About
The Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati to protect the port of Mombasa, is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this type of construction. The Fort's layout and form reflected the Renaissance ideal that perfect proportions and geometric harmony are to be found in the human body. The property covers an area of 2.36 hectares and includes the fort's moat and immediate surroundings.
Supporting source: Wikipedia
Plan your visit
Hours
- Mon
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- Tue
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- Wed
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- Thu
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- Fri
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- Sat
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- Sun
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Official NMK admission hours apply Monday-Sunday all year including public holidays and weekends.
Admission
- Adults
- 550 KES
- · Current official 2026 rates list Fort Jesus in the same tariff band as Karen Blixen Museum: adult KES 550 / USD 9 / USD 17 depending on visitor category; child KES 300 / USD 6 / USD 8. Combined Fort Jesus + Butterfly House ticket also available.
When to go
- Time of day: Morning
Features & amenities
What to expect
- Outdoor
What to bring
- Water
- comfortable shoes
Good to know
- Accessibility unknown
- No guide needed
Tags
Planning Mombasa
The rest of my Mombasa saves, on the city's planning pages.