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3-star hotels in Kilifi
A shortlist of 3-star hotels in Kilifi, ranked by guest rating and the number of reviews behind each score. It is for travellers who want a creek-side base on Kenya's north coast without going up a class.
Staying in Kilifi
Kilifi is a town on Kilifi Creek on Kenya's north coast, the county seat of Kilifi County, sitting between Mombasa and Malindi. The coast road crosses the creek on the Kilifi Bridge, and the Mnarani ruins overlook the water. People come here for the creek itself and as a base for the north coast.
The hotels on this shortlist sit along the town's roads rather than in one quarter. Bofa Rd and Bofa Road carry Salty's Kitesurf Village, Bofa Beach Resort and Residence Maison Müge; Seahorse Road has Kilifi Maghreb and Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers; other addresses read simply Kilifi or name Marine Park Road, Hospital Road, Old Ferry Road and the Mombasa Malindi Highway. Couples and kitesurfers fit the Bofa Rd cluster, families the beachfront resorts, and short-break travellers the central addresses near the hospital road.
The shortlist
Ranked by hotel class, then guest rating and number of reviews.
Salty's Kitesurf Village
Bofa Rd
Why stay hereSet on Bofa Rd, Salty's Kitesurf Village has earned a 4.5 out of 5 from 432 guests, a strong record for a 3-star stay in Kilifi. It suits travellers who want to be near the water and among people who come for the wind and the beach rather than a quiet retreat. A sociable choice for kitesurfers and beachgoers.
See Salty's Kitesurf VillageMandharini
Kilifi
Why stay hereMandharini keeps a low profile in Kilifi yet holds a 4.6 out of 5 from 78 guests, the kind of score that comes from getting the essentials right. With fewer reviews than its neighbours, it appeals to travellers who prefer a smaller, less crowded 3-star address. A good fit for couples and anyone wanting a calm base on the coast.
See MandhariniTemple Point Resort
Marine Park Road
Why stay hereTemple Point Resort sits on Marine Park Road and is the best-reviewed of the larger 3-star properties here, with 4.3 out of 5 from 749 guests. The volume of feedback suggests a well-run, established place. It works for families and groups who want space and a marine park setting on the Kilifi coast.
See Temple Point ResortKilifi Maghreb
1640 Seahorse Road
Why stay hereKilifi Maghreb occupies 1640 Seahorse Road and scores 4.1 out of 5 across 206 reviews, a steady showing for a 3-star hotel. Its Seahorse Road position puts guests in a residential-feeling part of Kilifi. Reasonable for travellers who want a straightforward coastal base without a big resort atmosphere.
See Kilifi MaghrebBofa Beach Resort
Bofa Rd
Why stay hereBofa Beach Resort takes its name from Bofa Rd, where it stands, and holds 4.0 out of 5 from 670 guests. A 3-star option with a substantial review history, it suits holidaymakers who want the beach on the doorstep. Good for families and couples looking for an easy, beach-centred stay in Kilifi.
See Bofa Beach ResortWatergate Hotel Kilifi
Hospital Road Kilifi Kenya
Why stay hereWatergate Hotel Kilifi is on Hospital Road, convenient for anyone whose plans involve the town centre rather than the shoreline. Guests rate it 3.7 out of 5 from 506 reviews, a fair 3-star result. It makes sense for business visitors and travellers passing through Kilifi who value a central location.
See Watergate Hotel KilifiMakuti Villas Resort
Old Ferry Road Kilifi
Why stay hereMakuti Villas Resort on Old Ferry Road has the largest review base of these Kilifi hotels, 804 guests, with a 3.7 out of 5 rating. The name suggests a villa-style layout rather than a tower block. It appeals to longer-staying visitors and those who want a relaxed, well-reviewed-by-volume 3-star base.
See Makuti Villas ResortKaribuni palace mtwapa
Mtwapa Avenue Karibuni Palace Mtwapa
Why stay hereKaribuni palace mtwapa stands on Mtwapa Avenue and shows a 4.8 out of 5 rating, though from only 4 reviews, so treat the score with caution. A 3-star option in Mtwapa rather than Kilifi itself. Best suited to travellers heading north along the coast who want a base in Mtwapa.
See Karibuni palace mtwapaWatamu Bay Ora Resort
Kilifi
Why stay hereWatamu Bay Ora Resort is listed for Kilifi with no guest rating or review count yet, so there is no feedback to draw on. It is a 3-star property, which sets expectations for a simple, functional stay. An option for travellers who are flexible and want to try somewhere without a track record.
See Watamu Bay Ora ResortDistant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers
Seahorse Road
Why stay hereDistant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers on Seahorse Road carries no guest rating in the data, so no verdict on quality can be given. The ecolodge and backpackers pairing points to a low-key, communal style of 3-star accommodation. It may suit independent travellers and backpackers rather than those wanting a conventional hotel.
See Distant Relatives Ecolodge & BackpackersEco Villas Watamu
Gede Watamu Road
Why stay hereEco Villas Watamu is a 3-star property on Gede Watamu Road with no guest rating recorded. The eco villa format suggests self-contained, low-impact accommodation near Watamu. It could work for travellers who want a quieter, villa-style base while exploring the Watamu and Gede area.
