By air
Kigali International Airport (KGL), ~10 km
Africa · Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda
A green hill-city capital and Rwanda's heart
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September — the long dry season
Don't miss
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Kimironko Market
Nyamirambo
Mount Kigali
Things to do
Visiting the memorial
Browsing fabric stalls at the market
Coffee tasting
Craft and art galleries
Where to eat
What to pack
Light layers, rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes
A quieter corner
Nyamirambo's evening street life and its women-led walking tours
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kigali?
June to September — the long dry season. What to pack: Light layers, rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes.
How do I get to Kigali?
Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), ~10 km.
What is there to do in Kigali?
Visiting the memorial, browsing fabric stalls at the market, coffee tasting, craft and art galleries. A quieter find: Nyamirambo's evening street life and its women-led walking tours.
What should I eat in Kigali?
Brochettes, isombe made from cassava leaves, grilled tilapia and Rwandan coffee.
About Kigali
- Hills
Where it is
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda, spread across a series of green hills and valleys near the centre of the country.
History
Kigali was a small settlement when the German colonial resident Richard Kandt set up a post there in 1907. It was chosen as the capital when Rwanda became independent in 1962 and has grown quickly since. The city is home to the national memorial to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, where many victims are buried.
People
People in Kigali speak Kinyarwanda, with English, French and Swahili also widely used, and city life mixes busy markets and motorbike taxis with quiet hillside neighbourhoods.
Known for
- Clean, orderly streets on rolling hills
- The Kigali Genocide Memorial
- A lively arts and coffee scene
- Gateway to Rwanda's national parks
Did you know?
On the last Saturday of each month Rwandans take part in Umuganda, a morning of community work such as cleaning streets and planting trees.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.