A Tourist's Delight: Top 8 Places to Visit in Nairobi

Nairobi has always been looked upon as a gateway to some of the best experiences in Africa. But before you directly go on to safari, let’s just clear the air and tell you that this city has a lot of fun things to do. Kenya’s capital and largest city, this destination is one of the most visited places in Africa, with countless places to visit in Nairobi. Every year, millions of tourists go to Nairobi, a dynamic metropolis, to explore a plethora of intriguing sites.

Whether you're on a city vacation, a beach tour, a cultural tour, or a wildlife safari tour, there are countless things to do in Nairobi, you may go to museums, animal orphanages, and woods, among many other enjoyable sites.

Here’s a list of exciting places to visit in Nairobi

1. National Museum
2. Railway Museum
3. Giraffe Center
4. National Park of Nairobi
5. Karura Forest
6. Ngong Hills
7. Paradise lost
8. Kenya National Archives

1. National Museum

If you are looking to dive in Kenyan heritage, then Nairobi’s National Museum has to be on your itinerary, this flagship museum celebrates a collection of Kenya’s history, nature, culture, and contemporary art, it reflects country’s history, it’s people, culture and art.

• Location: Museum Hill Road, Nairobi, Nairobi
• Timings: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Entry Fees: 150 KES per child & 300 KES per adult

2. Railway Museum

The Railway Museum in Nairobi honors Kenya's long railway heritage and its contributions to the growth of the country. A silver service set used on overnight trains to Mombasa is among the museum's intriguing exhibits, which also include train and ship models, images taken during the construction of the Uganda Railway in its original form, railway publications, maps, and sketches. You may see some of the first steam engines in this museum, including the legendary waggon where Captain Charles Ryall was dragged away by a man-eating lion in Tsavo.

• Location: Uhuru rd, Nairobi, Kenya
• Timing: 08:00 - 17:00
• Entry Fees: 400 KES

3. Giraffe Center

Exploring fun places to go in Nairobi? Here is your chance to get up close with the endangered Rothschild's giraffe at the Giraffe center located in the outskirts of Nairobi National Park. Prior to being released into the national parks, the giraffes are cared after by the Centre. Along with training and ecotourism excursions, the center also plans additional wildlife preservation programs. The visitor center displays information on these elegant animals, and a high platform enables you to feed them at eye level with pellets that have been specifically prepared. It is also considered perfect family outing places in Nairobi, especially if you're travelling with kids, as you can take pictures with wet, grey giraffe tongues licking young faces and do much more.

• Location: Duma Rd, Nairobi, Nairobi
• Timings: 9:00 – 17:00
• Entry Fees: 1,500 KES

4. National Park of Nairobi

Nairobi National Park, Kenya's first national park, serves as a refuge for critically endangered rhinos and is a home for other animals.

Along with rhinos, this place is home to lions, gazelles, buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and more than 400 different species of birds. The Nairobi Safari Walk is a popular attraction and also counted as one of the fun places to visit in Nairobi, providing animal lovers the chance to spot wildlife on foot.

• Location: Langata Road, Nairobi
• Timings: 6:00 – 18:00
• Entry Fees: 8370 KES per adult & 2790 KES per child

5. Karura Forest

Are you craving some solitude near the city? You're in luck. The beautiful Karura Forest is a one of the cool places to visit in Nairobi with shady oasis just a few kilometers from the city center.

You'll find a variety of things to see and do in this lush green forest, which is one of the world's biggest urban forests. Hike to a 15-meter waterfall with many tiers and plan a picnic in the gardens. Sit peacefully by Lily Lake while watching monkeys swing among the trees. After all of your woodland explorations, unwind at the open-sided river café with a bite and a beverage.

• Location: Limuru Rd, Nairobi
• Timings: 6:00 – 18:00
• Entry Fees: KES 8370.00 per adult & KES 2790 per child

6. Ngong Hills

Another place under the list of cool places to visit in Nairobi, Ngong hill is a great place to unwind and connect with nature. It offers expansive views of the Nairobi cityscape, Mount Suswa, the Nairobi National Park, and the Rift Valley. The Ngong Hills offer a clear day's view of both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro.

If you want to explore the best places to visit in Nairobi, then this location should be in your bucket list. Popular activities in this area include nature treks, biking, team-building exercises, horseback riding, picnics, camping, archery, and zip-lining.

• Location: Ole Nairi Dr, Ngong, Rift Valley
• Timings: 8:00 – 18:00
• Entry Fees: 232 KES per adult & 58 KES per child

7. Paradise lost

A magnificent tourist attraction in the center of the coffee estate, Paradise Lost, is a stunning oasis. It is one of the major few locations that has a wide range of family outing places in Nairobi. The main draw at Paradise Lost is its labyrinth of caves, stunning waterfall, zip lining, fishing, boat riding, a visit to a coffee farm, horse riding, camel riding, nature trails and bird watching.

• Location: Kiambu Road, Nairobi, Kenya
• Timings: 8:00 – 22:00
• Entry Fees: 500 KES per adult & 300 KES per child

8. Kenya National Archives

This museum is a place where a little bit of everything about Kenya is present. The National Archives, located in the former Bank of India building, highlight the art, history, and politics of Kenya as well as its tribal culture.

There are some 40,000 public historical records and archives that date all the way back to the pre-colonial era hidden behind the doors of what is now known as simply Archives, which was previously the Bank of India. The gathered artefacts were purchased by the Kenyan government after a concessionary agreement was reached with Joseph Murumbi, who had first rejected many sizable offers from foreign bidders to purchase his collections.

• Location: Moi Avenue, Nairobi
• Timings: 8:30 – 17:00
• Entry Fees: 200 KES

Conclusion

In a nutshell, Nairobi, the largest and capital city of Kenya, is a treasure mine of adventure waiting to be discovered. And you don't want to skip out on seeing these amazing locations! Imagine exploring the National Museum in Kenya's history, learning about the interesting history of the railway at the Railway Museum, and seeing the magnificent Rothschild's giraffes at the Giraffe Centre. Ngong Hills should not be overlooked too, since you may enjoy breath-taking scenery and exhilarating outdoor activities there. So, pack your bags and get ready for an extraordinary adventure through these 10 exciting places to visit in Nairobi.

Q1. What are the most popular family outing places in Nairobi?

A1. The most popular family outing places in Nairobi according to Tboacademy are

1. Giraffe Center
2. Paradise Lost
3. Ngong Hills

See all kinds of family friendly things to do in Nairobi onTboacademy

Q2. What are the best places to visit in Nairobi to explore on a budget?

A2. There are many cheap places to visit in Nairobi. These include the National Museum, Railway Museum, Giraffe Center, Kenya National Archives, and many more.

Q3. What is the best time to visit Nairobi?

A3. The ideal months to visit Nairobi are January through February and June through September. Rest of the year, seasons are referred to as the wet seasons.