Visitors love to come to this vividly colorful spot, even if they only want to browse without buying anything. Set in a large building, this extensive market hall is full of appetizing aromas from the many spices on sale from all over Africa.

The Jain Temple is both a religious and a historic sight of Mombasa. This beautiful white edifice is decorated with numerous amazing figurines and sculptures. Members of the Jain community from all over the world come here to pray. Of course, any visitor who comes here can admire this magnificent building, no matter what their faith is.

Named after the family who first sponsored it, Seif Bin Salim was the first public library in Mombasa. Dating from 1903, it was preceded by a number of other libraries going back to the 18th Century. However, these institutes were only open to Europeans and Asians.

Constructed to mark a visit by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the “Tusks” are the most amazing landmark in Mombasa. These tusks of ivory are an impressive sight by themselves. Most amazingly, their shape creates a letter “M” that makes for a brilliant place marker at the edge of Mombasa.

If you are looking for some shade on a hot African day, there’s nowhere more picturesque in the center of the town than Makadara Garden. Here you can admire all the beautiful, exotic flora, including rare African plants that cannot be found almost anywhere else on Earth.

Treasury Square is the administrative heart of Mombasa, where you will find all the best colonial style architecture of the city. Look out for the historic town hall in this area. You can also visit the Treasury Square garden, which is full of amazing exotic plants and trees.

Fort Jesus is probably the most popular sight for visitors in all of Mombasa. Dating from 1593, this fort was erected on the orders of King Phillip II of Spain to guard the Old Port of Mombasa. It was given the name Jesus because, when seen from the air, the complex appears in the shape of a man. Designed by an Italian architect, its original design was a fine example of the 16th Century Portuguese military architecture. Its structure has been influenced and changed over time by both the Omani Arabs and the British. When the British colonized Kenya, they used it as a prison. Declared a historic monument in 1958, today it houses a museum.

The old harbor area forms the oldest part of the city of Mombasa. It was here that Arab settlers first built the narrow streets and beautiful Arab-style homes that still grace the district to this day. It was also the area where the Portuguese entered the town, to be met by locals with poison arrows. Still a functioning harbor, this busy spot offers great panoramic views of the city as well as very pretty sunsets.