There are many places to visit and things to do in Nairobi City. They range from visiting tourist attractions like Nairobi National Park to exploring historical sites like the Macmillan Library.
Nairobi is one of the unique destinations in the world, with a lot to see and experience. The city is beautiful and has a remarkable history, culture, and heritage.
[ez-toc]
Part of my New Year’s commitment is to travel across Kenya as much as possible and experience the side of the country I never had a chance to.
This year I decided to explore Nairobi – a city with a lot to offer but often ignored in favor of other touristic destinations. Because as the saying goes, “sometimes you don’t have to travel too far away from home to find the most adorable places you’ve ever seen.”
If you are keen on wandering in Nairobi, here is a list of places to visit and things to do in the outskirts of the green city under the sun – Nairobi.
Top Things to Do and Places to Visit in Nairobi: City Center
Times Tower In Nairobi
1. August 7th Memorial Park
The Park stands at the site of the former USA Embassy in Kenya. It serves as a memorial Park to remember people who lost their lives on August 7, 1998, through a terrorist bomb attack.
Location: Junction of Haile Selassie Avenue and Moi Avenue
Entrance Fees: Kshs 30
2. Cameo Cinema
This is an old building constructed in 1912 as the Theatre Royal. It now hosts Subway Kenya, Cameo Casino, and Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company
Location: Along Kenyatta Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
3. City Market
This is one of Kenya’s oldest fish, beef, flower, grocery, jewelry, and handicrafts formal markets.
Location: At the end of Kigali Rd along Muindi Mbingu Street.
Entrance Fees: Free
4. Dedan Kimathi Statue
This Statue was erected to honor Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi, the most influential leader of the Mau Mau Rebellion. Kimathi was caught and executed by the colonial rulers in 1957.
Location: Junction of Mama Ngina and Kimathi Street
Entrance Fees: Free
5. Tom Mboya Statue
This is the statue of Tom Mboya, an independence activist and one of the founding fathers of Kenya.
Location: Along Moi Avenue close to the National Archives
Entrance Fees: Free
6. Bull Café
The Café was used to house Indian railway laborers during the colonial era in a kind of dorm room. It is on the first floor of the Deekee Holdings Building along River road.
Location: Junction of Ngariama road and River Road Nairobi
Entrance Fees: Free
7. Bohra Mosque
This is one of the oldest Mosques in Kenya, built by and for Nairobi’s Bohra Community. The community comprises the most notable business people and investors in Nairobi, including Jeevanjee, who started the city of Nairobi.
Location: Along Lagos Road
Entrance Fees: Free
8. Jeevanjee Gardens
The gardens were named after and donated by AM Jeevanjee, who started the city of Nairobi and was one of the first Bohras to settle in Nairobi.
Location: Along Moi Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
9. Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC)
Location: Between City Hall Way and Harambee Avenue. The main gate is located opposite the City Hall.
Entrance Fees: Kshs 250 for Locals and Kshs 1000 for Non-residents
10. Kenya Railway Museum
Location: Off workshop road next to Technical University of Kenya
Entrance Fees: Kshs 250 for Locals and Kshs 1000 for Non-residents
11. Khoja Mosque
Also known as JamatKhana Building, Khoja Mosque is located at the junction of Nairobi’s Moi Avenue and the beginning of River Road. It was completed in 1922 for the Shah Ismailia Community (Agha Khan).
Location: Junction of Moi Avenue and River Road
Entrance Fees: Free
12. Biashara Street
Location: Stretches from Cooperative Bank Moi Avenue to Muindi Mbingu Street
Entrance Fees: Free
13. Kipande House
Kipande is a Swahili word for Identity cards. This building was the registration center for Africans working in Nairobi during the colonial period. Kipande house is now used as the Kenyatta Avenue Branch of KCB bank.
Location: Kenyatta Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
14. McMillan Library
This is Kenya’s biggest public library, run by the city council of Nairobi since 1932. It was built during the colonial era and retained its beautiful architectural design.
