The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is Nairobi’s main airport, and the largest in East Africa. The airport is located on the outskirts of the city, about a 30-minute ride to the city center, depending on traffic.

There are taxis, buses, and rental cars available at the airport to connect travelers with the city. A taxi ride from the airport to the city center will cost around 1000-2000 KES, some of the official taxi companies in Nairobi include Jatco Radio Call and Kenatco Taxi. Taxis can be found outside the airport. Uber is also an option. Bus #34 travels from the airport to the city center and costs around 100 KSH.

The central railway station in Nairobi is located in a busy area on the edge of downtown, there are two main routes possible to travel by rail from Nairobi to Mombasa, and Nairobi to Kisumu. The city was founded as a railway town and the main headquarters of Kenya Railways. The line runs through Nairobil from Mombasa to Kampala, there are a number of evening commuter trains that connect the city center to the suburbs. There is an overnight Nairobi to Mombasa train journey that travels over 330 miles and takes around 13 hours the Kyokimau Rail Service station opened in 2012 and has a train that transports passengers from Syokimau to the city center, there is a commuter rail network in the worlds.

There are plenty of reliable forms of public transportation in Nairobi with buses, matatus, tuk-tuks, trains, Boda bodas, and taxis. The main bus service in the city is Kenya Bus Service (KBS) with other operators including Citi Hoppa, Compliant MOA, and Double M. The bus routes are noted on the side of the bus, or use the app or websites like Moovit and Google Maps. Citi Hoppa buses are identified by their green livery, Double M buses are purple, Compliant MOA is a mix of white and blue, and KBS buses are blue. Buses are the cheapest way to travel through the city, they are reasonably efficient and comfortable. These shared rides make a number of stops along their set routes, you pay the driver or conductor upon boarding with cash or Mpesa. A ticket can cost anywhere from 300 Ksh to 450 Ksh, it depends on the distance traveled.

Tuk-tuks are three-wheeled vehicles with a back seat that can seat three passengers and are used for short distances. Boda-bodas are bicycle taxis with one seat over the back wheel. They are a cheap option for a fun short-distance ride. These two options are very inexpensive and are able to move fast through traffic. They are also not the safest form of transportation, so use caution when choosing a Tuk-tuk or Boda-boda.

There is no need to rent a car if you plan to spend your vacation in the city, there are many forms of public transportation to choose from, and traffic can be very congested with major delays around rush hour. If you plan to explore outside of Nairobi, the city is well-connected to the highways that link it to Mombasa, Kampala, and Arusha. Driving in Nairobi can be chaotic, there is a lot of traffic, construction, and aggressive drivers. The Nairobil Expressway was introduced in 2020, the 16-mile toll road connects the Eastern neighborhood of Mulolongo to the uptown neighborhood of Westlands at James Gichuru junction through Nairobi CBD. The road connects directly to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The road is intended to ease traffic congestion. There are several rental car agencies located at the airport as well as in the city.

Taxis are found all over the city of Nairobi, they are a good way to travel around the city, and a much safer option when traveling at night. Taxis can be found parked around hotels, restaurants, and major tourist attractions. They are normally marked with a yellow line on each side, prices should be negotiated before agreeing upon a ride. There are ride-sharing apps available in Nairobi such as Uber, Bolt, Little, and Nopea Ride.

There are some cycling opportunities in Nairobi, you can hire bikes from certain locations such as the Green Cycle Shop. There are some non-motorized lanes in the city such as Thika Road, which is a great place to ride a bike. Other roads include the Northern, and Southern Bypass which are designed with non-motorized lanes. Nairobi sits at a high altitude around 9,842 feet above sea level, so cycling requires a lot of effort. Nairobi hosts a growing cycling community with opportunities to cycle the Ngong Hills along the Great Rift Valley, and through Karura Forest, which is the city’s most frequented cycling destination, offering a clean, quiet, and well-maintained cycling trail.

Walking around Nairobi is easily done with many of the main attractions in the city center located within walking distance. It is not safe to walk at night, and during the day be aware of traffic. In the CBD there are good sidewalks in most areas.

Nairobi is considered a safe city, however, it is advised not to visit the city center at night. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your wallet out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Violent crime, theft, and pickpocketing are common throughout the country. Avoid traveling alone, especially at night. Corrupt police are a problem in Kenya, and traveling independently is not advised, we advise taking organized tours where a local will help navigate the city trouble-free.

Nairobi offers travelers a great deal of shopping opportunities in the city, there are shopping malls, markets, supermarkets, and many unique shops. Biashara Street located in downtown Nairobi is the place to shop for textiles, clothing, and more. Visit the Maasai Market which is held on Fridays at the Village Market, the Triangle Market is located in Westlands in front of the Sarit Center, and Toi Market is a local market in City Park. The Sarit Center is a shopping mall with a Carrefour supermarket inside, as well as a movie theater, other malls in the city include Yaya Center on Argwings Kodhek Road near Hurlingham, and The Mall in Westlands. The Junction shopping complex on Ngong Road features some unique boutiques, notably Zebu, a store highlighting local designer Annabell Thom’s leather bags and more. Westgate is a large shopping mall featuring many different stores. Nairobi’s four primary supermarkets are Quick Mart, Naivas, Carrefour, and Chandaranda Foodplus.

