Kenya’s capital city is so often overlooked or quickly passed through on the way to safari or other parts of East Africa, but Nairobi has so much to offer visitors.
I spent 3 months in Nairobi in early 2026 and had an absolute blast! I indulged on local cuisine, visited museums, took tours, had cultural and animal experiences, and uncovered so many interesting and unique things to see and do. Nairobi offers visitors a wide range of things to do, with vibrant markets, historical sites, diverse neighborhoods, and activities for every budget and interest. Even after spending so much time in Nairobi, I have a lengthy list of things I want to see and do when I return in November 2026 for another extended stay.
Whether you are in Nairobi for a day or committing significant time to the city, here are some of the best things to do while exploring the city.
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Nairobi Walking Tour
A hill I will die on is that the absolute best way to see any city is on foot, and that definitely holds true of Nairobi.
Generally, Nairobi can be a difficult city for visitors to navigate on foot due to some wild street crossings, busy sidewalks and just overall confusion, but this tour makes walking Kenya’s capital safe and easy. There are several walking tour options in Nairobi to choose from, but I chose the one below and am so glad I did.
I lucked out and the other members of my tour were delayed and postponed to later time, so I had a private walking tour with Edwin. He was clearly passionate about his city and offered so much history, insight, and overall information. We stopped at places I had previous just walked by, not knowing what they were, and he even took me to a few extra spots to try some local food.
Unlike some other tours, there was no pressure to shop or buy anything when we went to markets, and the guide gave some good information and insights for shopping and negotiating if I wanted to go back on my own.
Whether you opt for this walking tour or a different one, I highly recommend taking on to get an on-the-ground feel of Nairboi while learning about the city’s history and culture.
The KICC Building Helipad
For over half a century the Kenyatta International Convention Centre has stood as Kenya’s icon and symbol, a magnificent masterpiece woven into the nation’s history and a companion helping to shape its future. In September 2023, KICC marked its 50th anniversary.
🗺️Harambee Avenue, Nairobi CBD
🕰️Mon-Fri 9a-5p, Closed on weekends
💶Foreigners KES 500 (approx $4), children KES 200 (approx $1.50)
The walking tour above stops at the KICC building and gives time for participants to go to the top, but you can also go on your own.
The building itself is quite remarkable and has an interesting history with some comical aspects (you need to take the tour to find those out), but the views from the helipad at the top of this 32-floor building are the real star. On a clear day, you get endless views of Nairobi and the surrounding are. You can purchase tickets in advance, but you can also just walk in. The security guard will direct you to the desk where you can purchase tickets, then you will be sent up the elevator and greeted by staff that will take you up to the helipad (*they may suggest a tip, this is 100% discretionary and not require).
Once at the top of the KICC Building, you are free to take in the views, take pictures, etc.
⭐Be aware there will be people there offering to take photos for you or have professional looking cameras offering photo shoots. Be aware payment will be requested, even if someone is snapping photos with your own phone.
🍛Nairobi Food Experiences
As someone who does not eat red meat, I was a little nervous about struggling to find food diversity in East Africa, but after just a few days in Nairobi, I realized I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The food scene in Nairobi is so diverse, vibrant, and absolutely delicious! I also found it very affordable in comparison to other destinations.
I really dove headfirst in to the food culture in Nairobi, learning about local market culture, taking a cooking class, eating all the street food I could get my hands on, splurging on fine dining and fusion, hitting up Nairobi’s China town, checking out brunch spots and taking my laptop to cafes.
I enjoyed traditional Kenyan, Ethiopian, Somalian, Indian, Sudanese, Italian, and even American style food while in Nairobi and very little disappointed. If you are coming to Kenya by way of Nairobi, be sure to take time to enjoy the incredible food culture.
Take a Cooking Class
Second only to walking tours, cooking classes are my favorite thing to do in any city. They are such a great, immersive, way to learn about the food, culture, and history of a place, while also enjoying a delicious meal and learning some new skills.
By chance, after another class I booked canceled, I took an amazing cooking class with Nimoh that included a matatu ride, market visit, and hands on cooking class. I learned so much about not just the dishes that we made, but also local market culture, and matatu culture. The host was incredible and immediately felt like a friend (and has become one!). I truly cannot recommend this class enough. If you do nothing else in Nairobi, take this class! It is so much more than just making a meal - and much more budget friendly than many other cooking classes in Nairobi.
To book ⬇️
Nairobi Restaurants
Nairobi’s food scene ranges from street food to 5-star dining and everything in between, offering everything from traditional fare to fusions and international restaurants. I was so excited to try an array of African cuisines from traditional Kenyan to Ethiopian and Eritrean. I even found a delicious Sudanese restaurant where I tried the whole menu.
