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Lamu – 19 hotels and places to stay
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Royal House Shela, hotel in Lamu

Featuring 5-star accommodations, Royal House Shela is located in Lamu, a 2-minute walk from Manda Beach and 200 yards from Mnarani House.

Value for money
7.3
Scored 7.3
Good
Rated good
43 reviews
Price from$80per night
LAMU HOUSE, hotel in Lamu

Located in Lamu and with 18th Century Swahili House Museum reachable within a 1-minute walk, LAMU HOUSE has concierge services, non-smoking rooms, a restaurant, free WiFi and a bar.

The hotel was great, hanging out by the pool was wonderful. Reminded me of the Road hotels in Morocco with the pool in the centre open with plants around. The meals were all very tasty and portion sizes just right. The view from our balcony was informative and immersive to watch. Our room was kept spotless and netting around bed much appreciated, that being said we had only one mosquito bite between the two of us. Many people came by on the tour to take photos of the pool, I think the hotel was part of the tour of Old Town. Shout out to Esther at the front desk, always friendly and took care of any needs we had. Wifi was excellent.
8.4
Scored 8.4
Very Good
Rated very good
22 reviews
Price from$117per night
Jannat House, hotel in Lamu

Offering an outdoor pool, garden and a restaurant, Jannat House is located in Lamu Old Town. It is located a short walk away from the Waterfront and the Main Road. Free Wi-Fi access is available.

Staff was wonderful. Extremely accommodating. They were able to meet us at the airport and the pier and lead us to the hotel. Which I recommend as the old town area of Lamu is a bit of a maze. The building has super authentic architecture and lots of outdoor areas to relax.
7.8
Scored 7.8
Good
Rated good
106 reviews
Price from$30.70per night
Msafini Hotel, hotel in Lamu

Located in Shela, 2 minutes' walk from Shela beach and a 10 minutes' boat ride from Lamu Town UNESCO Heritage Site, Msafini Hotel offers an outdoor pool and a restaurant.

The staff and facilities were the best.
7.5
Scored 7.5
Good
Rated good
256 reviews
Price from$81per night
Jua House, hotel in Lamu

Jua House provides accommodations in Lamu. The bed and breakfast features city views, a sun terrace, and free Wifi is available throughout the property.

Staff , cleanliness, breakfast, decor and bathroom
9.2
Scored 9.2
Wonderful
Rated wonderful
259 reviews
Price from$120per night
Amu House, hotel in Lamu

Providing a garden, a terrace, and free Wifi, Amu House is a recently renovated guest house a 1-minute walk from Lamu Fort and 200 yards from Lamu Museum. This guest house provides a shared lounge.

The staffs Alex and karisa be very friendly staff and hotel very clean and maintained 5 mins walk from main town center thumbs up 👍
8.8
Scored 8.8
Excellent
Rated excellent
68 reviews
Price from$45per night
Jamala Guesthouse, hotel in Lamu

Featuring a garden, Jamala Guest house is located in Lamu in the Coast region, 141 feet from Lamu fort. Popular points of interest around the property include Old Jetty (Lamu) and Water well.

Jamala Guesthouse, nestled in the heart of Lamu Old Town, was an absolute delight for us first-time visitors to Lamu. It provided a unique opportunity to deeply immerse ourselves in the local culture and connect with the welcoming people. The early morning calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques, for instance, became an integral part of the immersive experience. It is located just a short walk from the boat jetty which is super convenient! The host, Baji, was not only highly responsive but also incredibly helpful. Right from the moment we made our booking, he was readily available to provide us with all the information we needed. Baji even arranged a boat pick-up for us and an enriching Old Town Tour with Abu, who was an absolute delight to be around. The rooms at Jamala were both spacious and well-equipped with all the essentials, making it excellent value for money. The breakfast was also nice and balanced, with the option of tea/coffee, bread, eggs and fruit. There is also a kitchen available complete with a fridge that is available for guests to use. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay at Jamala again! Thank you to the team for making our inaugural visit to Lamu very memorable!😊😊
8.4
Scored 8.4
Very Good
Rated very good
52 reviews
Price from$37per night
Mangrove House, hotel in Lamu

Facing the seafront on Manda Island, Mangrove House features a private beach area. Among the various facilities are barbecue facilities and a garden.

8.1
Scored 8.1
Very Good
Rated very good
24 reviews
Price from$126per night
Makubwa House, hotel in Lamu

With an indoor pool and a terrace, Makubwa House is a historic vacation home that features accommodations with free Wifi. With sea views, this accommodation provides a balcony.

The staff and manager of the house so helpful. Lots of advice and recommendations where to eat. Also easy to find in the maze of Lamu, close to the jetty but far enough for a peaceful stay
9.1
Scored 9.1
Wonderful
Rated wonderful
37 reviews
Price from$120per night
Andavelo House, hotel in Lamu

With 18th Century Swahili House Museum reachable in a few steps, Andavelo House provides accommodations, a restaurant, a garden, a bar, and a shared lounge.

Safari was a fantastic host, very kind and helpful. The place itself is really stylish. The bed was comfortable.
9.3
Scored 9.3
Wonderful
Rated wonderful
81 reviews
Price from$94.50per night
See all 16 hotels in Lamu

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What Guests Said About Lamu:

  • 10
    Scored 10

    Lamu is a mesmerizing town with a beautiful history.

    Lamu is a mesmerizing town with a beautiful history. The people are very friendly and welcoming. For instance - the town can be like a labyrinth, which makes it a bit challenging sometimes to find spots - even with Google Maps. Either people ask you if you need help or you can ask them and they show you the way - many of them even walked us to the location. This experience was so wonderful - I would definitely come back again.
    Meron
    Germany
  • 10
    Scored 10

    Great, quaint town.

    Great, quaint town. The scent of the donkey excrement is off-putting but seeing them is sublime. Being a coastal town, there are many ‘captains’. I had my transport pre-organized with my accommodation so be weary of that and potential scams, as well as the impromptu tour guides. Touch water, take a sunset sail boat ride, and visit the beach, maybe even Shela. Locals were very nice and friendly, warm welcomes. Affordable restaurants as well, Sailor’s Joint for example. I stayed at Subira House.
    Daen
    Canada
  • 4.0
    Scored 4.0

    A beautiful resort, with many amenities with a lot of...

    A beautiful resort, with many amenities with a lot of details paid to the decor. Unfortunately, not the same attention was given to the 3 restaurants. Poor quality food with a limited selection except for a very nice breakfast buffet. Had confirmed a twin bedded room, but did not receive one. The beds are extremely firm as the mattress sits on a cement platform but does have a nicely hung mosquito net. Easy access across the water to Lamu.
    Chez Linda
    United States of America
  • 8.0
    Scored 8.0

    - The ocean activities are marvelous!

    - The ocean activities are marvelous! Amazing experience, memories I will always treasure. Food was also nice, a lot of seafood. Very culturally rich too! - The town is dirty, because of monkeys, people in Lamu seem to have gotten used to it, but for an outsider its not. In addition, they don't treat the donkeys right, so it's sad to see them suffering. Lamu is a small town, I wish they would think of other means of transport and at least for people just walking, donkeys should be forbidden. There was also a lot of trash on the street, even in monuments.
    Evelin
    El Salvador
  • 8.0
    Scored 8.0

    Lamu is quite a unique place which is different from the...

    Lamu is quite a unique place which is different from the main land of Kenya. You can enjoy the historical environment, beautiful beaches, sun rise and sun set, relaxing on the boat/dhow. And Lamu people are very kind to visitors, I love it. Some activities in the sea may be affected by the tide. So, it's better to ask people in advance when you can do the activity you want to do.
    Mutsumi
    Kenya
  • 10
    Scored 10

    The town is quirky and locals are great.

    The town is quirky and locals are great. No cars or motorbikes in the center but lot of donkeys. Lamu is really worth to visit! Only thing, its quite dirty, especially the seafront. Plastic every where
    Heli
    Finland

