwembe Tayari

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one or two nights.

Lamu

overnight

Door to door: Half a day or more

Bus to Malindi or Mombasa, then onward road and boat, or fly

Plan 3 nights; the trip is the destination, not a day out.

Msambweni

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Likoni ferry, then south coast road

Quiet south coast beach; stay at least one night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Mvita island (Old Town and centre)

Fort Jesus, the old port and the market on foot; good for one history-focused night, fewer beach hotels.

Nyali

North coast, closest beach to the island across Nyali Bridge; hotels, restaurants and easy tuk-tuk access.

Bamburi and Shanzu

Further north coast resort strip with the widest choice of beach hotels and packages.

Likoni and Shelly Beach

South coast, reached by the free Likoni ferry; mostly apartments, quieter and cheaper.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
KES 4,000–7,000 excl. bed
Mid
KES 8,000–15,000 excl. bed
High
KES 18,000+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 3 nights × KES 9,000KES 27,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × KES 10,000KES 60,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × KES 2,000 · checkKES 4,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeKES 9,100
Trip total≈ KES 16,680 per person per day, bed includedKES 100,100

2026 estimate in Kenyan shillings; flights and safaris excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or teaKES 150–350
Local meal (ugali, pilau, nyama choma)KES 400–900
Beer, bar or hotelKES 300–500
Matatu rideKES 20–50
Tuk-tuk, short tripKES 50–100
Taxi, airport to centreKES 1,500–3,000
Fort Jesus entryCheck at the gate
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekKES 1,000–3,000

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Mombasa is a normal big city with a tourist coast: use taxis after dark, keep valuables out of sight in the market, and treat the sea with respect. The main practical risks are petty theft, traffic and currents.
  • Do not walk the Old Town or the beach after dark; take a taxi or tuk-tuk even for short hops.
  • Keep bags zipped in the market and on Haile Selassie Road; petty theft is the main risk.
  • Only swim where hotel or dive staff say it is safe: currents and urchins are real hazards.
  • Ask the fare before you get in an unmetered taxi; agree the price first.
  • Carry small notes for matatus and tuk-tuks; change is often short.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999 or 112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MombasaMombasa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Nipeleke kwa anwani hii, tafadhaliTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999 or 112

Embassy

Most embassies and high commissions are in Nairobi; several countries keep honorary consulates in Mombasa — check before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport → Mombasa island, taxi: KES 1,500–3,000, about 20–30 min
  • Tuk-tuk, short hop: KES 50–100
  • Likoni ferry, pedestrian: free, runs around the clock
  • Nairobi → Mombasa, train: economy about KES 1,000, first class about KES 3,000, about 5 h

Say or show

  • Jambo — Hello (JAM-bo)
  • Asante — Thank you (a-SAN-te)
  • Bei gani? — How much is it? (BAY GA-nee)
  • Choo kiko wapi? — Where is the toilet? (CHO KEE-ko WA-pee)
  • Sitaki, asante — I don't want it, thank you (see-TA-kee a-SAN-te)
  • Nisaidie — Help (nee-sa-EE-dee-eh)

Fares and entry prices move; confirm at the gate or in the app.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mombasa. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Mar, Jul–Oct · avoid Mid-Apr–late May (long rains), Oct–Nov (short rains) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MBA: taxi and tuk-tuk fare bands checked, ride-hailing pickup point, late-arrival fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Fort Jesus and Old Town, the market and Haile Selassie Road, Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Fort Jesus, Old Town, the beaches) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry and bridge fixtures so the island-to-coast legs can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Kenya

Sources