In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Kenya
Nairobi
Nairobi is a two-night base, not a sight list: land, sleep, do one museum or giraffe morning, and keep the afternoons free for traffic — safari flights leave early from Wilson, across the city from the international airport.
Nairobi's sights are few and spread over long, congested roads. The trips that go wrong are the ones that plan two neighbourhoods in one afternoon, walk after dark, or take a safari flight the same morning as an international landing. Five short clusters cover a first stay; a ride-hailing car or a hotel driver joins them, and the last day ends with the bags already in the car.
- Country
- Kenya
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Dec
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
- Stay
- 1 days: Museum Hill morning, then rest
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KES
- Money
- Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants; M-Pesa (mobile money) is everywhere and small stalls and matatus want cash. Keep KES 3,000 in small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget KES 3,000–6,000 excl. bed · Mid KES 6,000–15,000 excl. bed · High KES 15,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a Safaricom or Airtel SIM at the airport or a shop (passport needed). Safaricom has the widest coverage and runs M-Pesa.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 999 or 112 · Kenya Red Cross 1199
- Plugs
- 230 V; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G). Bring an adapter and a surge-protected strip.
- Tipping
- Not compulsory: 10% in a sit-down restaurant if no service charge is on the bill; round up for drivers; KES 100–200 for a porter or guide's helper.
- Water
- Tap water is not for drinking; use bottled or filtered water, including for teeth.
- Toilets
- Hotels, malls, museums and larger cafés; carry tissues. Public toilets on the street are basic.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | KES 250–450 |
| Bottle of water, shop | KES 60–120 |
| Matatu ride in town | KES 50–100 |
| Ride-hail Westlands to CBD | KES 500–1,000 |
| Tusker beer in a bar | KES 300–500 |
| Nyama choma plate | KES 800–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
- NBO to Westlands: one ride-hail car or a hotel driver, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic — the risk is not the distance but a late landing with no pickup arranged and an unlit road at night.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) | International and main domestic flights | Ride-hail 30–70 min depending on traffic; the Nairobi Expressway is quicker when open (toll) |
| Wilson Airport (Wilson) | Light aircraft to the Mara and other parks | Ride-hail 20–45 min |
| Nairobi Terminus (SGR) (Nairobi Terminus) | Madaraka Express trains to Mombasa | Ride-hail 30–60 min |
| Long-distance bus stations | Buses to Kisumu, Nakuru and Mombasa | On foot in the CBD |
Typical fares
- JKIA to Westlands, ride-hail
- KES 1,500–2,800, 30–70 min
- Westlands to CBD, ride-hail
- KES 500–1,000, 20–50 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Ride-hailing cars and hotel drivers are the working option. Walk inside a cluster by day. Matatus are cheap but crowded and hard for visitors.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside one cluster, by day |
| Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, Little) | KES 500–1,000 across town; more in peak hours | Between clusters, late at night |
| Hotel driver or a hired car with driver | KES 8,000–15,000 a day (2026 estimate) | A Karen and giraffe day, park days |
| Licensed taxi | Agree the fare first | When apps are slow |
| Matatu (minibus) | KES 50–100 | Local trips for experienced travellers |
| Boda-boda (motorbike taxi) | KES 100–300 | Not recommended |
| Commuter train | Cheap | Not a visitor option |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Fares are shown in the app before you ride; agree a fare first with any street taxi.
- Late at night
- No metro; the commuter rail is not a visitor option. Ride-hailing runs late, but confirm the driver and plate before you get in.
See and do
01Nairobi National Museum
Human origins and wildlife in one indoor morning.
Hours: best At opening · Price: about KES 1,200 · Time: 2–3 h · -1.2745, 36.8143
02Giraffe Centre
Feed a giraffe at eye level; a treat for children.
Hours: best At opening · Price: about KES 1,500–2,000 · Time: 1 h · -1.3757, 36.7415
03Karen Blixen Museum
The farmhouse from the writer's story, with a guide.
Hours: best Morning · Price: about KES 1,200 · Time: 1–1.5 h · -1.3520, 36.7114
04Nairobi National Park game drive
Wildlife with the skyline behind.
Hours: best Early morning · Price: about US$50–60 (check) · Time: 3–4 h
05Karura Forest
A green morning walk or ride.
Hours: best Early morning · Price: about KES 600 · Time: 2–3 h · -1.2412, 36.8300
06City Market
Crafts and a real local market.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 30–45 min · -1.2836, 36.8213
07Nyama choma at CarnivoreCarnivore
A big meat meal in Kenya style.
Hours: best Late lunch · Price: about KES 4,000–5,500 · Time: 90 min · -1.3315, 36.7885
08Railway Museum
The rail line that founded the city.
Hours: best Morning · Price: about KES 1,000 · Time: 1 h · -1.2906, 36.8281
09David Sheldrick elephant nursery
Baby elephants at feeding time.
