UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE | FORT JESUS, MOMBASA

Although I planned my trip to Kenya months in advance, Fort Jesus was a place I squeezed into my itinerary. I looked for things to do in Kenya when I was certain I was going, but I wasn’t too fussed if I made it to Fort Jesus or not because it wasn’t on my bucket list. It wasn’t one of the excursions I just had to do. It was just something I planned to fill up our day, and a good place to explore.

So when we headed down to Mombasa city centre, we were a few minutes away. The long queues encouraged us even more and once we got to the gates, we started to feel excitement. I had another location ticked off my ‘Things to do in Mombasa list’!

Although there are many tourist attractions in Kenya, this one was different. It felt different. It didn’t feel like your average museum visit. Upon entry, we paid Non- resident fees for adults and children. Non- resident prices cost us 1200 KES which worked out to about £8 (roughly) for adults and then about 600 KES for children (roughly about £4.) It was cheaper for residents of course, but nevertheless, it was worth the money. You will need to show your passport or I.D at the gates so don’t forget to bring them with you. (Prices are correct as of January 2026.)

Fun Things To Do in Kenya

Fort Jesus has so much rich history. There are guides if you need them and the information across the fort is both insightful and educational. On site there is a huge art shop where you could purchase some amazing art from local artists- which are utterly magnificent!

There are also souvenirs available to purchase and some cool chambers, ramparts, and places to take photos. Fort Jesus is very stunning and definitely worth both the price and the visit. I would most definitely recommend spending a few hours there.

Originally built in the 16th century by the Portuguese as a military innovation, Fort Jesus is considered a gem of Mombasa. It was also the house of where the sultan – governor of the East African coast lived. Recently, there has been an addition – the butterfly exhibit where you could take the children to learn about butterflies and their connections to the ecosystem.

Today, Fort Jesus is known as a world UNESCO heritage site, so book your visit and find out why! You most definitely won’t be disappointed. Of course you can pair this visit with a tour of the city, Old Town, Mama Ngina and the Elephant Tusks!

a family at the elephant tusks in mombasa

You can even make a day trip out of it by carrying a packed lunch and finding a sweet spot to eat at… but if you do travel to Kenya, visit Fort Jesus and thank me later!

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