PlanoPlanoNairobi is a city where wildlife and urban energy coexist in ways found nowhere else on the planet. Things to do in Nairobi range from safari experiences within the city limits to a thriving creative scene in converted industrial spaces, Maasai cultural encounters, and East African food that reflects the city's cosmopolitan population.
Read the full Nairobi travel guide →3 days
January, February, July
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KICC observation deck
The rooftop of the 28-storey Kenyatta International Convention Centre in the CBD offers 360-degree views over the city, Uhuru Park, and the Ngong Hills on clear days.
Nairobi National Museum
The museum on Museum Hill covers Kenyan prehistory (including early hominid fossils from Turkana), contemporary East African art, and natural history, with botanical gardens on site.
Nairobi Railway Museum
The museum at the old railway station documents the construction of the Uganda Railway, with vintage locomotives, original coaches, and the carriage from which Charles Ryall was dragged by a lion in 1900.
Nyama choma at Kenyatta Market
The open-air market in Dagoretti has rows of butcheries where you choose your cut of goat meat, which is then grilled to order over charcoal and served with ugali and kachumbari.
Karura Forest
A 1,000-hectare urban forest in the northern suburbs has 50 km of walking, running, and cycling trails, waterfalls, Mau Mau caves, and a cafe, all within the city limits.
Kibera neighbourhood creative tour
Community-led tours of Africa's largest urban settlement visit locally run art projects, recycling workshops, and schools, supporting Kibera's growing creative economy.
Westlands neighbourhood
The commercial hub north of the CBD has Ethiopian restaurants along Mpaka Road, Sarit Centre for everyday shopping, and the Alchemist Bar in a converted shipping-container park.
Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate day trip
A 90-minute drive northwest reaches a freshwater lake for boat rides among hippos and Hell's Gate National Park, where you can cycle and hike among giraffes, zebras, and geothermal vents.
Kazuri Beads Factory
A women's cooperative in Karen handcrafts ceramic beads and pottery, employing over 340 single mothers, with factory tours and a showroom for direct purchases.
K1 Klubhouse
A live music venue and club on Parklands Road that hosts Kenyan hip hop, gengetone, and Afro-fusion acts on weekends, with open-mic nights and DJ sets on weekdays.
The best months to enjoy things to do in Nairobi are January, February, July, August, September. Plan around these months for the best weather and fewer crowds.
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