Top things to do in Kigali (I live here!)
From eating your way through the city to exploring art galleries and learning about its history, I’ve compiled the top things to do in Kigali.
Wilhelm and I first visited Kigali in 2022 on vacation and completely fell in love with it. Walking around Kigali is so nice, and it’s just as green and clean as the rumors. We kept hoping we’d return one day… and we got lucky. In March 2025, we officially moved to Kigali. Now that we live here, I’ll continue updating this post with new places, experiences, and local favorites as we discover them.
Want to visit Rwanda? Check out my 10-Day Rwanda Itinerary, which starts with 3 days in Kigali.
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Getting around Kigali
It’s easy and safe to walk around the city. To save time and travel distances, hop on one of the motos. They are easier to find than taxis, though many restaurants will gladly call a taxi for you. Gals, you may want to wear pants to make your journey more comfortable on the motos.
Moto
Moto drivers are generally trustworthy and won’t rip you off for being a foreigner. Only once were we overcharged and a passerby got involved to tell the driver “RWF 1000” when the driver was asking for RWF 1,500, even though he had no clue where we had come from. The drivers have meters and you can ask them to use the meters to get the correct price. If you don’t have a local number, ask the driver if they can put in their own number because you’re a visitor.
Most short trips under 5 minutes are RWF 800, under 10 minutes are RWF 1,000, and under 20 minutes are RWF 3,000. If you’re two people, it’s still cheaper to get two motos than one taxi.
Taxi Apps
There are two apps you can use to determine prices or call a taxi (or moto): Yego and VM Move. Both apps are rustic versions of Uber, and you need to be able to make and receive calls. The apps will pair you with a driver. However, you need to be able to tell your driver where you are… so hand the phone over to a local or explain your street number and surroundings.
I found Yego more difficult to use becuase drivers didn’t often speak English (besides “left” and “right”) and I couldn’t explain where I was. Yego drivers can’t access your exact location. However, Yego is cheaper than VM Move. You must pay with cash or the momo app. Drivers don’t usually have change.
With VW Move, drivers have modern VW cars that usually have seatbelts. The rides are more expensive, but drivers usually speak English, and you can pay via credit card. Sometimes the systems don’t work, and the drivers have to call the VW Move office and send you a payment link, but this is useful. Don’t exit the car the assume payment is complete (like in an Uber). Wait until the driver confirms payment. You can also give cash or do momo pay. Drivers are usually able to use Google Maps to get to your exact location. You need a local number becuase drivers will call you at least 1 or 2 times to figure out where you are.
However, if this sounds a bit daunting to you, you can go on a tour with a guide who will organize your transfers and take you around the major sites.
Art galleries in Kigali
Art galleries in Kiagli are a must. There is a little bit of “same-same but different” vibe, but each of the art gallery vibes is different. It’s worth stopping at several. Check out my dedicated post on my favorite art galleries in Kigali, including Inema, NP Arts, and Niyo.
Museum Indabo has an art gallery and shop that are great too. The art gallery features paintings by artist King Ngabo that depict Rwandan cultural heritage and history. The gallery has an entrance fee, but it includes a guided tour by the museum staff.
As a bonus, there is an excellent souvenir shop with well-priced goods and a nice view overlooking the city.
If you’re feeling creative, then try your hand at crafting at Azizi. Not only is it great for some souvenir shopping (the beeswax products smell amazing), but you can also do some pottery, painting, and create your own jewelry. I’ve already gone twice with friends! Once, I made earrings and learned how the sisal materials are sourced and dyed.
Then later, I went back for an Imigongo painting, traditionally made by women using cow dung. We bought snacks and drinks for our Imigongo paint + sip night, and it was a hit. Both activities take 2-3 hours.
Where to eat in Kigali
You can see all my suggestions on my dedicated post 9and get the Google Map pins) for unique eats around Kigali.
Cafes and brunch
Now Now Rolex—get the Ugandan classic egg wrap here and the incredible ginger juice. It has a serious punch to it.
Rubia Coffee— Splurge for a Chemex or pour-over coffee for a smooth taste of Rwandan coffee beans. It’s right next to Now Now Rolex.
Kigali Pottery Collections and Cafe— do some ceramic shopping here. I wish we lived in Kigali just so that I could buy all the plates, bowls, vases, and cups in bulk (2025 update: we moved to Kigali!!!). For something different, try “African Coffee,” which is coffee, chocolate, and ginger mixed together. The French press is also excellent. 2025 update: I felt that the food quality decreased from when I came in 2022; the shop is under new management but it’s worth visiting for the pottery and the “African coffee” which I haven’t seen anywhere else.
Indabo Cafe— Come here in the morning for a peaceful vibe. You’ll be hidden inside a garden with several chatty birds. Get the veggie benedict, which is on a bed of potatoes. Now that I come here often, I also love the Mexican burrito for a breakfast.
Question Coffee— This arguably has the best cold brew in town! It’s a popular cafe that supports the rural development of women’s coffee businesses.
Kivu Noir— This famous coffee spot is a favorite of expats, locals, and tourists alike. The food is good, and the coffee even better. .Once we moved to Kigali, we started to buy coffee beans from here, and wow it’s amazing. There is a great view over Kigali from the high-top tables. And, it’s also the site of the restaurant Rua, which made the Condé Nast Traveller best new restaurants in 2025 list.
Inzora Rooftop Cafe— Above a lovely bookshop, Inzora has great salads and sandwiches. The rooftop view is little limited unless you get the single table in the corner with the best view… But the food is great.
Lunch and dinner
Borneo— The Indonesian food at Borneo is amazing. The portions are huge and the prices are just right. Go with a huge appetite.
