Mombasa · Travel · Moi Airport (MBA)
Moi International Airport guide
landing at MBA, and getting to the beach
Moi International Airport (MBA) is your gateway to the Mombasa coast. Here’s the practical guide — where it is, the facilities, and exactly how to get from the terminal to the city, Nyali and the north-coast beaches.
Moi International Airport (MBA) is Mombasa’s main airport, on the mainland at Port Reitz, about 15–20 minutes from the city and 30–45 minutes from the north-coast beaches over the Nyali Bridge. It handles frequent domestic flights (mainly to/from Nairobi) plus some international and seasonal charter flights. It’s a compact, easy airport with cafés, shops, currency exchange, ATMs, car-hire desks and taxi/ride-hailing pickup. To get to your hotel, take an official taxi, a Bolt or Uber (often cheaper, fixed price), or a pre-arranged hotel transfer. Many international visitors connect via Nairobi’s JKIA and take a short domestic hop to MBA.
What to expect
A compact gateway to the coast
Why arriving at MBA is refreshingly simple.
Moi International Airport sits on the mainland at Port Reitz, just west of Mombasa Island, and it’s Kenya’s second-busiest airport after Nairobi. Compared with a big international hub it’s small and straightforward: a single passenger complex with domestic and international sections, quick to walk through and rarely overwhelming. Most arrivals are short domestic flights from Nairobi, but the airport also takes some regional flights and, in the European winter, seasonal holiday charters straight to the coast.
Facilities cover the essentials — check-in and arrivals halls, a few cafés and shops, currency exchange and ATMs, car-hire desks and a taxi and ride-hailing pickup area — without the sprawl of a mega-airport. The practical thing to plan is the transfer: the airport is close to the city but a fair way from the beaches, so knowing your onward ride before you land makes arrival smooth. Whether you’re staying in Nyali, Bamburi or across the ferry at Diani shapes how long you’ll travel and what it costs.
Compare the options
Getting from Moi Airport, side by side
Transfer options compared (indicative 2026).
| Option | To city time | To beaches time | Cost feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber | ~15–20 min | ~30–45 min | Cheapest, fixed | Value, no haggling |
| Airport taxi | ~15–20 min | ~30–45 min | Agree fare first | No app / late arrivals |
| Hotel transfer | ~15–20 min | ~30–45 min | Set, often incl. | Ease, groups, families |
| Car hire | Drive yourself | Drive yourself | Daily rate | Exploring, south coast |
Indicative 2026; ride-hailing usually beats street-taxi prices and avoids haggling, but agree the fare first with any taxi. Times are to the north-coast beaches over the Nyali Bridge; the south coast (Diani) adds the Likoni ferry and more time.
The options in detail
Arriving at MBA, profiled
An expert read on transfers and facilities, with links.
Taxi & ride-hailing (Bolt/Uber)
Airport → hotel · fastestThe usual way into town and to the beaches.
- How: licensed taxis wait outside arrivals; Bolt and Uber operate at the airport and are often cheaper with a fixed app price.
- Cost: indicative KES 1,000–1,500 to the city by taxi; ride-hailing frequently less. Agree any street-taxi fare first.
- Best for: most arrivals. Note: have some cash or a working app and local data on landing. Taxis & apps →
Hotel transfers
Pre-arranged · easiestThe stress-free option, especially with family.
- How: most resorts and many hotels arrange airport pickups — book when you reserve your room.
- Cost: a set price, sometimes included in the rate; a driver meets you with a name board.
- Best for: families, groups, late arrivals and beach resorts far from the airport. Note: confirm the pickup and flight details in advance.
Car hire from the airport
Self-drive · flexibleFor exploring and the south coast.
- How: car-hire desks operate at the airport; book ahead for the best rate and availability.
- Cost: a daily rate plus fuel; consider a driver-guide instead if you’d rather not drive.
- Best for: independent travellers and those heading to Diani or beyond. Note: Kenyan driving and the ferry take some getting used to. Car hire →
Facilities & connections
Compact airport · easy transitWhat’s inside, and connecting via Nairobi.
- Inside: cafés, shops, currency exchange, ATMs, car-hire desks and basic lounges — quick to transit.
- Connecting: many international visitors fly into Nairobi’s JKIA and take a short domestic hop to MBA. Flights →
- Best for: knowing what to expect on arrival. Note: it’s small — leave a sensible connection buffer via Nairobi.
Details reflect the airport’s usual setup; facilities, desks and fares change — confirm transfers and prices on arrival, and agree any street-taxi fare before setting off.
Match it to your trip
The best way from the airport for…
Quick picks by your stay.
Know before you book
Arriving at Moi Airport
What to sort before and after you land.
Know your onward ride before you land — a hotel transfer, an app, or cash for a taxi. It’s the difference between a smooth arrival and a scramble.
Bolt and Uber usually beat street-taxi prices and remove haggling; have the app and local data ready.
If you take a street taxi, agree the price before setting off — there are no meters.
The airport is close to town but 30–45 minutes to the north-coast beaches, and the south coast adds the Likoni ferry — plan accordingly.
Grab some Kenyan shillings at an ATM and, if you want data for apps, a local SIM on arrival.
It’s a compact airport; if you’re connecting from an international flight at JKIA, leave a sensible buffer. Flights →
On the map
Where Moi Airport is
On the mainland at Port Reitz, west of Mombasa Island — close to the city, further to the beaches.
Quick answers
Moi International Airport: common questions
Where is Moi International Airport?
How do I get to the city or beaches?
Does it handle international flights?
What facilities are there?
How much is a taxi to the city?
How far to Diani?
Our recommendation
How will you get from the terminal to your bed?
Sort this before you fly and arrival is effortless. If you’re at a beach resort or travelling with family, a pre-booked hotel transfer — a driver with your name on a board — is worth every shilling. If you’re independent and value-minded, Bolt or Uber gives a fair fixed price with no haggling. Heading to Diani? Remember the Likoni ferry adds time.
Decide your transfer, have cash and an app ready, and you’ll be on the sand in no time. Shall we point you to the right onward option?
Land smoothly on the coast
Sort your airport transfer and next steps — from ride-hailing to hotel pickups and car hire.
See getting around Mombasa →Keep planning your Mombasa trip
Our commitment · Conservation & restoration
A greener arrival on the coast
Mombasa Kenya (mombasakenya.org) is committed to the restoration and conservation of the Mombasa coast that begins the moment you land. Airport transfers, taken alone in car after car, add avoidable congestion and emissions to a fragile coastal environment.
Arrive lightly: share a transfer or shuttle rather than travelling solo, choose fuel-efficient rides, carry a refillable bottle through the terminal, and refuse single-use plastic. A cleaner arrival is the first small gift you give the coast. Share a ride into town →