Things to Do in Mombasa

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Been to Mombasa five times and still only seen the hotel pool and the SGR station?

The top things to do in Mombasa are Fort Jesus and the Old Town, Haller Park in Bamburi, the Mombasa Marine Park by glass bottom boat and a sunset dhow cruise. Fort Jesus costs KES 550 for citizen adults from May 2026. Day trips reach Shimba Hills, Tsavo East, Wasini and Watamu.

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There are far more things to do in Mombasa than lie on a sun bed. The city is over 700 years old. It has a Portuguese fort, a Swahili old town, a marine park, a nature park built on an old quarry and a creek made for sunset sailing.

This guide lists 15 ideas with current entry fees where they exist. We took museum fees from the National Museums of Kenya list that started on 7 May 2026 and park fees from the Kenya Wildlife Service 2025 list. Where a fee is not published officially, we say so.

Every activity here can be booked on its own or added to a beach stay. Our Mombasa tours price guide shows what we charge with transport and guides included.

Highlights

• 15 ideas from history to marine life
• 2026 entry fees for citizens, residents and visitors
• Free and cheap ideas for budget trips
• Things to do with kids
• How far places are from Nyali and Bamburi

Mombasa attraction entry fees, adults

• Museum fees: National Museums of Kenya from 7 May 2026. The resident column there covers residents and visitors from the rest of Africa.
• Park fees: Kenya Wildlife Service 2025 conservation fees. Children pay about half.
• Haller Park fees are from a 2025 visitor report, not an official list. They are confirmed when you book. Boat trips and guides cost extra.

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What are the top things to do in Mombasa?

If you only have time for a few, start with these. They mix history, nature and the ocean. Most are within 30 minutes of Nyali.

• Fort Jesus Museum
• Old Town walk with Swahili food
• Haller Park in Bamburi
• Glass bottom boat in the Mombasa Marine Park
• Sunset dhow cruise on Tudor Creek
• Mama Ngina Waterfront at sunset
• Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre
• Jumba Ruins in Mtwapa
• Nguuni Nature Sanctuary
• Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach
• Swahili cooking class
• Deep sea fishing
• Shimba Hills day trip
• Tsavo East day safari
• Watamu and Malindi day trip

Is Fort Jesus worth visiting?

Yes. Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in the 1590s to guard the old harbour. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside you see thick coral stone walls, old cannons and a museum of finds from the coast.

From 7 May 2026, citizens pay KES 550 per adult and KES 300 per child. A new combined ticket with the Butterfly House costs KES 650. Go early, before the heat, then walk into the Old Town next door. Our Fort Jesus and Old Town tour adds a guide and transport.

What is the Haller Park entry fee and when are the feedings?

A 2025 visitor report lists about KES 800 per adult and KES 400 per child for East African residents. Non East African visitors pay about KES 2,200 per adult. Haller Park does not publish an official online fee list, so we confirm the price for your date.

The park sits on an old Bamburi Cement quarry that was turned into forest. Giraffe feeding happens at about 11am and 3pm. Hippos are fed at about 4pm and crocodiles at about 4:30pm. The park usually opens 8am to 4:30pm. See our Haller Park tour.

How far is Bamburi from Nyali?

Bamburi is about 6 km north of Nyali along Malindi Road. A car takes around 18 minutes without heavy traffic. A Bolt ride costs about KES 400 for a standard car.

This matters when you plan your days. If you stay in Nyali, Haller Park and Bamburi beach are a short ride away. If you stay in Bamburi, Nyali's malls and restaurants are equally close.

Can you see the reef without diving?

Yes. A glass bottom boat takes you over the coral in the Mombasa Marine National Park. You see reef fish and starfish through the floor of the boat. Many trips stop so you can snorkel too.

The KWS fee is KES 500 for citizen adults, KES 675 for residents and USD 25 for non residents. The boat is a separate cost. Go near low tide for the clearest water. Our glass bottom boat trip includes the fee and the boat.

What are the best free things to do in Mombasa?

Plenty of fun here costs nothing. Walk the Old Town lanes and look at carved Swahili doors. Watch the sunset at Mama Ngina Waterfront, where families gather with madafu and cassava crisps.

Swim at Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Bamburi. Ride the Likoni ferry across the channel and back just to watch the city from the water. Buy street food like mahamri, bajia and viazi karai for a few hundred shillings.

What are the best things to do in Mombasa with kids?

Kids love Haller Park for the giraffes, tortoises and hippos. The glass bottom boat is a hit with children who cannot swim yet. Bombolulu shows crafts made by artisans with disabilities and has space to walk around.

Rock pools at low tide in front of most beach hotels keep small children busy for hours. Nguuni Nature Sanctuary near Bamburi has giraffes and ostriches in an open setting. Keep days short and plan the boat for the morning.

Which day trips from Mombasa are worth it?

Four day trips stand out. Shimba Hills for forest, elephants and sable antelope. Tsavo East for a real safari with red elephants. Wasini and Kisite for dolphins and snorkelling. Watamu and Malindi for marine life and the Gede Ruins.

Tsavo East is the most expensive because of the KES 1,000 citizen fee and the long drive. See our Tsavo East day safari and our Mombasa to Malindi and Watamu day trip for full plans.

What can you do in Mombasa at night?

Start with a sunset dhow cruise and dinner on Tudor Creek. Then try the restaurants in Nyali, where you find Swahili, Indian, Italian and seafood places close together.

Mtwapa, north of Bamburi, is known for late night bars and live music. Use Bolt or Uber after dark and agree a pick up time before you go out.

For something calmer, book a table by the water in Nyali or join a night fishing trip from the old harbour. Many beach hotels also run live bands, Swahili dance shows or beach barbecues on set nights each week. Ask at reception when you arrive.

How do you get around Mombasa?

Ride hailing apps are the easiest option. Bolt and Uber both work in Mombasa, Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu. Agree the pick up point clearly, because Malindi Road is long and busy.

Tuk tuks are cheap and fun for short trips in daylight. Agree the price before you get in. Matatus are the cheapest way along Malindi Road but get very full at rush hour.

To reach the South Coast, cars use the Likoni ferry or the Dongo Kundu bypass. Foot passengers ride the ferry, which makes it a fun short trip in itself. For day trips with several stops, a private car with a driver saves time and stress. We arrange this for most of our clients.

How many days do you need in Mombasa?

Three to four days is ideal. Give one day to Fort Jesus and the Old Town. Give one day to the beach and a boat trip. Use one day for a trip out of town like Shimba Hills or Watamu.

With only two days, pick the Old Town and one ocean activity. With a week, add Diani or Watamu for a few nights so you see two different beaches.

If you are coming by SGR, remember that the first and last days are mostly travel. Count only the full days in between when you plan activities.

Questions people ask

Sources we checked: National Museums of Kenya revised admission fees 2026; Kenya Wildlife Service conservation fees 2025; UNESCO World Heritage: Fort Jesus, Mombasa; Beyond Forest: Haller Park fees and feeding times, 2025; Bolt: Nyali to Bamburi route distance, time and fare; Haller Park history. Rules and fees change, so we confirm them again when you book.

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