Fish Market, Mombasa
The Fish Market is one of the city’s liveliest spots, offering visitors a chance to experience the coastal culture at its most authentic. Located near the Old Port and close to the historic Old Town, the market is where the daily rhythm of fishermen meeting buyers plays out, continuing a tradition that has been central to Mombasa for centuries. The bustling atmosphere reflects the city’s deep connection to the Indian Ocean, where fishing has long sustained both local households and the wider economy.
At dawn, fishermen bring in their fresh catch, ranging from tuna and snapper to octopus, squid, and prawns. The market quickly fills with traders, restaurant buyers, and locals bargaining over the day’s offerings. Visitors can watch the lively negotiations, observe age-old selling practices, and even interact with the vendors, who often share insights about the best ways to prepare their fish. For those interested in photography, the combination of colorful seafood displays, busy crowds, and ocean backdrops creates a vivid scene.
Beyond the commerce, the Fish Market is also a cultural experience. It provides a window into Swahili food traditions, where seafood plays a central role in dishes flavored with coconut, lime, and aromatic spices. Many visitors enjoy selecting their fish at the market and then heading to nearby eateries where it can be freshly prepared and served. This connection between sea, market, and table is a hallmark of life in Mombasa.
At dawn, fishermen bring in their fresh catch, ranging from tuna and snapper to octopus, squid, and prawns. The market quickly fills with traders, restaurant buyers, and locals bargaining over the day’s offerings. Visitors can watch the lively negotiations, observe age-old selling practices, and even interact with the vendors, who often share insights about the best ways to prepare their fish. For those interested in photography, the combination of colorful seafood displays, busy crowds, and ocean backdrops creates a vivid scene.
Beyond the commerce, the Fish Market is also a cultural experience. It provides a window into Swahili food traditions, where seafood plays a central role in dishes flavored with coconut, lime, and aromatic spices. Many visitors enjoy selecting their fish at the market and then heading to nearby eateries where it can be freshly prepared and served. This connection between sea, market, and table is a hallmark of life in Mombasa.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Mombasa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Fish Market on Map
Sight Name: Fish Market
Sight Location: Mombasa, Kenya (See walking tours in Mombasa)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Mombasa, Kenya (See walking tours in Mombasa)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Mombasa, Kenya
Create Your Own Walk in Mombasa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Mombasa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mombasa Shopping Tour
Mombasa is the best place in Kenya for souvenirs, because most of the country’s unique handicrafts are made right here in the city. You can get many amazing African art pieces, handmade jewelry and home decorations like captivating wooden statues. Take our tour to find the best shopping spots in the city, from the beach to the Old Town district.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Mombasa's Top Religious Sites
Mombasa has a strong Arab influence, a fact which is reflected in the great number of old mosques in this Kenyan city. But here you’ll also find many Hindu temples and Christian churches that have been established over time. Take our self-guided tour to explore the religious life of the city.
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Mombasa Introduction Walking Tour
Kenya's second-largest city Mombasa is a bustling metropolis and a major regional cultural and economic hub. Owing to its strategic location on the country's east coast, facing the Indian ocean, Mombasa enjoys steady influx of visitors as both, a seaport and tourist destination. The most notable local landmarks include the famous "Tusks", Swaminarayan Temple, Jain Temple, Fort... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles



