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3-star hotels in Kilifi
This shortlist covers the 3-star hotels in Kilifi, from Bofa Road to Marine Park Road. It suits couples, families and business travellers who want a mid-range base on Kenya's north coast, with guest ratings from 3.7 to 4.8 out of 5.
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 Kilifi Bridge carries the coast road over the creek, and the Mnarani ruins overlook the water. Visitors come for the creek, the ruins and the town's position as a base on the north coast.
These 3-star hotels sit on Bofa Road, Marine Park Road, Seahorse Road, Hospital Road, Old Ferry Road and the Mombasa-Malindi Highway, and several are listed simply as Kilifi. The creek-side streets and the Bofa Road strip suit couples and short-break visitors who want to be near the water, while the hospital and highway addresses work for business travellers and anyone breaking the Mombasa-Malindi journey.
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
For beach access
Salty's Kitesurf Village on Bofa Rd, rated 4.5 from 432 reviews, and Bofa Beach Resort on Bofa Rd, rated 4.0 from 670 reviews, both carry Bofa Road addresses, the street that runs along the Bofa beach side of town.
For the highest ratings
Mandharini is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 78 reviews, and Salty's Kitesurf Village is rated 4.5 from 432 reviews.
For families
Temple Point Resort on Marine Park Road, rated 4.3 from 749 reviews, Kilifi Maghreb on Seahorse Road, rated 4.1 from 206 reviews, and Makuti Villas Resort on Old Ferry Road, rated 3.7 from 804 reviews, are all established addresses with large review counts that suit families wanting space and a settled setting.
For a short break
Temple Point Resort on Marine Park Road and Watergate Hotel Kilifi on Hospital Road are handy for a short stay: one sits by the Marine Park side of town, the other close to Hospital Road, both rated by hundreds of guests.
Where to stay in Kilifi
Bofa Road
Bofa Road runs on the Bofa side of Kilifi, towards the beach. Salty's Kitesurf Village, Bofa Beach Resort and Residence Maison Müge all carry Bofa Road addresses. The strip is the closest thing in town to a beachfront row, and the guest scores here range from 4.0 to 4.5 out of 5.
Our picks here: Residence Maison Müge
Seahorse Road
Seahorse Road is another Kilifi street with more than one listed stay: Kilifi Maghreb at 1640 Seahorse Road, rated 4.1 from 206 reviews, and Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers. It sits within the town's grid, a short distance from the creek and the centre.
Our picks here: Kilifi Maghreb · Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers
Old Ferry Road
Old Ferry Road takes its name from the crossing that predates the Kilifi Bridge, which now carries the coast road over the creek. Makuti Villas Resort, rated 3.7 from 804 reviews, is the listed stay on this road, on the town side of the water.
Our picks here: Makuti Villas Resort
Marine Park Road
Marine Park Road is named for the marine park on this stretch of the north coast. Temple Point Resort, rated 4.3 out of 5 from 749 reviews, is the listed hotel here, making the road one of the better-reviewed addresses for a Kilifi stay.
Our picks here: Temple Point Resort
Plan your stay
Getting there and around
Kilifi is reached by road from Nairobi, about 425 km to the northwest in a straight line. The coast road crosses Kilifi Creek on the Kilifi Bridge, and the town sits between Mombasa and Malindi on that route. Stays in the centre are searched and booked through IMPT, the booking partner behind this site.
When to go
Kilifi sits on the north coast of Kenya, where the year divides into a hot dry season, a long rainy season and a short rainy season. The site's own text gives no month-by-month guidance for Kilifi, so plan around the coast's general pattern: dry months suit the beach and the creek, while the rains are quieter.
Things to do near Kilifi
Questions, answered
Which Kilifi 3-star hotel is closest to the centre?
Both are rated 3.7 out of 5, from 506 and 804 reviews respectively.
Which hotel has the highest guest rating?
Mandharini is rated 4.6 out of 5, the highest of the Kilifi 3-star hotels, from 78 reviews. Salty's Kitesurf Village follows at 4.5 from 432 reviews, and Temple Point Resort at 4.3 from 749.
Which hotels are best for families?
Temple Point Resort on Marine Park Road, Kilifi Maghreb on Seahorse Road and Makuti Villas Resort on Old Ferry Road all have hundreds of reviews behind their ratings, which makes them the safest family picks in this group.
Are there hotels on Bofa Road?
Yes. Salty's Kitesurf Village and Bofa Beach Resort both carry Bofa Rd addresses, and Residence Maison Müge is on Bofa Road. Salty's is rated 4.5 from 432 reviews and Bofa Beach Resort 4.0 from 670.
Do any of these hotels have a pool or spa?
The supplier records for these Kilifi 3-star hotels list no facilities, so no pool or spa can be confirmed from the data. Check directly with the hotel you are considering before booking.
Is parking or breakfast included?
The records behind these listings carry no facilities and no board details, so parking and breakfast cannot be confirmed here. Availability and the room arrangement are checked live for your dates when you book.
Are pets allowed at these hotels?
No pet policy appears in the data for any of these Kilifi 3-star hotels. If you are travelling with a pet, ask the hotel directly before you commit.
Which hotels are best for a short break?
Temple Point Resort on Marine Park Road, rated 4.3 from 749 reviews, and Watergate Hotel Kilifi on Hospital Road are convenient for a short stay, both within the town and near the creek and the coast road.