City or town
Things to see in Nairobi (Kenya): 20 places and when to go
Nairobi is a major city in Kenya with around 3,010,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 20 places in and around it, mainly Museums and art (7), Temples (5), Food and drink (5). The best known are Nairobi National Park, National Museums of Kenya and Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family, Nairobi. The best time to come is January to February and July to September; also possible: March, June, October and December. There are about 12 h 04 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Kenya · -1.2814, 36.8147
- Population
- About 3,010,000
- Places
- 20 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Museums and art (7) · Temples (5) · Food and drink (5) · Wildlife (3) · With kids (2) · Nature (1)
- Best time
- January to February and July to September.
- Also possible
- March, June, October and December.
- Nearest airport
- WIL Nairobi, 4.5 km as the crow flies
What to see in Nairobi
The places in and around Nairobi, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Nairobi National ParkFirst national park in Kenya, Africa13 km
- National Museums of KenyaState corporation that manages museums, sites and monuments in Kenya825 m
- Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family, NairobiCathedral in Nairobi, Kenya927 m
- Karen Blixen Museum, KenyaMuseum in Kenya14 km
- Nairobi Railway MuseumNational museum1.6 km
- Jamia MosqueMosque in Nairobi, Kenya713 m
- Giraffe CentreZoo in Langata, Kenya13 km
- Kenya National ArchivesKenya National Archives and Documentation Services1.3 km
- Khoja MosqueNational Monument of Kenya771 m
- Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, NairobiHindu temple in Nairobi, Kenya1.4 km
- Nairobi GalleryArt Gallery in Nairobi, Kenya695 m
- All Saints' Cathedral, NairobiCathedral of the Anglican Church of Kenya893 m
- Brew Bistro LoungeBrewery8.8 km
- Nairobi City MarketMarket hall in Nairobi, Kenya588 m
- London Distillers LtdDistillery2.7 km
- Nairobi Safari WalkZoo in Nairobi, Kenya7.4 km
- Nairobi Securities ExchangeStock exchange in Kenya1.3 km
- The Art Space KenyaGallery1.5 km
- The Judiciary MuseumMuseum1.2 km
- Tusker HouseBrewery8.7 km
When to go to Nairobi
The best time to visit Nairobi is January to February and July to September; also possible: March, June, October and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time12:04
- FebBest time12:02
- MarPossible12:01
- AprBetter not11:58
- MayBetter not11:57
- JunPossible11:56
- JulBest time11:56
- AugBest time11:57
- SepBest time12:00
- OctPossible12:02
- NovBetter not12:04
- DecPossible12:04
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 04 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In January, 20 of the 20 places are at their best.
When to go to Kenya in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Nairobi
The nearest main airport is Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL, Nairobi), 4.5 km as the crow flies. How to get around Kenya (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Naivasha6 places77 km
- Nyeri7 places97 km
- Nanyuki7 places147 km
- Meru, Kenya5 places175 km
- Wundanyi7 places318 km
- Marsabit6 places422 km
And all of Kenya, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Nairobi?
The best known: Nairobi National Park, National Museums of Kenya, Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family, Nairobi, Karen Blixen Museum, Kenya, Nairobi Railway Museum. In all, 20 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Nairobi?
January to February and July to September; also possible: March, June, October and December. There are about 12 h 04 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Nairobi?
The nearest main airport is Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL), 4.5 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Nairobi as the destination and these 20 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- KenyaBefore travelling to Kenya: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. You need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), applied for online before you fly; it…
- Museums and art18 places for museums and art in Kenya, from Ruins of Gedi to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: January to February and July to September. Each with its own season
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.