Nairobi

Where urban life meets wild adventures

Nairobi serves as Kenya’s bustling capital, where modern skyscrapers stand alongside markets filled with colorful fabrics and fresh produce. The city pulses with energy from early morning traffic to evening street food stalls serving local dishes like nyama choma. Parks such as Uhuru provide green spaces amid concrete, while museums showcase the country’s wildlife history and cultural heritage. Nairobi connects diverse communities through shared traditions and evolving urban life, reflecting Kenya’s mix of tradition and progress in everyday interactions.

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City in Kenya

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 4.2

General Safety:	4
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	2

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken in Nairobi, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and businesses. Most locals can communicate effectively, making it easy for English-speaking tourists.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 30 Oct 2026

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Nairobi Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

Unique for wildlife near a major city. Visit Nairobi National Park for safaris, explore museums and markets and learn about Kenyan culture.

Place score

6.4

Best at:

Large cities

Luxury

Guided tours

Crafts shopping

Nightlife

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

🕌 7

Halal

💻 6

Digital Nomads

Kenya – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	240 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Kenyan Shilling (KES) £1 ≈ KES 172.94
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are becoming more widespread in Kenya, particularly in larger cities. Mobile payment services like M-Pesa are extremely popular, while credit cards are also accepted in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping in Kenya is not mandatory but is common for good service. In restaurants, a 10% tip is typical if service charge is not included. Tipping taxi drivers is appreciated, rounding up the fare.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not allowed in Kenya, and alcohol consumption is restricted to licensed establishments like bars, restaurants, and hotels. Drinking in public spaces is prohibited.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces and on public transport. Designated smoking areas are provided in some places.

Mashujaa Day (20 October)	A national holiday commemorating heroes with public celebrations
Christmas (25 December)	Celebrated with family gatherings, festivals, and events

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 999 (Police), 911 (Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber, Little
Other:	Kenya is famous for its wildlife and natural beauty. Travellers should be cautious about health concerns such as malaria and take necessary precautions during safaris.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Nairobi, Kenya

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Jan

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Feb

🌦️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

🌦️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., July - Oct., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March, June
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Long rains March to May, short rains November to December; roads can flood and safari tracks turn muddy

At 1,800 m altitude, mornings and evenings are cool year-round, coolest June to August

Don't miss

🦒 Go on a safari at Nairobi National Park
🦩 Feed endangered giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
🐘 Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and meet baby elephants
🎨 Explore Kenyan art and heritage at the Nairobi National Museum
🛍️ Shop Maasai beadwork and crafts at Village Market
☕ Enjoy local coffee and skyline views at a rooftop café

You've been here?

Why travel to Nairobi?

Nairobi offers a rare blend of urban and natural experiences. You can visit the Nairobi National Park, where wildlife roams against a city skyline, then explore bustling markets, historical museums and dynamic nightlife. However, it’s important to stay mindful of safety in certain areas and be cautious of petty crime, especially in crowded spots.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Karen Blixen Museum
2 Nairobi National Museum
3 Nairobi Gallery
4 Bomas of Kenya
5 Giraffe Centre
6 Kenyatta International Conference Centre
7 David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

🎡Places for activities

1 David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
2 Nairobi Railway Museum
3 Nairobi Snake Park

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Karura Forest
2 Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
3 Nairobi National Park
4 Sigiria Forest
5 Nairobi Arboretum
6 F.P. F.K. Kibiko church ngong hills
7 Oloolua Nature Trail Camping site

🛍️Shopping

1 Maasai market
2 Westgate Shopping Mall
3 City Market
4 Urban (Gourmet) Burger Galleria
5 Village Market
6 Carrefour
7 Two Rivers Mall
8 The Junction Mall
9 Yaya Centre

🎈Events

Nairobi Restaurant Week
Kenya International Film Festival
Koroga Festival
Nairobi International Trade Fair
Blankets & Wine
Nairobi Fashion Week
Lamu Cultural Festival
Safari Rally
Storymoja Festival
Rhino Charge

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Stay vigilant against pickpockets and avoid walking alone at night.
Use licensed taxis or Uber for transport; never use unofficial matatus or walk in isolated areas after dark.
Keep valuables hidden, avoid displaying wealth and steer clear of Eastleigh and Kibera neighborhoods entirely.
Visit Giraffe Centre early morning with a guide for safe feeding experience and fewer crowds amid chaotic traffic.

How to travel to Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is the main gateway to Nairobi, with direct flights from many major cities. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connects Nairobi to Mombasa, offering a scenic alternative to flying.

Access summary

From Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO): Taxi or bus, about 30–60 minutes.
From Mombasa: Madaraka Express trains typically 5–6 hours to Nairobi Terminus.
From Kisumu: Direct flights to Nairobi generally around 50–60 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Nairobi

Nairobi offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury hotels and safari lodges to budget hostels and guesthouses. Staying in Westlands, Karen or near the CBD provides good access to attractions and amenities.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Sarova Stanley Hotel

8.3

Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport By IHG

8.8

Villa Rosa Kempinski

8.9

The Boma Nairobi Hotel

8.8

Palacina The Residence and The Suites

9.5

The Panari Hotel

8.0

PrideInn Azure Nairobi

7.8

Cloud Hotel and Suites

7.8

La Maison Royale Hotel Nairobi

7.6

Nairobi Serena Hotel

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Nairobi

Matatus (minibuses) and buses are the most common public transport, but they can be chaotic. Ride-hailing apps like Uber, Bolt and Little Cab are safer and more convenient for tourists. Walking is best in well-known, safe areas only.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-53 %

Daily expenses in Nairobi are around 53% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-7 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KES) is 7% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£36	£82	£219
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£105
🍝 Food per day	£14	£31	£93
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£20

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4
🍟 Fast food combo	£5
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.90
☕ Cappuccino	£1.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£13
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.05

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£12.50
🤧 Cold medication	£1.90
💇 Basic haircut	£3.60

Safety information overview

General safety

Nairobi has areas with varying safety levels. Stick to well-known tourist zones and avoid walking alone at night. Be cautious of petty crime like pickpocketing, especially in crowded places.

Health & Medical

Nairobi has good medical facilities, including international hospitals. It’s advisable to have travel insurance. Malaria risk is low in the city, but precautions are needed if traveling to rural areas.

Accessibility

Nairobi's major attractions and accommodations offer good accessibility, but public transportation is less accommodating for those with mobility challenges. Ride-hailing services can be a practical option.

Tap water

Tap water in Nairobi is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled or filtered water, which is widely available. Hotels often provide complimentary bottled water for guests.