Matatus are shared minibus taxis that can transport up to 14 passengers and are a constant in the city. They are the most popular form of transportation in the city, they follow set routes that ply through the greater Nairobian neighborhoods. They are identified by their yellow stripe, usually painted on the back and side. The main terminals can be found around the Odeon Cinema along Tom Mboya Street, and on various streets such as Ronald Ngara, Railways, commercial, and Nyamakima. Pay cash to the conductor when you board the Matatus, prices vary based on distance, time, traffic, etc but roughly range between 50-200ksh. By Train

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 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. On Foot

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. By Bus

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.

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.

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.