The official language spoken in Nairobi is Swahili. However, English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry, it is taught in schools and used in government, business, and the media. Many people speak fluent English, especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good Swahili/African-English guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

Nairobi features a subtropical highland climate, with an elevation of 5,889 feet above sea level, evenings are cool especially during the months of June and July when nightly temperatures can drop to 41F degrees. The best time to visit the city is during Kenya’s dry seasons, which runs from June to October, which is a great time to view games at Nairobi National Park. The warmest and sunniest time of the year is from December through March with average daily temperatures around 82F degrees. Nairobi sits close to the equator, so the difference between seasons is minimal, there is a rainy season from March to May and October to December, the rainiest month being April, as well as a lot of rainfall in May and November. The average annual temperature is around 66F degrees and daytime temperatures rarely drop below 50F degrees or exceed 85F.

The currency of Nairobi is the Kenyah Shilling (KES), the US dollar is not accepted. You will need to exchange your currency for the Shilling, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. ATMs can be found in Nairobi, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred.

Traditional Kenyan food is described as eclectically mixed, each community has its own native food with staples consisting of corn and other grains such as sorghum and millet, paired with various meats and vegetables. Coastal dishes in Kenya are unique and also recognized as some of the best throughout the country. Fish and seafood dishes are staples along the coast, while rice and stew are also commonly served.

There is a great range of restaurants in the city to choose from, there are American fast-food restaurants such as KFC, Subway, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Hardee’s, and Burger King. Some of the African fast food restaurants include Galitos, Steers, PizzaMojo, and Spur Steak Ranches, these have all been long established in the country.

Coffee houses, doubling up as restaurants and mostly frequented by the upper middle classes, such as Artcaffe Nairobi Java House and Dormans, have become increasingly popular in recent days. Traditional food joints such as the popular K'osewe's in the city center and Amaica, which specialize in African delicacies, are also widespread.

There is an annual Restaurant Week (NRW) held in Nairobi in January and February. Restaurants in the city offer dining packages at reduced prices, managed by Eatout Kenya, an online platform that lists and reviews restaurants, and provides a platform for Kenyan foodies to congregate and share.

The Kenchic franchise which specialized in old-school chicken and chips meals was also popular, particularly among the lower classes and students, with restaurants all over the city and its suburbs. However, as of February 2016, Kenchic stopped operating its eatery business. Upscale restaurants often specialize in specific cuisines such as Italian, Lebanese, Ethiopian, and French, but are more likely to be found in five-star hotels and the wealthier suburbs in the West and South of the city.

Some traditional dishes in Nairobi include ugali (maize meal), sukuma wiki (a vegetable similar to collard greens), nyama choma (grilled meat, usually goat), along with typical sides like chapatis, beans, mung beans, maize, and kachumbari.

Nairobi’s culinary scene blends many different international cuisines such as Indian, Ethiopian, Arabian, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Asian, and European. Foodies will discover gourmet restaurants, roadside food stalls, food courts, five-star dining, and many coffee shops. There are plenty of al fresco restaurant options with rooftop balconies and gardens to enjoy in the beautiful year-round weather in the city.

Nairobi Nightlife is popular and widespread throughout the city, the central area to go to at night is either the affluent neighborhood of Westland or several locations downtown. The city’s vibrant nightlife is busy with locals and visitors who gather at venues ranging from exclusive champagne bars to swanky nightclubs, upscale rooftop bars, and trendy bars, there is something for everyone to enjoy on a night out in Nairobi. The city is by far one of the best destinations in Kenya, music is key in the city with many options to dance the night away and listen to some great electrifying African beats. Genge is a strain of hip-hop music that originated in Nairobi

The city has some historic drinking establishments such as the Lord Delamere Terrace, located in the Norfolk Hotel in Fairmont. This restaurant/bar dates back to 1904 and little has changed since its establishment, set amongst lush, tropical gardens with a menu focusing on steak and seafood, with an exciting drink list full of imported wines and classic cocktails.

The Exchange Bar which is located in the Stanley Hotel, was named for the previous incarnation of Nairobi’s first Stock Exchange. The bar features gleaming wood, and supple leather which give it the atmosphere of an English gentlemen’s club. There are single malts and fine cigars available, and a selection of international newspapers to keep up to date on the times. There are a few iconic nightclubs in the city where you can dance till the wee morning hours, K1 Klub House, Simba Saloon, and Black Diamond.

In case of an emergency dial 112 or 999 for local police, an ambulance, or fire.

Hospitals: The Nairobi West Hospital tel. 254-730-600-000

MP Shah Hospital tel. 254-111-000-600

The Nairobi South Hospital tel. 254-205-145-300