If you are new to Nairobi, you may be wondering how to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, also known as the city in the sun. It’s famous for being the only city in the world that boasts a national park.
The park which is home to a variety of games is just a 10-minute drive from the city center. Nairobi is the entry point to the country’s world-famous safaris and magnificent coastal resorts.
Equally as stunning, Mombasa city is known as a city of great diversity and life. The city boasts of beachfront hotels that appeal to travelers in search of sun, sand, and surf while its Arab, Indian, and colonial European heritage makes for a wide variety of sights to see.
If you’re planning to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa, then you’re in luck as this guide will show you how to get between the two destinations. Below, I describe how to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa whether you are looking for a Nairobi to Mombasa flight, want to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa by bus, take a Nairobi to Mombasa SGR train or want to drive your car.
I also describe the reverse journey from Mombasa to Nairobi.
BEST OPTION: How To Travel From Nairobi To Mombasa
There are various ways you can travel to and from these destinations. Traveling by plane is the fastest option, while the bus is the cheapest option.
A good balance between the two, taking into consideration both travel time and the cost is to take the SGR.
Option 1: Nairobi To Mombasa Flight
Flying is the fastest way to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa. You can take a direct flight from Nairobi to Mombasa via Kenya Airways, Fly540, and Jambojet. Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, and prices vary depending on the airline and season.
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 16km away from the city center. To take the bus going to the airport, ride buses no 34, either Citi Hoppa, Double M, or Kenya Bus Service at the Ambassador hotel terminal. The cost is between Kshs. 50 – 100.
Alternatively, you can hop on an uber that will take you to the airport but will cost more.
Option 2: Nairobi To Mombasa Bus
Another convenient option to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa is to take the Nairobi Mombasa bus.
Several buses take this route. We have Modern Coast, Coast Bus, Mash Poa Buses, Simba Coaches, Tahmeed Coach, Transline Classic, Dreamline Express, and Crown Bus.
If you plan to take the bus from Nairobi to Mombasa, note that you are required to book for the tickets from the respective bus company booking offices. The journey is long with a stopover at Mtito Andei Terminal.
Option 3: SGR Nairobi to Mombasa
Another option to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa is via SGR. The arrival of SGR also known as Madaraka express has reduced the travel time to 4 hours 30 minutes of enjoyable and scenic journey from Nairobi to Mombasa.
The train is very reasonably priced. A local flight to Mombasa will cost you 4500 at the cheapest and even a bus is 1000 KES.
In the second class, the train is the same cost as the bus but the comfort vastly superior. With toilets and trolley service, leg space, and no fear of death by Mombasa road trucks.
The second class is 1000 KSH from Nairobi to Mombasa / Mombasa to Nairobi and 3000 in first. Full details of pricing can be found here. https://metickets.krc.co.ke/
Children below 3 years are free, and those between 3 and 11 are half price.
Booking is super simple. Head to https://metickets.krc.co.ke/ and pick the date, time, and class of travel. Pay conveniently by credit card or Mpesa. It takes seconds.
Passengers can book tickets 30 days in advance and a return ticket as long as it is within 30 days.
One can book up to a maximum of five persons per transaction.
Option 4: Nairobi To Mombasa By Car
The last alternative is to travel Nairobi to Mombasa via car. The total distance is 484 km and will take approximately 7 hrs.
Keep in mind that this route has lots of trucks which at times causes lots of traffic jams.
Mombasa to Nairobi
In terms of how to travel from Mombasa to Nairobi, all you need to do is to take the above transportation options in reverse.
You can either fly via plane, travel by bus, or by car to get to your destination.
Final Words
So, there you have it. We’ve covered the various ways you can travel from Nairobi to Mombasa (and vice versa). As we’ve discussed traveling to these destinations is pretty easy and convenient.
The fastest option is to take the plane. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, you can travel by bus. Meanwhile, traveling via SGR helps balance out the speed and the costs.
I hope you found this guide on how to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa useful. You can find our Nairobi City Itinerary here and our complete Nairobi travel guide here.
