3 days in Nairobi: itinerary

Build the three days around one wildlife day, one city day and one day out of town. That order works because the park and the orphanage are best in the morning, the city centre is a half-day, and a day trip needs a full day with an early start.

If you only have two usable days, drop the day trip and add the Giraffe Centre or the Karen Blixen Museum to the city day. If you have four days, add a second day trip rather than a second city day.

Nairobi's headline attractions are cheap by US or European standards, but park fees and vehicle fees add up and change often. Treat every figure below as a 2026 estimate and confirm before you go. Cards work at big sites; carry some cash for markets and small stalls.

Mornings are the reliable window. The park gates open early, the orphanage runs a single set visiting hour, and the museum is quietest before lunch. Afternoon traffic in the city centre is heavy, so plan to be back by about 16:00.

Most visitors land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, east of the centre, and transfer by ride-hailing app or a pre-booked hotel car. Off-peak the drive is around 30 minutes; in rush hour it can double. Wilson Airport, south of the centre, handles light aircraft to the Masai Mara and Amboseli, so a Nairobi stop often sits between your international flight and a safari flight.

Within the city, ride-hailing is the simplest option for visitors and costs little. Matatus cover the same routes far more cheaply but are crowded and hard to read without local knowledge. Walking is fine in a few areas in daylight; ask your hotel which streets to avoid after dark.

Flight times from your home country depend on your origin: nonstop service from Europe is roughly 8–9 hours, from the US east coast about 13–15 hours with a connection, and from the Gulf about 5 hours. Check current schedules when you book.