What to Do in Nairobi: Must-Visit Attractions and Experiences

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, is the gateway to East Africa, where city life meets nature, culture, and history. From witnessing wildlife within the city limits to exploring museums, markets, parks, and local cuisine, you’ll find plenty of memorable things to do in Nairobi.

Whether you’re visiting for leisure or business, this guide brings together the best Nairobi attractions and experiences to help you plan your stay. Discover Nairobi National Park, meet endangered giraffes, learn about Kenya’s cultural heritage, shop for locally made crafts, and sample the city’s diverse food scene within its neighbourhoods.

If you’re wondering what to do in Nairobi, these recommendations will help you experience the many sides of the Kenyan capital, alongside some of the best places to stay.

• Best for wildlife: Nairobi National Park and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Best for families: Giraffe Centre and Nairobi Safari Park
• Best for history and culture: Nairobi National Museum and Karen Blixen Museum,
• Best for nature walks: Karura Forest and Nairobi Arboretum
• Best for shopping: Maasai Market and Nairobi Gallery
• Best for Kenyan culture: Bomas of Kenya and Kazuri Women’s Cooperative

Explore Nairobi’s national park and conservation centres, then discover forests, walking trails, and parks that offer a break from the city streets.

Located around 10 kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district, Nairobi National Park offers the rare sight of wildlife roaming against the city skyline. The 117-square-kilometre park is home to more than 100 animal species, including lions, black rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and cheetahs, as well as more than 400 bird species.

A game drive takes you through open plains and riverine habitats, with opportunities to visit the park’s rhino sanctuary, picnic sites, and historic Ivory Burning Site. Before visiting, check the official park page for current entry fees and conditions. Remain in your vehicle unless you’re in a designated area, and bring drinking water, binoculars, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Travel tip: Located in Westlands, Mövenpick Nairobi Hotel & Residences offers spacious rooms, restaurants, a pool, and spa facilities. Allow around 45 minutes to reach Nairobi National Park by car, depending on traffic.

Follow the raised wooden boardwalk at Nairobi Safari Walk through simulated wetland, savannah, and forest habitats. Along the route, you can enjoy close views of wildlife, varied habitats, River Mokoyet, and the rocky thickets of Nairobi National Park.

You may see white rhinos, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, pygmy hippos, antelopes, and primates, alongside more than 150 indigenous tree species. You can also look for local bird species while learning about Kenya’s ecosystems and conservation work.

Located in Langata, the Giraffe Centre is a conservation and education centre dedicated to Rothschild’s giraffes. From the raised feeding platform, you can meet the giraffes at eye level and offer them specially prepared food pellets, while educators explain their behaviour and the conservation work helping to protect them.

Beyond the feeding platform, take a walk through the centre’s 1.5-kilometre nature trail, where you can look for birds and smaller animals such as dik-diks and squirrels. Entrance fees, along with income from the gift shop and teahouse, help fund the centre’s conservation and environmental education programmes.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is one of Nairobi’s most impactful conservation initiatives, focusing on the rehabilitation of orphaned elephants and rhinos, preparing them for eventual reintegration into the wild.

At its Nairobi Nursery in Nairobi National Park, you can watch the orphaned elephants during their midday milk feed and mud bath while learning about their rescue stories and ongoing care. Funds from public visits help support the elephants’ rescue and rehabilitation.

The public visit takes place from 11am to noon and requires advance booking, with limited daily capacity. Nairobi National Park entry fees are separate from the Nursery entry donation, so check the official visitor page for current booking requirements and charges before you go.

Escape the city streets at Karura Forest, a 1,041-hectare urban forest in northern Nairobi. Its marked trails lead past rivers, waterfalls, wetlands, picnic areas, and caves, offering plenty to explore beneath the forest canopy.

You can walk, run, cycle, picnic, or look for some of the forest’s abundant birdlife. Choose from marked five, 10, and 15 kilometre routes, or arrange an eco-tour to learn more about the forest and its conservation.

The Nairobi Arboretum is a peaceful green space just a short distance from the city centre. It covers 30.4 hectares and contains more than 300 indigenous and exotic tree species, alongside over 100 resident and migratory bird species. Walking trails wind through the park, offering a quiet retreat for jogging, picnics, or leisurely strolls.

Follow the paths beneath the trees and look for wildlife including Sykes’ monkeys and vervet monkeys. Wear comfortable shoes and bring drinking water, binoculars, and a camera. Check the official visitor information for current access and payment arrangements.

Uhuru Park is a green oasis in the centre of Nairobi, offering scenic walking paths, picnic areas, and a man-made lake. Families often enjoy paddleboat rides, while others come to relax under the shade of indigenous trees. The park also features monuments commemorating key moments in Kenya’s history, adding an educational element to a visit. Its central location makes it a convenient stop for anyone exploring the city.

Nairobi’s museums and cultural attractions reveal the people, events, and creative traditions that have shaped Kenya. Explore natural history, art, literature, rail heritage, traditional architecture, and local craftsmanship across the city.

Explore Kenya’s history, culture, art, and natural heritage at the Nairobi National Museum. Permanent galleries cover early human history and Stone Age tools, East African birdlife, mammal evolution, Kenya’s communities, the colonial period, the independence movement, and traditions associated with different stages of life. Temporary exhibitions provide further reasons to visit.

