Day trips

The 12 Best Day Trips from Malindi

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 12 good day trips from Malindi, Kenya, led by Mombasa, Matuga, Mtwapa. The closest is Watamu, about 25 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Malindi at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Mombasa106 km SW1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Matuga122 km SW1 hr 55 minFull-day trip
Mtwapa90 km SW1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Ukunda134 km SW2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Kilifi55 km SW1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Watamu18 km SW25 minHalf-day trip
Lamu137 km NE2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Vipingo74 km SW1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Gongoni20 km N30 minHalf-day trip
Takaungu59 km SW1 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Kwale129 km SW2 hrFull-day trip
Kinango136 km SW2 hr 10 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Malindi

  1. 1

    Mombasa, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car106 km south-west of Malindi3 hr 20 min round trip

    Known for Fort Jesus.

    Also nearby: Jomvu, Mariakani, Mazeras.

  2. 2

    Matuga, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 55 min by car122 km south-west of Malindi3 hr 50 min round trip
  3. 3

    Mtwapa, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car90 km south-west of Malindi2 hr 50 min round trip
  4. 4

    Ukunda, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km south-west of Malindi4 hr 10 min round trip
  5. 5

    Kilifi, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car55 km south-west of Malindi2 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Watamu, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 25 min by car18 km south-west of Malindi50 min round trip
  7. 7

    Lamu, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car137 km north-east of Malindi4 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Vipingo, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car74 km south-west of Malindi2 hr 50 min round trip
  9. 9

    Gongoni, Kenya

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car20 km north of Malindi1 hr round trip
  10. 10

    Takaungu, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car59 km south-west of Malindi2 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    Kwale, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car129 km south-west of Malindi4 hr round trip
  12. 12

    Kinango, Kenya

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car136 km south-west of Malindi4 hr 20 min round trip

A sample day trip: Malindi to Mombasa

A realistic pace for Mombasa, 106 km from Malindi. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Malindi
  2. 09:10Arrive in Mombasa (1 hr 40 min drive)
  3. 09:25Fort Jesus
  4. 11:25Lunch
  5. 12:40Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Mombasa
  6. 15:10Head back to Malindi
  7. 16:50Home in Malindi

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Malindi?
The best day trips from Malindi are Mombasa, Matuga, Mtwapa, Ukunda, Kilifi. The closest is Watamu, about 25 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Malindi?
Watamu is the closest, 18 km south-west of Malindi, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Malindi?
2 places are within about an hour's drive of Malindi: Watamu (25 min), Gongoni (30 min).
What is the biggest city near Malindi for a day out?
Mombasa is the largest city in day-trip range, 106 km south-west of Malindi and about 1 hr 40 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Malindi?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Lamu at 137 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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