Repub Lounge— Classic spot that serves delicious traditional Rwandan food that kinda caters to expats and tourists. The coconut fish curry was featured in the New York Times! I loved the eggplant stew. Try the local beers or get the honey + banana wine. There is also a small shop with baskets, clothes, and souvenirs. Look out on the staircase for lovely artwork pieces as well. This is one of the places you can get isombe, a local greens dish with peanuts that takes hours to cook.
Green Corner— visit for amazing fish and a truly local experience. Order the food immediately upon arrival—it’ll take some time to get made. Practically any bar will serve this fish dish and it’s always good!
Choose Kigali—part art cafe and part high-end dining, visit for a unique experience. The 8-course tasting menu is USD 200 and the 5-course option is USD 100 (sans alcohol). Brunch is USD 50 on Sundays only. Reservation required.
Unique Car-Free Zone: Biryogo
Visit Biryogo free zone for a car-free and alcohol-free afternoon experience in Kigali. Located in the Muslim area Nyamirambo, many of the restaurants aren’t on Google Maps. Just plan to walk up and down and ask around for a menu of grills, fish, or rice pilau.
Beyond Biryogo free zone, walk just a street away to KN 113 to visit an incredible street filled with murals and activities for kids. If you need a butterfly or angel wing picture, this is your spot.
Adventure
If you’re looking for some action, check out my post on sports activities in Kigali. I’ve got suggestions for Padel, tennis, yoga, pilates, and more.
On a rainy day, check out Canal Olympia. Here you can watch a movie or do an escape room adventure with some friends. There is about an hour or so time limit. There are two escape room themes: a psych hospital and a haunted apartment. Both are tricky to figure out. We ended up doing both on the same day. The psych hospital took us about 30 minutes, and we were overconfident and tried the haunted apartment… We were unable to solve the mystery within the hour time limit. The special effects in this room were very cool, though.
Fazenda Sengha is home to adventure for the whole family. Go horseback riding, ziplining, Bungee Trampoline, archery, and more. There is an entry fee and then activity fees on top of that. Check out their pricing guide. We walked by while wandering on top of Mount Kigali, but since we didn’t plan to do any of the activities, we opted to come back another time when we had a plan.
Check out Nyandungu Eco-Park for walking, running, and biking. An entrance fee is required, but it’s a beautiful park with birds and nicely managed trails.
Umusambi Village is about 40 minutes outside of town, but it’s worth the drive. The park is home to grey crowned cranes (as well as other bird species). Bring your binoculars and explore the area. International visitors pay $25, but international residents pay 10,000 RWF. The park is a rehabilitation center for captive cranes, most of which have their wings clipped. There are some free-roaming cranes that have made the park their home as well.
Historical Sites
Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial— This small, free exhibit will give you a background on the peacekeepers who were ambushed and killed in the very building you’ll visit. The exhibit gives a lot of important information about the genocide and the efforts of the peacekeepers in an easy-to-understand format.
Kigali Genocide Memorial— The museum is free but there is an option for the RWF 15,000 audio guide. It’s still used today and you’ll likely see some family members gathered on a weekend. It’s a powerful and tragic visit where you’ll learn more about the 1994 genocide. Plan to visit for 2 hours unless you go in the morning. Both times I’ve visited, the experience has been sobering and you move through the exhibits very slowly (like in a line) with many people slowly reading the information panels.
Hôtel des Mille Collines— The site of inspiration for the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” local manager Paul Rusesabagina took over the hotel during the 1994 genocide when foreigners left. He helped to hide Tutsi and moderate Hutus on the premises.
Kigali Convention Center— Okay, not technically a historical site, but the convention center is cool to see at night. It’s worth a stop.
Shopping and Markets in Kigali
Azizi Life Studio and nearby shops— There are a strip of shops here with local goods, oils, and clothes.
Kigali City Market— This multistoried mall is interesting to walk through. Start at the top and then make your way down. Make sure to check out the ground floor with the produce.
Shops around Kigali City Market—There are several souvenir shops around the market. Walk here to see them. You’ll have to trust me because they aren’t on Google Maps.
Uzuriky— A cool shoe brand where almost all the shoes go for RWF 42,000. Men’s and women’s available.
Rwanda Clothing—Get African fabric clothing with a modern twist.
Kimironko Market— A popular outdoor market, there is produce, meat, electronics, and souvenirs here. Go with an open mind, as people are really excited to have you purchase their goods. I find the produce sellers a lot more chill than the souvenir sellers. When we first moved to Kigali in MArch 2025, we came here every weekend for the first few months to purchase our weekly veg supplies.
Day Trips from Kigali
If you’re using Kigali as a base point for your Rwanda trip or if you’re visiting for work and only have a day to yourself, consider going on a day trip to explore more of this beautiful country.
Lake Kivu Tour
As I mentioned before, I used Countryside Tours-Rwanda when I was at Lake Kivu, but you can also organize a Lake Kivu trip from Kigali with all your transport included. If you’re already planning to visit Lake Kivu, you can organize a boat tour via whatsapp. Thiers was the best price I managed to find for ourselves for a full-day boat tour. A tour of the Lake Kivu coffee plantation is also organized with this tour (and it was amazing!!)
Akagera Safari
Go on a day trip (or longer) tour with Huza Gateway to Akagera National Park.
Visit the Gorillas
It is possible to visit the gorillas just for a day with Judith Safaris, a women-based tour operator. It can be very helpful to have someone on the ground organize your PCR tests (still required to visit primates in Rwanda) and manage your ticket to the park. Visiting the gorillas is extremely pricey, no matter what. This tour includes your lunch, your gorilla permit, and the visiting fee. Be sure to book in advance.
Nyungwe National Park
Departing from Kigali, during this tour you’ll cross the massive swinging bridges in the tree’s wild canopy. You may also spot monkeys.