Lamu Museum

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles119 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
45
Average
26
Poor
5
Terrible
2

Jonathan K
Princeton, NJ623 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Nice little little local museum with interesting artifacts. Like a lot of small museums, it's inexplicably text-heavy. As noted in other reviews, Oman paid for the museum's restoration and in return a large portion of the second floor is now devoted to a celebration of Oman society and its king. Go here first and your admission to the (completely uneventful) fort is free.
Written 7 October 2023
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Ian
Dallas, TX76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
Very good overview of Lamu history and the reasons for all the different styles of doors in the town. I came at 5pm and stayed until they closed the place at 6pm.
I didn't use a guide - there's a lot of stuff to read so I was happy to wander around at my own pace.
Written 23 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olli Helmke
Zurich, Switzerland56 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
After renovation this museum is by far not the same anymore. Oman paid for the renovation and now the whole first floor is only about Oman. Two years ago it was so interesting about Lamu and Swahili culture. They should rename the museum in "Oman Museum"...
Written 19 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FerTarran
Apucarana, PR115 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Couples
Although it is not the best museum you will ever see, it is worth a visit if you're visiting Lamu town. There are interesting items from Lamu history including clothing and furniture, as well as the famous carved doors. The view from its upper windows also makes the visit worth it.
Written 21 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

S P
Vienna, Austria54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016 • Family
This museum is the richest one out of the existing four in Lamu Town. Guides are not very knowledgeable. Ours didn't do much more than pointing at the stands. I felt sorry i hadn't read more in advance. For example, about the mtepe boats. There is a rare model of such a boat in the museum, one of the four that exist in the world: two in London, one in Zanzibar and one in this museum. The stands are luckily very well prepared with plentiful information. So devote at least an hour to be able to read through them.
Written 28 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Your Insider Zambia
Cape Town Central, South Africa25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Couples
Don't expect a museum to European standards, after all this island is the oldest Swahili town, founded in 1370(?). Its people are proud of their cultural heritage, We went round with an elderly guide which added to the ambience of the museum. The trip ended with us sitting on the outside balcony of the Museum chatting in the slow no hurry Swahili way, the wind blowing sweet smelling frangipani flowers amongst us as we spoke. Giving the Museum the time & respect it deserves, can make for a magical tour
Written 12 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kaleimakamae
Honolulu, HI64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2013 • Friends
The history of the islands and her people are told in this museum in surprisingly good dioramas and displays. Totally worth the price of admission (which also got us into the fort for free!).
Written 20 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gituma
Nairobi, Kenya32 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Couples
If you want a journey into the history and culture of lamu this is the place to go.
The museum guides were friendly and Knowledgeable
However the plscd needs some maintenance and is quite dusty
Written 17 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Expectmoretoday
Nairobi, Kenya95 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Family
The museum provides good background into the Swahili culture and is well worth a visit. The visit to Lamu Fort is included in ticket price. Price KSH 500 for non-residents. Try and take exact money as they struggle with change. The fort is worthwhile as it provides some perspective on the town. The fort is no longer on the sea from owing to some reclaimed land. The fort has an almond tree from India planted and the market to the right is also worth a visit (Omar Shariff will give you a tour for the cost of an over priced box of chalk - forwarded is forearmed.
Written 19 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather2424
Auckland, New Zealand6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Couples
We enjoyed it because it gave a general overview of early life without too much detail. Interesting artifacts. Keep your entrance ticket as it gives you free entry to the fort.
Written 17 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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LAMU MUSEUM (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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