You will also find an array of Asian restaurants throughout the city and centralized in Nairobi’s China Town. In the three months I spent in Nairobi, I ate everything from street food to fine dining and a vast range of foods from pizza to brunch to wet fry fish and ugali - Nairobi truly is a foodie’s dream with something for everyone.
For my (growing) list of my favorite restaurants, click here!
Nairobi Street Food Tour
If you are looking to dive into Nairobi’s street food culture, while also getting to explore the city and learn a lot about the history of Kenyan and East African food, this tour is highly recommended by my good friend who took the tour, then took me to all the places she went and excitedly recounted as much of the information she could remember.
If her recanting of her experience was even half as good as the actual tour, it is definitely worth doing.
🦒 Nairobi Animal Experiences
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is a national park in Kenya that was established in 1946 about 7 km south of Nairobi. It is fenced on three sides, whereas the open southern boundary allows migrating wildlife to move between the park and the adjacent Kitengela plains. Herbivores gather in the park during the dry season.
🕰️Daily 6a-6p
💶Tour costs vary. Park entry fees for foreign visitors: Adult - $80, Child - $40
Entry fees must be paid in advance on the official website
🚗See website for self-driving fees and rules
In full disclosure, I have not done a Nairobi National Park safari… yet.
I was of the mindset that I didn’t “need’ to do a national park safari since I did a 3-day Masai Mara safari, but then I told an uber driver this and he reminded me that Nairobi National Park is the only one of its kind in the world. Nowhere else will you find a national park sitting right in the middle of a capital city, where you can see wildlife and a city skyline at the same time. I realized he was right; I was missing out on a really amazing and unique experience.
⭐Some things to note:
The safari fee does not include the park fees. These need to be paid via card on the official website prior to your safari. Entry to the park is cashless.
The best time to book your Nairobi National Park visit is early in the morning - this when the animals are the most active.
Most of the park experiences also include visits to the Giraffe Center and Elephant sanctuary - the entry fees generally are not included. Be sure to read the fine print and know costs before booking.
There are endless options for Nairobi National Park Safaris, and they are all around the price (which varies by season and vehicle type), with some offering the addition of other stops, and some offering private experiences.
These are some of the top-rate Nairobi National Park safari providers, including the one I have book for my upcoming trip that was highly recommended by a friend who went.
Nairobi Giraffe Center
The Giraffe Centre is the creation of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), a Kenyan non-profit organization. Our main purpose is to educate Kenyan school children and youth on their country’s wildlife and environment, as well as give local and international visitors an opportunity to come into close contact with the world’s tallest species, the giraffe.
🕰️Daily 9a-5p
💶Adult KES 1,500 (approx $11.50), Child 3yr-12yr KES 750 (approx $6)
If I had a bucket list, the Giraffe Center in Nairobi would have been on it. Giraffes are my absolute favorite animal and getting to be this up close and personal with them was such an amazing experience. Prior to going, I was concerned about how ethical the experience was, but nearly all resources indicate the Giraffe Center in Nairobi is widely considered an ethical conservation and eeducaiton program.
Someday, I will be able to afford a proper stay at Giraffe Manor, but until then, this was a pretty epic experience and opportunity to see my favorite animals.
🛍️As an added bonus, I loved the gift shop at the Giraffe Center and found some of my favorite souvenirs here, all at really fair and clearly indicated prices.
Nairobi Museums
While Nairobi may not be especially known for museums, there are some great museums to visit in the city. From the best known National Museum of Kenya, and commonly visited Karen Blixen Museum to the lesser known Nairobi Gallery and Nairobi Museum of Illusions, there is a museum experience for everyone in Kenya’s Capital.
On my previous visit to Nairobi, I visited both the National Museum of Kenya and Karen Blixen Museum. They offered very different experiences, and I enjoyed them both for different reasons. I would highly recommend taking the time to visit at least one museum in Kenya on your visit. Which one really just depends on your interests and schedule.
National Museum of Kenya
Museums are places of discovery, contemplation and learning: The Institution of National Museums of Kenya is anchored on four pillars notably culture, history, arts and nature.
🕰️Daily 8:30a-5:30p
💵Foreign Visitor Adult KES 1200 (approximately $10)
The National Museum of Kenya may not be the most modern or beautifully curate museum in the world, but it is absolutely packed with interesting information, history, art and culture. I loved the variety that is offered and the addition of the on-site cafes, surrounding greenspace, and option of adding the snake park.
I absolutely recommend taking the time to explore the greenspace surrounding the museum, which also house beautiful and interesting works of art and statues.
