By Air

There are regular flights from major cities in Kenya to Mombasa, although due to the recent wave of political violence, many services have been affected – please check the current situation. The city airport is about 13 km from the city, and a public bus/matatu (private minibus) will take you there. One can of course, also take the more expensive option – a taxi.

Fort Jesus

Fort Jesus, a Unesco World Heritage treasure, is Mombasa’s most visited site. The metre-thick walls, frescoed interiors, traces of European graffiti, Arabic inscriptions and Swahili embellishment aren’t just evocative, they’re a record of the history of Mombasa and the coast writ in stone. The fort was built by the Portuguese in 1593 to serve as both symbol and headquarters of their permanent presence in this corner of the Indian Ocean.

Spice Market

This market, which stretches along Nehru and Langoni Rds west of Old Town, is an evocative, sensory overload – expect lots of jostling, yelling, wheeling, dealing and, of course, the exotic scent of stall upon stall of cardamom, pepper, turmeric, curry powders and everything else that makes eating enjoyable.

Holy Ghost Cathedral

The Christian Holy Ghost Cathedral is a very European hunk of neo-Gothic buttressed architecture, with massive fans in the walls to cool its former colonial congregations.

Mombasa Memorial Cathedral

This cathedral tries almost too hard to fit in, resembling a mosque with its white walls, arches and cupola.

Swaminarayan Temple

The Swaminarayan Temple is stuffed with highlighter-bright murals that’ll make you feel as if you’ve been transported to Mumbai.

Nakumatt Nyali Shopping Center

Shopping Mall
Address: Mombasa, Kenya

Tamarind Mombasa

Shopping Mall
Address: Cement Silo Road, Nyali, Mombasa, Kenya