Fort Jesus
A coastal defence fortress built by the Portuguese in 1593. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mombasa's most iconic historic landmark.
Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese between 1593 and 1596 to control the port of Mombasa and the Indian Ocean trade routes. It later changed hands several times between the Omanis and the English, and it was once used as a prison. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The fort is shaped like a human figure. You can climb the ramparts for views over the old harbour and the channel. Inside, the museum displays shipwreck finds, porcelain, and Swahili cultural exhibits, and the Omani house preserves wall paintings. It is open roughly from 08:00 to 18:00. Admission for foreign visitors is just over 1,000 Kenyan shillings. It sits at the southern end of the Old Town and is usually visited together with a walking tour of the Old Town. There are sometimes light shows in the evening.
Opening hours
Daily 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Mombasa Old Town
- Shree Jain Temple Mombasa
- Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa
- Mackinnon Market (Marikiti)
- Tamarind Dhow Sunset Cruise
- Mombasa Tusks
- Mamba Village
- Wild Waters