Location: Along Banda Street close to Jamia Mosque
Entrance Fees: Free
15. See the Kenyatta Mausoleum
This is the resting place of the first President of Kenya (Mzee Jomo Kenyatta).
Location: Parliament road
Entrance Fees: Free (Watch it from the road)
Related Read: List of counties in Kenya
16. Parliament Building
Location: Parliament road
Entrance Fees: Free
17. Phoenix Theatre
Location: Along Parliament road between Red cross Lane and St. John’s gate.
Entrance Fees: Free (Closed, but you can still view the building).
18. Prembro House
Location: Biashara Street, Nairobi
Entrance Fees: Free
19. Standard Chartered Building
Formally used to be known as Torr’s hotel in colonial times. This was one of the major hotels in Nairobi then. The building now serves as the Kenyatta Avenue branch of Standard Chartered Bank.
Location: Along Kenyatta Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
20. War Memorial Pillar
This pillar commemorates the Carrier Corps, the African soldiers during colonial rule.
Location: Along Kenyatta Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
21. The Galton Fenzi Memorial Stone
The stone stands at the point which is considered the center of Nairobi.
Location: Along Kenyatta Avenue
Entrance Fees: Free
22. Old Mutual Building
This is the original headquarters of Old Mutual in Nairobi. The building is one of the oldest in Nairobi and the best-known landmark. It was erected in the 1930s and expanded in the ’50s. Old Mutual Building has since been declared a protected building by the National Museums of Kenya.
Location: Along Kimathi Street
Entrance Fees: Free
23. National Archives
The Building has a British architectural design and used to serve as the Bank of India. It was built in 1906 and now serves as the custodian of Government archives and records. National archives have a collection of stamps, tribal weaponry, drums, masks, artifacts, instruments, clothes, and other ancient items.
Location: Along Moi Avenue opposite Nairobi’s Hilton hotel
Entrance Fees: Kshs 50
24. Visit Maasai Market (One of the Best Things to Do in Nairobi)
Location: The Maasai markets are held in different locations throughout the week. Below are the latest days and locations of Masai Markets in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Saturday: High Court Car Park (Nairobi City Center)
- Sunday: High Court Car Park (Nairobi City Center)
- Tuesday: Prestige Plaza (Ngong Road)
- Wednesday: Capital Center Mall (Mombasa Road)
- Thursday: The junction Shopping Mall (Ngong Road)
- Friday: Village Market & Lavington Mall
Entrance Fees: Free
25. Rahimtulla Trust Library
It was built by Rahimtulla and served as a public library in Nairobi.
Location: Mfangano Street
Entrance Fees: Free (Last I checked, it was closed down)
Zebras at the Nairobi National Park
List of 25 Things to Do and Places to Visit in Nairobi – Nairobi Outskirts
- 26. Nairobi National Park
- 27. Uhuru Gardens Memorial Park
- 28. Nairobi Safari Walk
- 29. Nairobi Orphanage
- 30. Daphne Sheldrick elephant orphanage
- 31. Giraffe Center
- 32. Karen Blixen Museum
- 33. Kazuri Bead Factory
- 34. Bomas of Kenya
- 35. Nairobi Arboretum
- 36. Gikomba Market
- 37. Uhuru and Central Park
- 38. Central Park Monument
- 39. Nairobi National Museum
- 40. Siri Gurdwara Ramgharia
- 41. National Theatre
- 42. Nairobi Club
- 43. Paradise Lost
- 44. Karura Forest
- 45. Ngong Hills
- 46. Stedmark Gardens
- 47. RaMoMa (Rahimtulla Museum of modern art)
- 48. City Park
- 49. Makhan Singh House
- 50. Mamba Village
Maasai Market
Conclusion
Now you know the places to visit and things to do in Nairobi, Kenya. Please comment below if you’ve discovered other places in the city and its environs. You can also book a Private Nairobi City Walking Tour to experience more.
