Living like a local
Accommodations
Nomad approved accommodation
Each accommodation has:
a dedicated workspace
good Wifi speed guaranteed by the hosts
high rating
good location
great vibes & style
Beautiful hotel rooms on a 5-acre estate overlooking the Ngong hills. It has great amenities and fast Wifi.
Penthouse views overlooking the Westlands areas, with reliable Wifi, parking and a gym.
Beautiful hotel rooms on a 5-acre estate overlooking the Ngong hills. It has great amenities and fast Wifi.
Penthouse views overlooking the Westlands areas, with reliable Wifi, parking and a gym.
Beautiful hotel rooms on a 5-acre estate overlooking the Ngong hills. It has great amenities and fast Wifi.
Penthouse views overlooking the Westlands areas, with reliable Wifi, parking and a gym.
Practical info
Do I need to carry cash with me?
Yes, although avoid carrying large amounts of cash for safety.
Best SIM card
Best internet provider
Safaricom (the fastest and most reliable service in Kenya)
Transportation
Getting to and from the airport
Bus ($1 | 1 hour to the city) You'll find the airport's bus station halfway between Terminals 1 & 2, with buses operated by City Hoppa running every 20-30 minutes to the city. The last bus leaves around 9PM. Tickets are less than $1 and you can buy them directly from the driver.
Shuttle ($33 | 30 mins to the city) Book a shuttle in advance that can take you to your accommodation. You'll be asked if you want to take the Nairobi Expressway toll road, which you'll have to pay for ($2). The other option is taking the Mombasa Road, which can get very busy and take anywhere from 30-60min to get you to Nairobi uptown.
Taxi ($25 | 20 mins to the city) This is the best option for most travelers, you can either get a taxi through Uber or Bolt, or book one at the airport.
Since 2020, the JKIA Express train service is available but overall more complicated than other options. There is no train station at the airport, so you'll have to take a shuttle to Embakasi Village railway station via Airport South Road.
Taxi apps
Uber (Android | iOS) Bolt (Android | iOS)
Local public transportation app
There is no public transport app that is effective, but Matatus (city buses) have their destination on display which makes them pretty simple to use.
Motorbike, bicycle & scooter rental
Driving a scooter or bicycle in Nairobi is not advised. Although motorbikes are widely used, it is not recommended to try them unless you are very experienced in Nairobi’s traffic. If you want a motorbike ride you can always book an UberBoda!
Traveling outside the city
Driving in Kenya is not for the faint of heart so we recommend taking a train if you're traveling outside of the city. The train system can take you from Nairobi to the ocean side in less than 8 hours. It's also common to fly within Kenya as they have low-cost companies that take you from the capital to the coast and to different national parks like the Masai Mara. Alternatively, join an excursion in a van or jeep to visit specific locations like Lake Naivasha.
