13 Places to Visit in Nairobi + First Visit Tips!
What!!! Nairobi has a national wildlife park within 5 miles of down town and a Giraffe Manor for overnight stays? Along with Karen Blixen musuem, and Masai Markets, here’s our recommended places to visit in Nairobi!
We spent time here ahead of a Masai Mara safari, packing in many lifetime experiences from historic sights to sampling great coffee and local foods. We used a local driver to get around & enjoy this vibrant African capital our way!
Read on for where to eat dinner in town while looking over a safari park?
Our articles reflect our personal experiences in featured destinations. When you book using a link on our site, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Read our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer for more information.
Nairobi Highlights
If you’re short on time, here’s our top 3 activities to fill a couple of days stay.
1. Tour Karen Blixen Museum & Grounds
2. Take A Historic Bombas Cultural Tour
3. Shop at a Masai Market for incredible beadwork.
We also highlight combinations of activities that we felt fit well together based on our experiences to help you get the most from your time in Nairobi.
1. Nairobi National Park
Entrance: Jul to Mar- USD $60Adults; Kids under 12 $20;
Other Months USD $40 Adult/$20 for Kids. Under 3 Free.
Credit Card Only. Additional fee if you bring your vehicle.
Open: 6am to 6pm (go early if you can).
Even if you have been on safari, if you’re like us and never tire of seeing wildlife, you have to experience Nairobi National Park.
Less than 5 miles from town, it’s a wonderful half-day or day out. Imagine watching elephants, giraffes, leopards, and zebras. Behind them are 21st-century glass fronted city skyscrapers. This is a totally unique Nairobi activity!
You’re can spot white and black rhinos here! So if you don’t manage to do this in Masai Mara, come here and you shouldn’t be disappointed. We heard it’s a constant battle to protect these against poaching but the park is making progress!
Thinking of Driving in Nairobi National Park?
Honestly, we don’t recommend driving yourself here because you can’t get out of your car in the park. Also you won’t see much without a Landcruiser style vehicle with a roof that opens up.
So, it’s definately easiest to organize a tour that picks you up from and returns you directly your hotel.
🎒Our Tip: Combine Nairobi National Park with the Sheldrick Orphanage Trust (#2 below), as they’re both in the same location of town.
🔍 Click To Book Nairobi National Park Tour
2. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Elephants)
Public Hours: Daily 10-11am (closed Christmas Day)
Cost: 12 years+ US$20; <12 years USD $5.
Sadly. some baby elephants get orphaned or lost from their families; others get injured and are abandoned.
Thankfully the Sheldrick family saw the need for a sanctuary and set up this family-run conservation organization which is almost 50 years old! Over 350 elephants so far have returned to full health and many have been rewilded.
Visitor hours are scheduled to coincide with meal-times. Come to watch these elephants feeding up close – what a special experience. We didn’t realize the size of these animals until we were fairly close up: even baby elephants are pretty sturdy!
You can also adopt an elephant as another way to support these conservation programs.
🔍 Click Here to Book David Sheldrick Elephant Trip
Don’t miss the orphaned black rhinos living here; also being cared for and hopefully able to return to the wild once older.
🎒Our Tip: Consider staying overnight at Sheldrick Trust Eco Lodges if you have time. It’s on our ‘next visit’ list 🙂
3. Karen Blixen Museum Tour
A personal favourite in Nairobi was our tour around the Karen Blixen Museum, her actual home here which is set in 15 acres of stunning gardens.
Seen the film Out of Africa? It’s hard to believe it came out back in 1985. The original autobiography written by Karen Blixen was published years earlier in 1937 and is a classic to read before coming to Kenya.
Hours: Tues/Wed 11am-9pm; Thur-Sun 11am-5pm (closed Mon). Free Parking. Adults: DK100; Students: <27 DK60, & <18 FREE!
Set in the foothills of the Ngong, this is certainly one of the most unique places to see in Nairobi on a first visit.
As you join a guided tour of the property which was her home, it is eye opening to learn about the challenges she faced, and how her life evolved.
