Nairobi is a high-elevation capital with a temperate climate, known as the "Green City under the Sun" and notable for being the only capital city in the world with a national park inside its boundaries. It is East Africa's major financial and economic hub, hosting international organisations and businesses, and it grew up around the Uganda–Kenya Railway.
For a visitor, the practical question is where to base yourself. The city centre holds the main business and shopping district and the largest concentration of budget accommodation; the areas around it range from quiet, leafy streets to busy commercial and residential neighbourhoods, and some options sit further out along the main roads towards the airport or the national park. This guide covers the areas the sources identify, what each is like, who it suits, and how it connects to the rest of the city.
Best areas to stay in Nairobi
1. Nairobi Central Business District (around Tom Mboya Street, River Road and Latema Junction)
This is downtown Nairobi, the city's business and shopping district. It is the most practical base if you want to be in the middle of things and have the widest choice of low-cost rooms: the area around Tom Mboya Street and River Road has a lot of low-cost hotels, and Latema Junction on River Road is another downtown pocket with simple rooms.
It suits budget travellers and backpackers who prioritise price and a central location over quiet. Expect simple rooms, often with their own hot-water bathroom, and busy streets. Some backpacker places describe themselves as near downtown, within about a 20-minute walk.
2. Riverside and Westlands (north-west of the city centre)
Riverside sits north-west of the city centre, near the University of Nairobi Chiromo campus, and Westlands is a separate commercial and residential district to the north-west. Together they form the city's more polished side, with gated compounds, apartment-style accommodation and higher-end hotels.
This suits travellers who want security, quiet and easy access to restaurants and bars, and it works well for longer stays because several places here offer apartments by the day or long-term. Westlands is also where you find pool bars and cocktail spots with city views. The trade-off is that you are not within walking distance of the historic downtown sights.
3. Hurlingham and Upper Hill (south-west of the centre)
Hurlingham is a residential area along Argwings Kodhek Road, and Upper Hill is the adjacent district that has become a quiet, leafy address for larger hotels. Both sit just south-west of the centre and are calmer at night than downtown.
This suits mid-range and upmarket travellers, and families who want space and quiet. You find mid-range hotels and serviced apartments here, including furnished and serviced apartments as well as unfurnished and unserviced ones, which makes it a good fit for stays of more than a few nights. The area is described as a real respite from the city, quiet at night.
4. Parklands (north of the centre)
Parklands is a residential district north of the city centre, home to one of Nairobi's long-established historic hotels. It is a calm, established neighbourhood rather than a sightseeing hub.
It suits travellers who want a quieter base with a sense of the city's older architecture and who do not mind being a short drive from the centre. Expect larger, traditional hotels with grounds rather than hostels or budget rooms.
5. Karen and the south-western edge (towards the national park)
The south-western edge of the city, around Karen and the roads leading towards the national park, is where you find camp-style accommodation, wildlife-oriented stays and country-house properties on large plots of land. This is the least urban base on the list.
It suits travellers with their own transport, overlanders and anyone who wants to be close to the national park and open space rather than the city. Expect campgrounds with dorm beds and rooms, plus properties set on extensive grounds. Distances are longer here, so plan on driving rather than walking to the centre.
6. Along Mombasa Road and Thika Road (towards the airport and the northern outskirts)
Some accommodation sits along the main arterial roads out of the city: Mombasa Road runs south-east towards Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Thika Road runs north. Properties here range from wildlife-facing resorts overlooking the national park to large resort-style hotels with extensive grounds.
This suits travellers with an early flight, those on a stopover, or anyone who wants resort facilities and does not need to be in the centre. The practical point is that these bases are built around road access: you are trading proximity to downtown for proximity to the airport or the park.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: low-cost hotels clustered around Tom Mboya Street and River Road downtown, plus backpacker-style places with dorms, doubles, singles, twins, camping space, permanent tents and cabins. Simple rooms typically come with their own hot-water bathroom, and shared kitchens, bars and laundry are common in the backpacker category.
- Mid-range: hotels and serviced apartments in residential districts such as Hurlingham, along Argwings Kodhek Road and off Ngong Road, plus gated compounds in Riverside. Expect furnished and serviced apartments as well as standard hotel rooms, and some properties with restaurants and pools.
- Splurge: historic and resort-style hotels in Upper Hill, Parklands, the city centre, Westlands and along Thika Road and Mombasa Road. Expect large grounds, several restaurants, apartments for long stays, and in some cases golf courses or views over the national park.
Best area for a first visit
For a first visit, base yourself in the Nairobi Central Business District. It puts you in the city's shopping and business district, within reach of the historic downtown hotels and the main streets, and it has the widest and cheapest choice of rooms if you are watching your budget. If you would rather trade the bustle for quiet, Hurlingham and Upper Hill are the calm alternative just south-west of the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Where do budget travellers usually stay in Nairobi?
The area around Tom Mboya Street and River Road has a lot of low-cost hotels, and Latema Junction on River Road is another downtown option. Backpacker-style accommodation with dorms and camping space also exists, some of it within about a 20-minute walk of downtown.
Which areas are quiet at night?
Upper Hill and Hurlingham are described as quiet at night and a respite from the city, and Parklands is an established residential district north of the centre. Riverside and Westlands offer gated compounds, which adds a layer of security and calm.
Where should I stay if I want to be near the national park?
Look at the south-western edge of the city and the roads heading out towards the park, where you find camp-style and wildlife-oriented accommodation, and along Mombasa Road, where some properties overlook the national park. These bases are reached by road rather than on foot.
Can I stay in an apartment rather than a hotel?
Yes. Serviced and furnished apartments, as well as unfurnished and unserviced ones, are available off Ngong Road behind the Nairobi Baptist Church, and apartment-style accommodation with one, two or three bedrooms is offered in Westlands on both daily and long-term terms.
Compare live prices for the areas that suit you using the booking tools on this page.