Karen Blixen Museum
The Karen Blixen Museum, located 10 km outside of Nairobi, Kenya, "at the foot of the Ngong Hills", is the former African home of Danish author Karen Blixen, famous for her 1937 book Out of Africa which chronicles life at the estate
🕰️Daily 8:30a-6p
💶Forein Visitors: Adults KES 2,200 (approx $17) Children / Students: KES 1,100 (approx $8)
I am all about full disclosure, so I will say that The Karen Blixen Museum is a “maybe-must”. I think it is a really important part of Nairobi’s history and learning about the life and work of Karen Blixen was really interesting, but I felt the price point was a bit high for the experience.
Many people have mixed feelings about Karen Blixen and her impact on the area and Africa in general, but I found the information provided intriguing and relevant.
Some downfalls to the experience are that you must go through with a guide, and while mine was awesome, engaging, and lowkey, others were pushy with sales in the gift shops and very insistent on tips. Tips are NOT mandatory, nor is buying anything on site. If you had a good experience with your guide, a small tip is a nice gesture of appreciation.
My recommendation for the Karen Blixen Museum would be to combine it with other sites and activities in Karen, like the Giraffe Center, Elephant Sanctuary, The Kobe Beads and Leather Factory. There are some really great tours that combine all of these stops and assure you have a guide with you to help navigate some of the nuances that can come with visits.
Nairobi Bead Factories
I learned about the Nairobi bead factories when my friend that came to visit visited one on a tour and raved about the experience. I was immediately interested and inspired by these projects that empower and employ local people, particularly women, teaching amazing craftsmanship while also honoring and respecting the product and process.
The bead factories are a great, interactive experience to learn about these collectives, their mission, history and impact, as well as to buy some stunning and unique souvenirs.
Kobe Tough Bead and Leather Factory
KOBE is the Swahili word for the Africa Sea Turtle - a beautiful sea creature with a hard external shell. We believe that KOBE represents both the amazing beauty and the toughness of the African Savannah.
We started bead making as a direct response to the devastating effects of climate change among the Maasai. The Maasai, a pastoralist community in Kenya, have borne disproportionately the negative effects of climate crisis manifested in the form of prolonged drought whose effect has been to wipe out entire herds of cattle which was hitherto their livelihood and only means of survival.
🗺️Bogani East Road, opposite the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
🕰️Mon-Sat 8:30a-6:30p, Sunday 9:00a-6:00p
💶free for walk-in visitors and small groups
In fairness, I have not been to Kobe Tough Beads in Nairobi yet but will be going in conjunction with another tour when I return to Nairobi in late 2026. My friend went when she in Nairobi and loved the mission of the Factory, learning all about the bead making process, and of course; shopping. She bought a gorgeous necklace and earring set that she wears often.
A visit to this Nairobi bead factory is also included in tours taking place in the Karen neighborhood, in conjunction with Karen Blixen Museum and The Giraffe Center.
The Kazuri Beads Factory
Craft that carries a deeper significance
Behind every piece is a team of artisans—primarily women—who have spent years refining their craft.
Many have been part of the workshop for years, allowing knowledge, skill, and consistency to deepen over time.
🗺️Langata Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
🕰️Mon-Fri 9a-6p, Sat/Sun 9a-5p
💵Tours are Free
Founded in 1975, The Kazuri bead factory has maintained it’s mission to support and empower local women for over 50 years.
A visit to the factory offers insights and information not only to the history of the factory, but also the culture and lives of the artisans. It also offers the opportunity to buy local, handcrafted jewelry at fair prices while supporting a local initiative. There are no pushy sales or pressure to buy anything, and the tour truly focuses on highlighting the initiative, artisans, and local impact.
Nairobi Green Spaces
Whenever I visit a new city, especially if I am staying a while, I always look for a “Central Park” or greenspace. Somewhere to take a break from city life and sink into nature or just sit under a tree.
I was so pleasantly surprised to find incredible greenspaces right in Nairobi. (Almost) all easily accessible via uber or driving. With several options for green spaces ranging from parks to forests, I spent several days enjoying nature while in Nairobi.
On average, visiting a natural park in Nairobi costs visitors less than $6.00 and gives access to hiking and walking trails, as well as some of the most incredible nature and views.
My favorite greenspaces in Nairobi are:
Karura Forest - nature trails and easy hikes, bike rentals available
The Oloolua Nature Trail - peaceful walking trail with stunning greenery
The Nairobi Arboretum - Lovely Space for short walks, picnics, and to take a break from the city
For my complete guide to the best greenspaces in Nairobi, click here!
Whether you are in Nairobi for a day or month or anything in between, there is so much to do and see in this vibrant city, and I highly recommend really jumping in and experiencing all it has to offer.
You can opt to see the city on your own, via tours, or a combination of both, and you won’t regret committing some time to Kenya’s Capital. Use the interactive map below to help plan out your route and maximize your time.