🔍 Click Here to Book Karen Blixen Museum Tour
As well as the main museum, you can take a short walk across the garden to see their original coffee processing area. Back in the 1930s when Karen, a Danish national, first came here she was intending to grow coffee.
For a number of reasons, we learned that never took off, but it wasn’t through her lack of effort!
We also enjoyed browsing art displays at a small market on the house lawn. After you’ve finished your tour, head to the nearby Karen Blixen Garden Cafe for a refreshment or lunch.
🎒Our Tip: We visited around 4pm on a Sunday and it was pretty quiet with plenty of car parking space.
4. Ngong Hills Safari Hike
Park Hours: Open Daily From 6am to 5 pm.
Fee: 200Khs; Hiking 200-600 Khs; Ziplining 600 Khs.
Come here if you love nature and we suspect you do if you’re heading to Kenya.
You will be rewarded with views over the one and only Rift Valley and the city of Nairobi. On clear days you might also catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya!
With peaks at just over 8,000 feet, it’s only 25km from town, so you can easily fit in a half-day hike with perhaps a picnic lunch on the grassy slopes.
Other activities include cycling, zip-lining, and even archery so you won’t get bored. You can easily spend a day here if you prefer this to Nairobi city activities.
🔍 Click To Book Ngong Hills Day Tour
Also, if you’re at Karen Blixen, you’re pretty close to the Ngong Hills so if you enjoy a hike, why not continue on to here? Or swap this around and visit the hills first, and enjoy an afternoon at the Museum.
🎒Our Tip: Wear a windproof jacket as it can be windy and cold on these hills and bring plenty of water. This goes for Nairobi National Park trips too.
5. Nairobi National Museum
Open Mon-Sun 8.30am to 5.30 pm. Closed Mondays.
Entrance Fee: Adults 1200 Ksh; <Age 16 is 600 Ksh.
We enjoy visiting at least one museum wherever we go because it is such a great way to appreciate past and often current cultures.
Although we decided to head to Karen Blixen as our first choice, the Nairobi National Museum is one of the best places to visit in Nairobi for history fans.
With permanent exhibitions like the Cradle of Life and Rift Valley to rotation items, it’s worth a few hours of your time.
🎒Our Tip: The museum is close to the Nairobi Arboretum so consider combining these in the morning. Then enjoy a picnic lunch at the Arboretum.
6. Masai Market – Shop Til You Drop!
Markets are an adventure in themselves and if you have an opportunity to visit the open-air Masai market take it!
The location of the market moves around day to day across the city so your advice is to ask at your hotel when you arrive.
It started as a market for Masai people to trade and has grown to represent a stunning array of handicrafts from across East Africa. Expect to see pottery, wood carving, paintings, beadwork, fabric and a whole lot more.
Be prepared to haggle a little as initial prices will likely be outrageous 🙂
If you prefer not to barter, then head to the Utamaduni Craft Center in Karen. It’s a treasure trove of colour from wood-carved animals to Masai themed paintings, intricate beadwork, and more!
We bought some beautiful souvenirs here and the staff were so helpful in wrapping everything ready for a flight back to London and on to the USA.
7. Giraffe Center
Open Daily From 9am – 5pm. Busiest from 11am to 1pm.
Costs: Adults 1500 Ksh; Ages 3-12 is 750 Ksh.
Want to kiss a giraffe? Here’s where to come – another of our places to visit in Nairobi not to miss.
For a more personal wildlife interaction head to the Giraffe Center – great for kids as it’s quite interactive. Yes, you get to feed them. So cool, we’ve done this with little kids and they love it – us big kids did too!
For more than 40 years, this sanctuary has worked to protect the endangered Rothschild species of Giraffe. Daisy I was the first guest here and today visitors can meet Daisy IV.
🔍 Click Here to Book Your Giraffe Center Tour
Giraffes born here are released back into the wild at around ages 2-3 and herds are growing so it is a great success.
As well as the giraffes, they have a short hiking trail you can enjoy as well as a cafe for a cold refreshment.
8. Visit a Kenyan Coffee Farm
You’re going to love the java scene in Nairobi as Kenya is a top coffee producer. The coffee we tasted was delicious and it was one of our souvenirs!!