Explore guest reviews of hotels in Lamu

  • From $81 per night
    7.5
    Scored 7.5
    Good
    Rated good
     · 256 reviews
    Traditional hotel in Shela with good location that allows you to explore the main points within walking distance. We had a great experience with the welcoming staff and were lucky to have the rooftop room, which was extremely well ventilated. The view from the terrace is great and the meals we had were also very tasty. Room was simple but spacious, hot water shower worked perfectly. The friendliness of all the staff, including the owner who took us to the boat station and facilitated the crossing to Mada is remarkable.
    Matheus Bizarria
    Brazil
  • From $45 per night
    7.4
    Scored 7.4
    Good
    Rated good
     · 186 reviews
    The staff at Shela White House arranged for a pick up from the airport and they also had someone wait for me at the jetty in Shela. The facility was exceptional, and Tom Nyama, the caretaker, was helpful in every little way. All you need is to ask, and you’ll be sorted. The facility itself is at a great location, just a minute away to the long stretch of white sandy Shela beach (you can walk kilometers without meeting anyone) and the sand dunes. Perfect place if you just want to chill and unwind!
    Elmawi
    Kenya
  • 9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 203 reviews
    Gorgeous house with amazing swahili flair, lovely hosts. Seems like they contribute to the Lamu community in a big way, they are well known and loved with everyone I spoke to. Hotel staff will help you organize any outing you‘d like, I can recommend Dhow trips, but they also help with other activities (plus reasonable pricing recommendations). Eco friendly facilities and the breakfast is amazing with ingredients sourced almost exclusively from their own Lamu farm.
    A
    Alexander
    Germany
  • 9.0
    Scored 9.0
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 203 reviews
    I thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality. The manager, Mohamed, was amazing, very friendly and accomodating. He organized snorkeling and a sunset boat ride. Went out on the water with some of his trusted captains who were chill and hospitable. He also showed me around Lamu Town. He made me feel comfortable. I don't know what I'd do if it weren't for his recommendations. The hotel staff were also very nice and helpful. The breakfast was filling and delicious.
    Daen
    Canada
  • From $60 per night
    8.0
    Scored 8.0
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 112 reviews
    The staff was really friendly and organised a boat taxi from airport in advance. Despite of a technical overbooking they found a good solution for all travellers. Instead of the booked room we got an Apartment next door. The Location ist perfect to walk around Lamu Town and visit the fort and Museum and the small shops in the second row roads. The breakfast was good. You could choose between Continental or Suaheli breakfast. We had both.
    Katja
    Germany
  • 8.1
    Scored 8.1
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 34 reviews
    Wonderful stay in a heritage building in the heart of Shela, with local live going on around the accommodation. Phone and they will pick you up at the pier, as the place is quite hard to find ( I kept getting lost). Wonderful common areas to hang out, lovely breakfast in the mornings. The host was very helpful in arranging a doctor to come round when I needed (minor) medical care. Woud stay again.
    DF17
    Netherlands
  • From $9.90 per night
    7.2
    Scored 7.2
    Good
    Rated good
     · 17 reviews
    Very comfortable stay in a perfect location in the Lamu old town. The price is unbeatable, and it had everything we need to have a comfortable sleep. Muhammad, Emanuel and their team were super friendly, supportive and professional. Previous review said negative things about the toilet, but our experience was great. Comfortable clean well managed toilet.
    Jumpei
    Australia
  • 8.2
    Scored 8.2
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 12 reviews
    Very beautiful and spacious apartment. There is a nice roof top with an amazing view. It is well located in Shela. The price was very cheap, maybe because of the low season or because it’s still new and some things are missing… They answer fast when you write and the manager was easy to reach in case of anything.
    Mariline
    Canada
  • From $120 per night
    9.2
    Scored 9.2
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 259 reviews
    I loved everything. They take care about every detail, the staff is extremely kind, and the breakfast is super delicious, with plenty of yummy home made products. We appreciate that Thomas was kind while we lost in Lamu town, and the captain of the boat to Shela had to wait for us 10 minutes or so.
    Matteo
    Italy
  • 9.3
    Scored 9.3
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 134 reviews
    This is the best place where you can stay in Lamu. Arnold helped us a lot with everything. If you book your stay with Jambo House you don't need to worry about anything in your days in Lamu, because Arnold will help you with everything and he has the best prices in town (really!).
    Carlos
    Portugal
  • From $105 per night
    9.4
    Scored 9.4
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 10 reviews
    Beautiful house with private pool, spacious bedrooms and several terraces to hang out on. Great location in old Lamu, close to shops, museums and the sea with great boat rides to wonderful beaches Manda and Shela.
    Anna Josefsson
    Sweden
  • 8.5
    Scored 8.5
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 66 reviews
    breakfast was good, the view is excellent, it is located right by the beach. The rooms are standard and not luxury, veranda is excellent, sit and see sunset and sunrise. that is lovely pool is small but okay
    Nelly
    Kenya
  • 9.3
    Scored 9.3
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 134 reviews
    Insanely good value!! Nice breakfast and both Arnold and Fred were very helpful and knowledgeable. I had a great time in Lamu thanks to these two! I’d definitely recommend anyone visiting Lamu to stay here.
    Jasper
    United States of America
  • From $60 per night
    8.0
    Scored 8.0
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 112 reviews
    Price point was spot on! Location fantastic and conveniently close to the airport. Dinner next door at Lamu House was exceptional. Nice alternative to the more expensive Shella.
    Matt
    United States of America
  • From $45 per night
    8.8
    Scored 8.8
    Excellent
    Rated excellent
     · 68 reviews
    The staffs Alex and karisa be very friendly staff and hotel very clean and maintained 5 mins walk from main town center thumbs up 👍
    YDA61
    Kenya
  • 8.5
    Scored 8.5
    Very Good
    Rated very good
     · 66 reviews
    The hotel is at the shore of the beach and the aesthetics are picture perfect. Breakfast was also good and filing
    WORESHA
    Kenya
  • From $20 per night
    8.8
    Scored 8.8
    Excellent
    Rated excellent
     · 128 reviews
    Very friendly staff. be well-preserved and clean. It was the best accommodation in Kenya. Thank you so much!!!
    seongwook
    South Korea
  • From $20 per night
    8.8
    Scored 8.8
    Excellent
    Rated excellent
     · 128 reviews
    Lovely stay in lamu, traditional house set over multiple levels. Great views from the roof
    Roy from UK
    United Kingdom
  • From $120 per night
    9.2
    Scored 9.2
    Wonderful
    Rated wonderful
     · 259 reviews
    Clean, modern, breezy rooms, small boutique hotel, good breakfast, friendly staff
    Wendy
    United States of America
  • From $45 per night
    7.4
    Scored 7.4
    Good
    Rated good
     · 186 reviews
    The hotel is in a good location, the staff is very nice and friendly.
    Noora
    Finland