Discover Nairobi
Hotels, halal food, prayer spaces, things to do, and itineraries in Nairobi.
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Must-see attractions in Nairobi
From headline landmarks and heritage icons to parks, waterfronts, and major museums, discover 15 standout sights to build into your time in the city.
While Nairobi today is certainly not the small station depot it used to be, it cannot really be classed as a very big city. It is not a city one goes to visit just for the city itself. But this is the gateway to an immensely beautiful and adventurous country with unique features not available anywhere else in the world. It has many drawbacks yet it is a friendly city and it can really grow on you, if you have the right approach. The place can be lively and interesting. It has a unique culture. Where else can one see Maasai warriors in traditional attire walking along with modern business people? The city is perpetually busy and colorful.
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Muslim travel planner
Plan a Muslim-friendly trip in Nairobi
Halal restaurants in Nairobi
Nairobi’s food scene is part of the city experience. Choose from 33 restaurants and food districts with location notes and planning tips.
nairobiAlan Bobbe’s Bistro
Alan Bobbe’s Bistro is a French Bistro gourmet restaurant with a rich décor. The dress code is formal, food is mouthwatering and menu extensive.
nairobiThe Lord Errol
The Lord Errol is a premium French and International cuisine restaurant situated in a peaceful location. It is a favourite of Nairobi’s expatriate crowd as well as local Kenyans. The wine list is extensive, service excellent, and the French food is the finest one can get probably in the entire East African belt.
nairobiFurusato
Furusato, is a Japanese specialty restaurant. Considered the best in Nairobi for sushi, sashimi, tepanyaki, tempura and other Japanese specialities. The settings are elegant and subtle and the service has typical Japanese warmth and hospitality.
nairobiThe Carnivore
The Carnivore is considered amongst the top barbecue restaurants of the world. An open air restaurant it is a unique experience and a must for every visitor, especially for meat eaters. There is every possible kind of meat including wild game meat of the zebra, antelope, crocodile, ostrich, etc. These are cooked over a huge charcoal pit. The restaurant does not follow the norm in its service. Once seated, soup is served and there are side dishes of salad and vegetables with a variety of sauces to choose from. Unlimited and varied meats are then brought on huge swords and carved onto your plates. Dessert and coffee at the end completes the meal. The service here is exemplary and the ambience amazing.
nairobiTrattoria
Trattoria is famous for its Italian specialities. The desserts here are mouth watering. The restaurant is on two floors and the upstairs balcony area gets packed every evening.
nairobiThorn Tree Café
Café is an upmarket café with international cuisine. It has great atmosphere and the Acacia Tree in the centre is legendary. Thousands of messages would be pinned here by travelers and many times replies written in the past. Today message boards have been placed around the tree to protect it.
Nairobi masjids and Muslim travel
Landmark masjids and prayer-aware notes for visitors planning salah, family movement, and halal-friendly days.
Jamia Mosque
Jamia Mosque is the most important mosque of Kenya. Located on Banda Street in the central business district it is Nairobi’s most noticeable religious structures. It has silver domes and twin minarets.
Abubakar Mosque
Abubakar Mosque was built by Ihya Atturath alislami of Kuwait
Mosque
Mbagathi Way, Nairobi City, Kenya
Masjid Noor Mosque
Digo Rd, Nairobi City, Kenya
Where to stay in Nairobi
Choose where to stay by trip style, from landmark luxury and family bases to central, airport, and neighborhood-led stays.
nairobiNairobi Serena
Considered as Nairobi’s finest hotel by many, the Nairobi Serena keeps the highest standards in service, quality and hospitality. The Serena Group is considered a highly professional group and all its properties are well known for quality of service.
nairobiNew Stanley Hotel
This hotel has been made world famous by the many authors, film makers and artists who not only stayed here, but got their inspiration and best creative spirit while seeping in the atmosphere in The Stanley as it was called then. Some of the more famous ones are Elspeth Huxley, author of books like the ‘The Flame Trees Of Thika,’ Col J H Patterson author of the true story ‘The Maneaters of Tsavo’, Ernest Hemingway who wrote many of his famous works while staying at The Stanley, recuperating from an illness. Films like Mogambo, The Macomber Affair or King Soloman’s Mines, were either filmed or had production units and crew and cast staying here.
