Beach town in Kwale County, Kenya
Diani Beach
Kenya's best-known south-coast beach: 17 km of white sand, kitesurfing, diving and a small long-stay and remote-work crowd. Beach touts, patchy power and spread-out layout are the trade-offs.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$772–1,310Comfortable, one person · KSh100,000–170,000Details
- Value for money81/100Better value than 80% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goJan–Mar, Aug–OctWarmest: Feb, 32°CDetails
- Internet23 MbpsFixed broadband, Kenya medianDetails
- Tap waterNo, drink bottledDrink bottled or filtered water; many hotels and villas use filtered or borehole supply.Details
- LGBTQ+2/5HostileDetails
- Solo travel4/5English: widely spokenDetails
- Doctor's visit$15–39Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundTuk-tukYou'll need transportDetails
- Cash or cardMixed: cards and cashCards at resorts and larger restaurants; cash or M-Pesa for tuk-tuks, markets and beach vendors.Details
Where to stay in Diani Beach
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Diani Beach Road (north) | Resorts, shops, restaurants and the busiest stretch of beach |
| Galu–Kinondo (south) | Quiet villas, kitesurf spots and long stays |
| Ukunda | Local town for cheap groceries, ATMs and the airstrip |
Apps that work in Diani Beach
No ride-hailing apps work here; see the taxi note below.
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- M-PESA: Paying for almost everything
- Madaraka Express: Nairobi–Mombasa train tickets
- Taxis: Hotels book trusted drivers; tuk-tuks and boda bodas are the street option. Agree fares first. Uber and Bolt are reliable in Mombasa, less so here.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Kenya.
- Mixed: cards and cash Cards at resorts and larger restaurants; cash or M-Pesa for tuk-tuks, markets and beach vendors. ATMs in Ukunda and malls.
- Currency: Shilling (KES). US$1 ≈ KSh129.56 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Plentiful in towns; use machines inside banks or malls. Few or none in national parks.
- Tipping: About 10% in restaurants unless service is included; safari guides and camp staff expect tips, and operators suggest daily amounts.
- Paying by phone: Register M-Pesa with your passport on a Safaricom SIM and top up at agents; Apple Pay works at some terminals.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Everyone except East African and most other African nationals needs an eTA from etakenya.go.ke before flying: US$30, about 3 working days.
- The eTA asks for flight details and an accommodation booking; apply at least 2 weeks ahead and only on the official site.
- Passport must be valid 6 months with 2 blank pages. Single-use plastic bags are banned and confiscated on arrival.
Emergency numbers
All emergencies 999
Plugs
Type G · 240 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Safaricom has a shop at Nairobi airport arrivals; bring your passport for registration and ask them to activate M-Pesa. Data bundles are cheap. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Kenya
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.