After exploring the galleries, take a walk through the museum’s botanical gardens or visit the adjoining Nairobi Snake Park and Aquarium. The latter houses venomous and non-venomous snakes, crocodiles, tortoises, turtles, lizards, and freshwater and marine fish. Single and combined admission options are available, so check the official booking portal for current tickets before visiting.

Set at the intersection of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway, Nairobi Gallery combines African art with Nairobi’s architectural history. The gallery occupies the former Provincial Commissioner’s office, a 1913 building known as Point Zero because distances across Kenya were once measured from its octagonal dome.

Inside, explore the Murumbi African Heritage Collection, assembled by Kenya’s second vice president, Joseph Murumbi, and his wife, Sheila. The collection includes African art, artefacts, and textiles, while rotating exhibitions showcase work by established and emerging artists. You can also see original vaults and safes from the building’s administrative past.

Discover how the railway shaped Nairobi and modern Kenya at the Nairobi Railway Museum. Opened in 1971, the museum preserves historic maps, photographs, models, furniture, railway artefacts, and records dating back to the late 19th century.

Outside, you can explore a collection of historic steam engines and railway coaches from East Africa’s railway network. Families can also enquire about the miniature train, which operates by prior arrangement.

Set at the foot of the Ngong Hills, the Karen Blixen Museum occupies the former home of Danish author Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen. The colonial-era farmhouse provides context for her life in Kenya, her coffee farm, and her memoir, Out of Africa.

A guided tour takes you through rooms containing original furniture, kitchenware, décor, and coffee-farming equipment. Afterwards, explore the gardens, follow the nature trail, and look out towards the Ngong Hills.

Explore Kenya’s cultural heritage at Bomas of Kenya, a cultural and tourism centre in Langata. Traditional homesteads illustrate the architectural styles of different Kenyan communities, while music and dance performances introduce cultural traditions from across the country.

Bomas of Kenya was established in 1971 to preserve and promote Kenya’s diverse heritage. Visit the homesteads, watch a cultural performance, and check the official website for current performance schedules, admission details, and booking arrangements.

To truly immerse yourself in Nairobi's culture, head to the Kazuri Beads workshop where you can learn about and support the local women artisans who produce handmade pottery and beaded jewelry. This cooperative is a testament to the strength and spirit of Nairobi's women, creating unique, beautiful pieces while empowering themselves and their communities. A visit here gives travelers a chance to witness their craft, engage with their stories, and take home a piece of Nairobi's soul.

Shopping in Nairobi ranges from open-air craft markets to modern retail and entertainment centres. Browse local crafts or combine shopping with dining and family activities.

Maasai Market is a rotating open-air craft market where you can browse beaded jewellery, textiles, Maasai shukas, woven baskets, paintings, soapstone pieces, leather goods, and wooden carvings. Products represent traditions and craftsmanship from communities across Kenya, making the market a popular place to shop for gifts and souvenirs.

Locations and trading days can change, so confirm the venue before setting out. Browse several stalls before buying, ask vendors about how and where an item was made, and agree on the price before completing your purchase. Negotiating is common, but keep the exchange friendly and respectful. Published schedules differ, which makes local confirmation important.

For a more modern shopping experience, visit the Village Market in Gigiri, where shops, restaurants, cafés, and family entertainment come together in one destination.

The Village Market is also home to Village Bowl, Ozone Trampoline Park, children’s play areas, mini golf, virtual reality, and virtual racing, making it an ideal destination for a fun-filled day out. Additionally, it hosts regular events such as food festivals and live music performances, providing a lively, energetic atmosphere that captures the spirit of Nairobi.

Sample Nairobi’s nyama choma and ugali, then experience Westlands after dark with cocktails, craft beer, and live music.

Nairobi’s food scene reflects Kenya’s diverse culinary heritage, offering a range of flavours to suit every palate. Start with nyama choma, meat roasted over charcoal and commonly accompanied by ugali, a firm maize-flour staple. You may also find it served with kachumbari, a fresh tomato and onion salad, or sukuma wiki, cooked leafy greens.

For a restaurant experience centred on grilled meat, visit Carnivore Restaurant. Meats are roasted over charcoal on traditional Maasai swords and carved at the table, accompanied by salads, vegetables, and sauces. A vegetarian menu is also available.

Nairobi’s restaurants serve everything from Kenyan dishes to Indian, Mediterranean, Asian, and European-inspired menus. In Karen, Talisman Restaurant occupies a former house with an organic garden and a gastrolounge setting. Advance reservations are recommended.

Nairobi's nightlife is also vibrant, with numerous bars, clubs, and live music venues. The Alchemist in Westlands is a local favorite, known for its eclectic mix of cocktails and live performances. If you're looking for a unique night out, visit the Brew Bistro and Lounge in Westlands, a microbrewery offering craft beers and an energetic atmosphere.

Nairobi's thriving music scene, characterised by a blend of traditional Kenyan music and modern beats. Regardless of your taste, Nairobi's vibrant dining and nightlife scene promises an exciting experience.

From wildlife encounters and cultural attractions to markets, local food, and nightlife, Nairobi offers plenty to explore. Choosing the right base will help you make the most of your time in the Kenyan capital.

Browse hotels in Nairobi on ALL.com or via the ALL Accor app to find a stay that suits your plans. The ALL Accor loyalty programme is free to join, giving members access to benefits and opportunities to earn Reward points at participating hotels.

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