See Eco Villas WatamuMnarani Beach Club
Mombasa Malindi Highway Kilifi
Why stay hereMnarani Beach Club sits on the Mombasa Malindi Highway in Kilifi and is a 3-star hotel with no guest rating given. Its highway position makes it a practical stop for travellers moving between Mombasa and Malindi, though there is no review data to judge the stay itself.
See Mnarani Beach ClubResidence Maison Müge
Bofa Road
Why stay hereResidence Maison Müge on Bofa Road is a 3-star address with no guest rating supplied, so it cannot be compared on quality. The residence format suggests apartment-style or longer-stay accommodation. It may appeal to visitors who want a Bofa Road base with more independence than a standard hotel.
See Residence Maison MügeVipingo Ridge Luxury Villa
Links 3 Vipingo Ridge
Why stay hereVipingo Ridge Luxury Villa is a 3-star property at Links 3 Vipingo Ridge with no guest rating in the data. The villa and ridge setting points to a private, low-density style of stay. Suitable for groups or families who want space and a residential address rather than a beachfront hotel.
See Vipingo Ridge Luxury VillaKimya House Watamu
Watamu Beach Road
Why stay hereKimya House Watamu on Watamu Beach Road is a 3-star property with no guest rating or review count recorded. The house format and beach road address suggest a small, private-style stay near the Watamu shoreline, though without feedback nothing more can be said about the experience.
See Kimya House Watamu
How to choose
Top-rated picks
Karibuni palace mtwapa holds the highest guest rating on the list at 4.8, though it is backed by only 4 reviews. Mandharini follows at 4.6 from 78 reviews, and Salty's Kitesurf Village at 4.5 from 432 reviews, the strongest combination of score and volume here.
Karibuni palace mtwapa · Mandharini · Salty's Kitesurf Village
Most reviewed
Makuti Villas Resort carries 804 reviews at 3.7, Temple Point Resort 749 at 4.3, and Bofa Beach Resort 670 at 4.0. These are the addresses with the largest guest record behind them on this shortlist, useful if you weigh volume of feedback heavily.
Makuti Villas Resort · Temple Point Resort · Bofa Beach Resort
Creek and beach side
Salty's Kitesurf Village and Bofa Beach Resort both sit on Bofa Rd, and Mnarani Beach Club is on the Mombasa Malindi Highway. For a stay on the water side of town rather than inland, these are the addresses to start with.
Salty's Kitesurf Village · Bofa Beach Resort · Mnarani Beach Club
Short break in town
Watergate Hotel Kilifi on Hospital Road, Kilifi Maghreb at 1640 Seahorse Road and Residence Maison Müge on Bofa Road are named to specific streets in the town, which suits a short break built around Kilifi itself rather than the beach.
Watergate Hotel Kilifi · Kilifi Maghreb · Residence Maison Müge
Where to stay in Kilifi
Seahorse Road
Seahorse Road is named by Kilifi Maghreb at number 1640 and by Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers. Kilifi Maghreb carries a 4.1 rating from 206 reviews.
Our picks here: Kilifi Maghreb · Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers
Hospital Road
Watergate Hotel Kilifi stands on Hospital Road Kilifi Kenya. It is rated 3.7 from 506 reviews and is the pick here for a central address in town.
Our picks here: Watergate Hotel Kilifi
Old Ferry Road
Makuti Villas Resort sits on Old Ferry Road Kilifi. Its 3.7 rating is backed by 804 reviews, the largest guest record of any hotel on this shortlist.
Our picks here: Makuti Villas Resort
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Kilifi lies about 425 km southeast of Nairobi in a straight line and is reached by road from Nairobi. The coast road crosses Kilifi Creek on the Kilifi Bridge, which carries traffic over the water, and the town sits between Mombasa and Malindi on that coast road. Stays in the centre are searched and booked through IMPT, the booking partner behind this site.
Things to do near Kilifi
Questions, answered
Which hotel in Kilifi has the highest guest rating?
Karibuni palace mtwapa has the highest rating on this shortlist at 4.8, but it rests on only 4 reviews. Mandharini, at 4.6 from 78 reviews, and Salty's Kitesurf Village, at 4.5 from 432 reviews, have far more guest feedback behind their scores.
Which of these hotels is best for families?
Temple Point Resort, on Marine Park Road, has a 4.3 rating from 749 reviews, and Bofa Beach Resort on Bofa Rd has 4.0 from 670 reviews. Both have the volume of guest feedback that families tend to check before booking.
Which hotels are closest to Kilifi Creek?
Salty's Kitesurf Village and Bofa Beach Resort are both on Bofa Rd, and Mnarani Beach Club is on the Mombasa Malindi Highway. The Mnarani ruins overlook Kilifi Creek, and the Kilifi Bridge carries the coast road over it.
Do any of these Kilifi hotels have a pool or spa?
The booking records for these hotels do not list facilities, so no pool or spa can be confirmed for any of them from this page.
Can I bring a pet to a hotel in Kilifi?
Pet policies are not part of the hotel records used here, so this page cannot confirm which Kilifi hotels accept pets. Check directly with the property before you book.
Is parking available at these hotels?
Parking is not listed in the hotel data on this page, so it cannot be confirmed for any of these Kilifi hotels. Ask the property when you check availability for your dates.
How do I get to Kilifi?
Kilifi is reached by road from Nairobi, about 425 km southeast in a straight line, and the coast road crosses Kilifi Creek on the Kilifi Bridge. The town sits between Mombasa and Malindi on Kenya's north coast.