nairobiThe Grand Regency Hotel
This is a fairly new hotel with a typical high rise modern façade in white with solar glass look. It is in the up market business district of Nairobi overlooking the Uhuru Park. It has color and class in its style. The interiors have high atriums, skylights and intricate mosaic and bead work.
nairobiNorfolk Hotel
Ideally located on Harry Thaku road, only 5 minutes from the city centre, this is a landmark amongst the Nairobi Hotels and is the oldest Hotel in Nairobi with a historical and colourful past. Today it is still one of Nairobi’s top hotels. It is almost as if the city was built around Norfolk rather than the opposite. It was first opened as a small hotel way back in 1904 by Major CGR Ringer. With nothing but open lands in front and behind the area, this was the place for all weary travelers and game hunters to look forward to after a tiring journey and then completely unwind and relax. It is older than the London Ritz, and has a truly romantic ambience. The hospitality and standards of service it was famous for then are still unmatched in the country. All the important state visitors have stayed or at least visited The Norfolk. It has witnessed history like no other. The meetings of the First World War leaders with the military used to be held here, the British crown was accepted by the Kenyans here. Many important events have been witnessed from this historical place.
nairobiWindsor Golf and Country Club
Whether you are a golfer or not this hotel / country club will completely bowl you over. It is only a fifteen minute drive from the city center but is far from the madness and tension of city life. The resort is in a lush quiet peaceful tropical country setting, with a beautiful 18 hole golf course, lovely open areas for meetings, social events, outdoor parties or conferences and conventions.
History and today in Nairobi
Read the city today, its history, residents, culture, and character before planning your route.
Nairobi Residents
People in urban Nairobi jostle between jobs and have to struggle for a living. There is a big divide between the rich and poor.
City Information
Visa Information
Transit visa is required for many nationals. Please do confirm at the website of the embassy before traveling. The following nationals are exempt from a transit visa:
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When to go
This is the perfect place for year round travel. Nairobi is at 5,449 feet or 1,661 meters above sea level. It has a very pleasant and moderate climate with temperatures never reaching too high or too low. Evenings can get pleasantly cool due to the altitude, in the winter months of June and July but it never really goes down too much below 10 °C.
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Fast Facts
Location:
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Public Holidays
There are a number of declared public holidays when businesses and banks are shut, but small shops, pubs and restaurants normally remain open.
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Annual Temperature:
January: 12; February: 13; March: 13
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Exchange Rates
Kenyan Shilling (KES) is the official currency of Kenya.
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Nairobi Today
While Nairobi today is certainly not the small station depot it used to be, it cannot really be classed as a very big city. It is not a city one goes to visit just for the city itself. But this is the gateway to an immensely beautiful and adventurous country with unique features not available anywhere else in the world. It has many drawbacks yet it is a friendly city and it can really grow on you, if you have the right approach. The place can be lively and interesting. It has a unique culture. Where else can one see Maasai warriors in traditional attire walking along with modern business people? The city is perpetually busy and colorful.
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Shopping in Nairobi
Explore 28 shopping stops, from malls, markets, and book bazaars to fashion streets and souvenir finds.
nairobiMasaai Collections
This store has products of many top designers including Penny Winter clothes, Sally Dudmesh jewellery, Niqui Theones clothes etc.
nairobiZebu, Nakumatt Junction
This boutique has leather bags by the famous local designer Annabelle Thom, as well as other designer items. The quality of products here are excellent though expensive, and there is no bargaining. The Village Market, Gigiri, near the UN office and American Embassy Complex is an open shopping area which also hosts the famous local handicrafts market on Fridays. The Village Market is an upscale market with good clothes and shoe shops.
