Districts · Nairobi
Nairobi by district
Nairobi sits on a plain at about 1,800 m. The CBD is the centre; Museum Hill is 3 km north-west, Westlands about 5 km north-west, Karen and the Giraffe Centre 15–20 km south-west. Distances are short but traffic makes every leg slow.Nairobi sits on a plain at about 1,800 m. The CBD is the centre; Museum Hill is 1.9 mi north-west, Westlands about 3.1 mi north-west, Karen and the Giraffe Centre 9.3–12 mi south-west. Distances are short but traffic makes every leg slow.
About these names
Use a ride-hailing car between clusters. Walk only inside a cluster and only by day.
- CBD (Central Business District)CBDseeeatSuits: City Market, the Railway Museum and Kenyatta Avenue by dayBusy and crowded; leave before dusk.2 sights · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Museum HillseeSuits: The National Museum and the snake parkA morning cluster; a car is easiest.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- Westlands and ParklandsWestlandssleepeatSuits: Malls, cafés and a first nightThe usual visitor base; the nightlife strip can be noisy.1 sights · 2 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- KarenseeeatSuits: The Blixen house, garden lunches and craft shopsGreen and spread out; a car is needed.1 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- Langata and the Giraffe CentreLangataseeSuits: Giraffes and the road to the national parkAbout 45 minutes from Westlands in traffic.1 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Gigiri and RundaGigirisleepSuits: Embassies, the UN and quiet hotelsFar from sights; good for a work trip.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Gigiri and Runda. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- CBD (Central Business District) (CBD): Busy and crowded; leave before dusk. Suits: City Market, the Railway Museum and Kenyatta Avenue by day. Price band $.
- Museum Hill (Museum Hill): A morning cluster; a car is easiest. Suits: The National Museum and the snake park.
- Westlands and Parklands (Westlands): The usual visitor base; the nightlife strip can be noisy. Suits: Malls, cafés and a first night. Price band $$.
- Karen (Karen): Green and spread out; a car is needed. Suits: The Blixen house, garden lunches and craft shops.
- Langata and the Giraffe Centre (Langata): About 45 minutes from Westlands in traffic. Suits: Giraffes and the road to the national park.
- Gigiri and Runda (Gigiri): Far from sights; good for a work trip. Suits: Embassies, the UN and quiet hotels.
- Sleep area CBD hotels: suits City Market, the Railway Museum and Kenyatta Avenue by day, price band $.
- Sleep area Westlands: suits Malls, cafés and a first night, price band $$.
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), about 14 km8.7 mi from the centre, 45–90 min by the usual route.