Hours: best Around 11:00 · Price: about KES 1,000–1,500 (check) · Time: 1 hHours: best Around 11:00 AM · Price: about KES 1,000–1,500 (check) · Time: 1 h
10A Naivasha day trip
A Rift Valley view, a lake and a gorge walk.
Hours: best Dry season · Price: Car and park fees · Time: Full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi National Park | Car 20–45 min from the CBD | Half day (morning game drive) |
| Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate | Car about 1.5–2 h each way | Full day |
| Maasai Mara | Flight from Wilson Airport about 1 h, or car 5–6 h each way | 2–3 nights |
| Amboseli | Flight about 45 min, or car 4–5 h | 2 nights |
| Great Rift Valley viewpoint | Car about 40 min | Half day |
| Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Car about 3 h | Full day or overnight |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarit Centre food court | Curry and rice or chapati and beans · Westlands | KES 500–1,000 | Budget |
| Street samosas and chai | Samosa and tea · Citywide | KES 100–250 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Fruit, bread and cheese · Citywide | KES 300–700 | Budget |
| Java House (Westlands) | Kenyan breakfast or a burger · Westlands | KES 800–1,800 | Mid-range |
| Karen Blixen Coffee Garden | Grilled fish or chicken lunch · Karen | KES 1,500–2,800 | Mid-range |
| The Talisman | A garden lunch · Karen | KES 1,800–3,200 | Mid-range |
| Carnivore Restaurant | The nyama choma feast · Langata | KES 4,000–5,500 | Splurge |
| Fine-dining restaurants in Westlands and Karen | Tasting menus · Westlands, Karen | KES 5,000–10,000 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses and hours change; check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | KES 1,200–2,500 dorm bed · KES 4,000–7,000 double | CBD, Kilimani and Westlands | Hostels and small hotels |
| mid | KES 8,000–18,000 | Westlands and Kilimani | Business and boutique hotels |
| splurge | KES 25,000–60,000+ | Karen, Gigiri and Westlands | Heritage and luxury hotels and guest houses |
Per room per night in KES, 2026 estimate; peak season (Jan–Mar and Jul–Oct) adds 10–30%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Habari / Jamboha-BAH-ree / JAHM-boh |
| Thank you | Asanteah-SAHN-teh |
| Please | Tafadhalitah-fah-DAH-lee |
| How much is it? | Ni bei gani?nee BAY GAH-nee |
| Too expensive, a bit less? | Ghali sana, punguza kidogoGAH-lee SAH-nah, poon-GOO-zah kee-DOH-goh |
| Slowly, please | Pole pole, tafadhaliPOH-leh POH-leh |
| The bill, please | Naomba bilinah-OHM-bah BEE-lee |
| I need help | Nahitaji msaadanah-hee-TAH-jee m-sah-AH-dah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Greet first and shake hands; ask how someone is before asking for something.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; do not photograph government buildings, police or the military.
- Dress: Dress modestly in markets and religious places; shorts are fine in hotels and malls.
- Bargaining: Bargain with humour and never shame a seller; walk away politely if the price does not move.
- Left hand: Use your right hand to give and receive when possible.
- Tips: Round up for a driver and tip a guide or an animal-park ranger in cash.
Red lines
- Do not photograph government buildings, police or the military.
- Ask before photographing people; some will ask for a fee.
- Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Kenya: be discreet in public.
Scams and watch-outs
- Airport and street touts offering a 'taxi' at a fixed price: use a ride-hailing app or a hotel-booked car.
- Snatch-and-grab theft from open car windows and from people using phones on the pavement: keep windows up in traffic and phones out of sight.
- A 'guide' or 'ranger' offering a park or slum tour at a low price, then asking for a large fee: book through your hotel or a licensed operator.
- Fake police asking to see your wallet or passport: ask for a warrant card and move to a public place; use your hotel's number if in doubt.
- Overpriced curios and a 'gift' bracelet followed by a demand for money at a market: agree prices before you accept anything.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover before a safari flight. Skip: Karen and the giraffes; they need a separate half day.
- 08:308:30 AMNairobi National Museum
- 11:3011:30 AMLunch in the CBD, then City Market
- 14:002:00 PMRest at the hotel
2 days
The usual Nairobi stay. Skip: A same-day national park drive.
Day 1 — Museum Hill and the CBD
- 08:308:30 AMNairobi National Museum
- 11:3011:30 AMCity Market
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch in the CBD
Day 2 — Karen and the giraffes
- 09:009:00 AMKaren Blixen Museum
- 11:3011:30 AMGarden lunch
- 14:002:00 PMGiraffe Centre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Magical Kenya (national tourism board): magicalkenya.com/
- Kenya electronic travel authorisation portal: www.etakenya.go.ke/
- Wikivoyage — Nairobi: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nairobi
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nairobi
Kwa anwani hii, tafadhali
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- CarnivoreCarnivore Restaurant
- Police, ambulance, fire999 or 112
- Kenya Red Cross1199
Write your embassy's phone number below; most are in Gigiri or Upper Hill.
English is widely spoken; a few Swahili words are appreciated.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nairobi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.