nairobiABC Plaza, Waiyaki Way
Caters mainly to expatriates. This has a supermarket with a huge choice in imported items as well as food and household goods.
nairobiThe Nakumatt Westlands
Again a mall with many choices. It is as popular as The Sarit Centre. It has the Nakumatt supermarket inside, as well as several boutiques and branded stores.
nairobiThe Sarit Centre, Westlands, Nairobi
This is a shopping mall with a Uchumi Supermarket inside. This is a popular place with western travelers as it has a range of shops in fairly safe environs. It also has a movie hall inside. +254-20-3747408/9, 3748662, 374032
Signature sights in Nairobi
A curated pick of the city's standout sights, led by the strongest editorial recommendations.
Festivals and events in Nairobi
Plan around 14 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.
nairobiNew Year’s Day
1st Jan is celebrated with lights and fanfare to usher in the New Year.
nairobiGood Friday and Easter Monday
Good Friday and Easter Monday are celebrated by the majority Christian population. Mass in Church and prayers are offered.
nairobiKenyan School and College Drama Festival
The Kenyan School and College Drama Festival is a popular event and held on rotation in different cities across Kenya in the month of March as a culmination of regional competitions.
nairobiThe Nairobi Air Show
The Nairobi Air Show is very popular not only in Nairobi, but also all over Africa. Air shows, sky diving, aerobatic, as well as aircraft displays are the highlights. This event is held in March.
nairobiThe East African Art Festival
The East African Art Festival is held in Nairobi each year in the month of March and has competitors coming not only from Kenya, but also from other East African countries. It is a three days event and involves all forms of art, painting architecture, sculpture and traditional pieces.
Nairobi tours and experiences
Heritage walks, food crawls, coastal trips, museum circuits, family days, and guided ideas for an easier day out.
nairobiAfrica Horizons Travel and Safari
Africa Horizons Travel and Safari is a tour company which basically specializes in outstation tours from Nairobi and other places in Kenya and Tanzania to places like Masai- Mara, National Parks, Rift valley, Lake Nagura, Ngorongoro crater etc. Besides these they also take care of tours within Nairobi on special itineraries.
nairobiAbercrombie and Kent
Abercrombie and Kent is a trusted name in luxury adventure tours the world over. They have a large number of tours in Nairobi region which cater to special interests and take care of hotel requirements, transport and special needs. This company is especially good for longer trips and specialized tours.
nairobiAdventure Africa Holidays
Adventure Africa Holidays has tours and agents all over East Africa with its head office in Nairobi. They have organized city excursions which include Nairobi City Tour for 3 hours with a round of the city and its city markets, colonial and government buildings, the Kenyatta conference centre, Railway Museum, National Museum and Snake Park. The 4 hour Nairobi National Park tour also includes the animal orphanage. Another 4 hour tour is to the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre. Some longer tours have a combination of 4-5 places. Dinner or lunch tours to the famous Carnivore restaurant, or visit to the Bomas of Kenya are part of organized tours on offer. There are full day tours to Lake Nakuru National Park express further into the rift valley or within Nairobi and outskirts, or just a trek into the thick Ngong forest. The tour operator has safaris and trips for overnight stays too.
nairobiEspoir Tours and Transport
Espoir Tours and Transport organizes special adventure tours emphasizing on eco-tourism as well as tours within Nairobi and airport transfers. They have day trips in Nairobi to Karen Blixen’s, David Sheldrick Orphanage, Safari Nature walks, Nairobi National Park, Bomas of Africa, Dinners at Carnivore etc. They also organize special Kenya camping safaris, mountain climbing and treks.
nairobiOther Organised Tours
There are many great operators not mentioned here. One can book trips with the international operators directly from country of origin. They will have affiliates in Nairobi. The Kenyan Association of Tour Operators lists all the recognized operators in Kenya, with most based out of Nairobi. Besides Safaris almost all operators organize day trips within and around Nairobi. Their website is http://www.katokenya.org/
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Nairobi travel guide sections
Focused sections for articles, directories, maps, and trip planning.