Some of the top cafes currently in Karen and Westlands are:
- Karen Blixen Coffee Garden – from coffee up to a full dinner menu and you can stay in the cottages on site.
- Tin Roof Cafe – a beautiful spot with an organic menu & friendly staff.
- Java House – a more authentic Kenyan coffee experience on Langata Road.
Alternatively, book yourself onto a coffee farm (or tea) tour and get up close to the farmers who grow the plants.
And if you combine Rwanda with your Kenya travels, like we did, include a visit to Question Coffee on your Kigali Things To Do List.
🔍 Click Here to Book A Coffee Farm Tour
The growers are fascinating to chat with and work so hard. If you love coffee and want to learn about a specific region’s industry in more detail, this is for you.
🎒Our Tip: Don’t leave without buying some organic Kenyan coffee to enjoy back home. It’s a great souvenir.
9. Walking Tours in Nairobi
Yes, we did say earlier not to walk around Nairobi on your own. But we also know slow travel is such a great way to get the feel of a new place. So why not take a walking tour?
A guided Historical Walking Tour is a perfect way to appreciate how the city has grown over the past century.
You’ll pass by cultural, important religious and awesome market spots and visit inside some depending on which tour you select.
🔍 Click Here to Book A Historical Nairobi Walking Tour
A highlight is the 360-degree view from the top of Kenyatta Convention Center. Keep your phone charged for these views!
10. Picnic in Nairobi Arboretum
Opening Hours: Open Daily From 6am to 6.15pm.
Entrance: Adults 65 Ksh & Children 25 Ksh.
A unique experience in Nairobi is to enjoy a walk, jog, or relaxing picnic in the diverse 30 hectares that is Nairobi Arboretum, located in Westlands.
It was created in 1907 and is loved by visitors and residents alike due to being so accessible. If you choose to stay at the Radisson Blu Arboretum, you likely see this park from your hotel!
Or how about enjoying a yoga class early in the day in the central lawn area which is where many people meet up at weekends in particular.
If you love birdwatching, you will likely notice many species and kids will enjoy spotting butterflies, chasing them and watching the antics of monkeys that call this spot home.
11. Check Out Bomas of Kenya
Open Daily 10am to 6pm. Cultural Shows: Mon-Fri @ 2.30-4.00pm; Weekends/Public Holidays @ 3.30-5.15pm.
Adults 1000 Kshs/USD $10; Kids/ Students 500 Kshs.
If you love social history, and dance and want to appreciate the traditional and cultural diversity of Kenya, you’re going to enjoy an afternoon at the Bomas.
Back in 1971, the government created this site and it is, for sure, one of the more unique places to visit in Nairobi.
There is a bus service to Bomas, but it is quicker to have your hotel get you a taxi. Or take a tour with transport included to avoid having to bother with return taxi arrangements.
The word Bomas means ‘enclosed area/home’ in Swahili. Tour 20+ such structures, each with individual design and decor to match regional heritages.
🔍 Click Here to Book A Bomas Cultural Tour
Combine your visit and catch a traditional dancing and story telling show performed in the biggest Auditorium in Africa. It looks like one giant hut!
🎒Our Tip: Combine with Karen Blixen Museum in the morning.
12. Visit Hell’s Gate National Park
What we love about Kenya is the open spaces and freedom to explore so much of the countryside.
Open Daily 6am to 6pm. Entrance $30 USD for Adults & $20 for ages 3-18 years. $5 less in low season.
Overnight camping. Guided Tours from $50 USD.
Daily Car Rental USD $150+ Self-Drive in Park.
Hot Springs USD $50 ($30 for children)
Hells Gate National Park, a UNESCO heritage site, is fairly new only opening in 1984. But did you know that the waters running through here were the supply to ancient humans in the Rift Valley? Yes, we’re talking prehistoric-era life!
As it’s around 100km from Nairobi, we weren’t able to carve out the time on our last trip but it’s top to see next visit! As the inspiration for the Lion King animation, it’s got to be cool!!
Olkaria Geothermal Hot Spa is also a lesser-known hidden gem near Nairobi and definitely worth enjoying as part of your visit here.
