NBO · Layover Guide
Nairobi
Stop in Nairobi.
Best layover: 6–24h
LayoverScore™
Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.
Exit realism
Comfortable window
Enough room in Nairobi for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.
Landside playbook
If time slips
- Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
- Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
- One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.
Worth knowing
- Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
- Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.
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Places to stay
Search hotelsLayoverScore™ breakdown
Score 58 · Discover 47 · Ease 20
Why Nairobi scores 58
Getting there
Uber/Bolt $12 · Airport Taxi $25
min to center
taxi- 01Taxi/Uber (45-60 min to city center)
- 02Airport shuttle buses (60-90 min)
- 03SGR Madaraka Express train from nearby station
154 min by Nairobi Pick N Drop: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - Nairobi
- 01Giraffe Centre in Karen for up-close giraffe feeding
- 02David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage morning visit
- 03Karen Blixen Museum (Out of Africa author's historic home)
- 04Nairobi National Park safari with city skyline backdrop
- 05Carnivore Restaurant for legendary Kenyan nyama choma feast
Experiences in Nairobi
Timed tours and tickets for Nairobi are listed on our partner site.
Open listingsOpens in a new tab.
- Mambo Chicken~60 min1 min walk
- Maestro Bistro&Grill~60 min1 min walk
- Acacia Garden~75 min1 min walk
- Phoenix Players, the Professional Centre~75 min1 min walk
- Ama Safaris~90 min1 min walk
- Magical Angel Destinations Safaris~90 min1 min walk
- National Museum of Kenya4.5
- Uhuru Park4.1
- Museum of Illusions Nairobi4.7
- Jamia Mosque Nairobi4.7
- Uhuru Gardens4.3
Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.
Where to stay →Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
JKIA Left Luggage
Terminal 1A arrivals
$5/bag
2 min walk
Ole Sereni Hotel
Adjacent to Nairobi National Park, 15 min from airport
$60/day
0 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
Uber/Bolt
to city center
Most reliable option, pay by card or cash
50 min
$12.00
Airport Taxi
to city center
Fixed rate from official taxi desk, negotiate beforehand
45 min
$25.00
Kenya Bus Service
to city center
Route 34 to CBD, can be crowded
75 min
$2.00
Kenya Wildlife Service Smart Card
Nairobi National Park entry (normally $43 for foreigners)
Purchase at park gate, valid for single entry
$50
per day
Getting there
Get an Uber from the airportAt the airport
- 01Java House coffee and Kenyan tea at multiple terminals
- 02Duty-free Kenyan coffee, Maasai crafts, and wildlife art
- 03Simba Lounge with runway views and local cuisine
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