About
Mombasa is a city on the coast of Kenya, in Mombasa County, East Africa. Its Old Town is the part most visitors come to see: a historic Swahili settlement of narrow streets and buildings that the record dates back over 900 years.
What you will see
The Old Town is a place to walk slowly. Its lanes are narrow, and the streets reward attention to doorways and façades. Among its features are traditional Swahili houses with carved wooden doors and balconies, and Islamic architecture that reflects the long history of the settlement.
What kind of visit it makes
- A walk through the old streets, best taken at a relaxed pace.
- Looking closely at the carved wooden doors and balconies of the houses.
- Seeing the Islamic architecture that runs through the settlement's history.
Because the Old Town is compact, it suits a half-day or a longer stroll rather than a rushed stop. Wear comfortable shoes, and plan your route with the narrow lanes in mind.
Mombasa is known by several names, including Mombasa City, Old Town Mombasa and Mombasa Old Town, so you may see any of these in guides and on signs. If you are deciding whether to go, the Old Town offers a clear sense of the coastal Swahili world, set within a city that is itself the gateway to this stretch of East Africa.