🔍 Book Your Hells Gate Day Trip Here
In addition, if you have more flexibility to stay longer, you can come here to bike, hike, rock climb, and even camp overnight and hire a car to drive around.
There’s wildlife to spot, birds, and incredible scenery. We think from talking with our Kenyan friends and local operators, kids will love it here too!
🎒Our Tip: we used local tour operator Asilia African Travel to pull together our visits, and this is an option vs. separate tours.
13. Cooking School In A Kenyan Home
The food in Kenya during our adventures here has been fantastic. The combination of local produce and creative cooking results in enticing flavours, sweet, savory, and with lots of variety.
If you are a foodie who enjoys cooking too, why not visit a Kenyan home and cooking school in town?
We didn’t book early enough for this experience so make sure you do!
🔍 Click Here to Book Nairobi Cooking Class
Map of Nairobi Kenya
Nairobi is a sprawling city. If this is going to be your first visit, pick a hotel based in Karen or Westlands Districts. We have 3 excellent suggestions a little further below for you to check out. These areas of town are safe and easier to get to/from the international and Wilson airports.
They also are well positioned to see as many of our suggested best places to visit in Nairobi without long drives every day across town.
Getting Around Nairobi
Don’t use public transport to get around town. It’s not safe, neither are local taxis.
We suggest using Uber for city trips so you have everything on your phone and Uber account.
Or, if you can afford it, hire a car/driver to take you around Nairobi. We recommend a local tour company Asilia Africa, who have been in business for decades. We found they went beyond what we expected to help us see as much as possible and have no hesitation using them on our next trip.
FAQs
We have personally found Nairobi to be safe to visit. However, we had a driver with a car, & didn’t attempt to use public transport as it is not reliable or always safe.
In Nairobi, you’re going to be at 5,500 feet (1,680m) – think similar to Denver, Colorado in the USA.
However, this is not high enough for most of us to cause any altitude sickness so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Where to Stay in Nairobi
Here are 3 places to stay that are always popular with visitors and have excellent locations for our Nairobi activities.
📍$$ – Ole Sereni Hotel – next door to National Park as you can see from our dining view! Swimming Pool, Free Parking and Great Staff. Close to the main airport too.
📍$$ – Radisson Blu Hotel Arboretum – in Westlands and convenient for several of our Nairobi activities including the National Museum and of course Arboretum. This is a quiet area despite the central location with a pool, gym, and free parking. <5 miles from the international airport.
📍$$$ – Hemingsways Nairobi – if it’s an old-style luxury you are after, and your budget is generous, this is your perfect hotel. Exceptional service, beautiful grounds and attentive staff make this a place of dreams to sleep at when in Nairobi.
->> Click here for more great accommodation choices.
What About An Airport Hotel?
There are several airport based hotels but we found the Sheraton very comfortable for a first night, as we arrived on a late flight from Rwanda.
📍$$ Nairobi International Airport 4 Points Sheraton Hotel is convenient for a first night as it is within the airport perimeter. This means you get to your bed quickly after a long flight and can sleep/freshen up without any traffic issues.
Places to Eat in Nairobi
Like any capital or major city around the world, there’s going to be an overwhelming choice of places to eat. So here’s our suggestion. Decide on your hotel and itinerary, build in options for lunch and dinner around these.
For example, if you decide to stay at Ole Semani (next to the National Park), you can eat here one night and enjoy the views of the park.
Just remember it gets dark around 6pm here most of the year, so eat early or enjoy a sundowner cocktail.
Alternatively in Karen, try the highly recommended Tamarind Brasserie or CJs Waterfront both restaurants close to the Karen Blixen Museum. We enjoyed this part of town immensely.
Still Need Ideas for Your Kenyan Safari?
We hope that you’re much clearer on the range of unique places to visit in Nairobi, Kenya.
If you are still working on your safari options, check out our 3 Day Masai Mara Itinerary from Nairobi for more inside tips and ideas. We stayed at a eco Masai Mara camp and highly recommend it to you: Read our review of Karen Blixen Camp to get all our inside scoop.
We feel that from our experience combining a couple of days in the city with your safari adventures is the ultimate way to discover the most of Kenya.
