Kigali is a city of hills, and the best base is the one that makes your early starts and your evenings easy. Most visitors only need a hotel for a night or two on either side of a trip to the parks, so convenience matters more than a long list of neighbourhood sights. Here is how the areas compare and which of our five hotels fits each.
City centre (Nyarugenge)
This is the business and government heart of Kigali, with the financial district, the Convention Center and embassies. The Kigali Marriott is the splurge here, with an outdoor pool, the Saray Spa, four restaurants and bars, free buffet breakfast and free parking. Choose it if you want a polished international hotel and the shortest rides to tour pick-ups and the main sights.
Kiyovu
A leafy, quiet area just above the centre, with embassies, restaurants and a residential feel. Three of our hotels are here or beside it. The Kigali Serena sits on KN 3 Avenue with 173 rooms and suites, tropical gardens and an 18 metre pool, and suits families and anyone who wants a garden setting. Heaven Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, with 28 rooms, a salt-water pool and an award-winning restaurant, is the characterful mid-range choice and a good option for couples. The Park Inn by Radisson Kigali, with 161 rooms, a pool, a spa, free parking and free stays for children under twelve, is the value pick for families and first-timers.
Kimihurura
A modern district beside the Kigali Convention Centre, with restaurants and bars. The Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre, with 291 rooms, a pool, a spa, tennis and a rooftop bar, is the facilities-heavy choice for families, groups and conference visitors. It is not a walking neighbourhood, but taxis are easy and tour operators collect from the lobby.
Remera and the east
Remera is a busy residential and commercial area on the way to the airport, with many mid-range and budget hotels. It is practical if you have an early flight, but it is farther from the memorial and the older centre, so we have not included a Remera hotel in this short list.
Choosing by trip
If you are heading north for gorillas, you will probably spend a night near Musanze, so use Kigali for the first and last nights and pick a hotel with free parking or luggage storage, such as the Marriott or the Park Inn. If you are travelling with children, choose the Serena, the Park Inn or the Radisson for pools and family services. For a couple, choose Heaven for its quiet gardens or the Marriott for comfort and a spa.
Practical tips
Book early for June to September and the December holidays, ask about breakfast on the rate, and confirm airport transfer prices because they vary by hotel. Tour operators will collect from any of these hotels. Check current travel advice and entry rules before you book, since measures related to the DRC border and Ebola can change at short notice.
