Top 10 Things to Do in Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali has steadily warmed into the hearts of millions of tourists seeking to experience a welcoming city with a slower pace of life and reserved atmosphere. 

The once ‘sleepy’ capital city has evolved into one of the safest cities in the world, as well as the hippest city in Africa. The city has a low crime rate and park-lined boulevards for a romantic promenade in the evenings when the sun has slipped behind the hills. 

Kigali is not only peaceful, but it also has many things to do and see, including the museums, markets and art galleries. Here are some of the activities you may do in Rwanda’s capital city;

Explore the Thriving Art Scene 

Kigali has a thriving art industry that has put the city on the map of creatives. Ivuka Arts were the first art gallery that opened its doors to the public in 2007.  You will find other amazing galleries like Yego Arts, Niyo Art Gallery, and more.  The Niyo Cultural Centre helps kids learn how to dance, drum, and sing. If you want some of the best artefacts in Kigali, you can see them at the cultural centre.  In addition, you can find the most gifted hands at the Inema Arts Centre, started by Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza. On Thursday, you can join others for a yoga class for rejuvenation and a blissful experience. 

Watch Cricket Games

Many Africans have not experienced live cricket games in their countries, aside from Southern Africans.  You can get a taste of cricket at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium. While you are not watching live games, the environment has memories etched around it.  This area in Kigali has a portion of the École Technique Officielle complex, which was the site of one of the bloodiest massacres during the notorious genocide. The stadium aided the country’s healing process and features one of the most beautiful sports scenes ever.

Meanwhile, you can watch a soccer game at Amahoro Stadium which can accommodate up to 30,000 spectators.  The locals come here in their numbers to watch Police FC and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise FC, and Rayon Sports FC plays their games.

Relax at the Green Spaces

Rwanda is often called the ‘land of a thousand hills,’ and it is for a reason.  The parks and gardens bring greenery scenes to the country. Since the city is among the cleanest capital cities in Africa, the green spaces add to its beauty. 

You don’t need to go far to wander in the green spaces. A lazy evening can leave you relaxing in any of these spaces.  In addition, the city has diverse architecture like the Kandt House Museum made of stonework with rambling green spaces. The use of e-bikes makes the roads less crowded and safer for everyone. 

Seat Back and Enjoy a Cup of Coffee

The city has a rich tea and coffee culture-thanks to its flourishing coffee bean farms. You can take a tour of these farms and learn how coffee is grown, cultivated, and manufactured.  You have the opportunity of picking the coffee beans on the plantation and follow the process to the end.

Meanwhile, what better way to end your tour than relax and let the aroma of coffee hit you as you enjoy your coffee? Did we tell you that Rwanda manufactures some of the best coffee on earth? You’ll find its coffee in places like Starbucks and Costco. Check out Question Coffee Gishushu, Rubia Coffee Roasters and Inzora Rooftop Café for some tasty coffee. 

Witness the Traditional Dance And Music

The chosen ones or intore comprises the country’s traditional music and dance routines. Intore helps you appreciate the rich culture of the locals by telling you a story. The Ballet of Rwanda performs intore in the capital city in their costumes made of spears and headdresses. With the drumming, a victory dance is celebrated during their presentation. 

Pay your Respects at the Genocide Memorial

No matter what you came to do in Rwanda, you will always want to know how the 1994 genocide happened. With a number of historic places telling the genocide according to their areas and activities, the Kigali Genocide Memorial commemorated it better. You can read stories, watch photographs, and learn more about unforgettable tragedies.  The museum is informative with enough stories in artefacts to keep you busy for hours.

Drink Fresh Milk at the Kigali’s Milk Bar

In Rwanda, cows are important and symbolise identity, prosperity, and wealth. Grooms pay the bride price, dowry, or marriage with cows. As a result, milk is considered a traditional drink that is served in milk bars.  You can visit Kimisagara or Nyamirambo for your fresh milk. Meanwhile, you head to Nyamirambo, Kigali’s Muslim quarter to try the big fish, grilled with spices and onions.  

Visit Some of the Fascinating Places

The Presidential Palace is located in Kanombe, the former home to President Habyarimana.  You can find the remains of a presidential aeroplane, whose crash was believed to have started the genocide in the country.  Today, this palace has become a museum with lots of memories of old Rwanda.

You can visit the Gaddafi Mosque, named after the late Muammar Gaddafi, but known as the Islamic Cultural Center. The religious centre serves as a community centre, clinic, and school.

Head to Kimironko Market

Do not forget to visit the Kimironko market, which is the city’s largest and best market for fish, fabric, vegetables, second-hand clothing, and Agaseke baskets. The basket is unique to the country and can be used as a souvenir. Agaseke is a lovely handcrafted basket that has been a part of Rwanda’s culture for decades. Natural raw materials such as sisal fibres, sweet grass, banana leaves, and raffia are used to weave the baskets.

Visit and Stay At The Hotel des Mille Collines

Despite the fact that Hotel des Mille Collines is a beautiful hotel in Kigali, it has a dark history. If you’ve seen the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” you’ll understand how significant this hotel is and what transpired there.

During the 1994 genocide, a notable hotel manager helped hide many Tutsis from Interahamwe militias looking for them. Despite the fact that the hotel now has a wide range of modern services, tourists enjoy staying here due to its past. The Hotel des Mille Collines features 112 beautiful guest rooms, a restaurant and a bar, a conference room, a swimming pool, a fitness club and many other amenities.

Kigali is no longer that sleepy town that has nothing much to offer. The vast infrastructure development, which includes colourful structures such as the Kigali Convention Centre, Radisson Hotel, Delizia Italian, and others, will captivate you. The city also provides stunning backdrops for Instagram-worthy selfies. A city tour, on the other hand, allows you to view the many aspects of the city, including hiking the famed Mount Kigali.