Kimironko Market, Kigali's largest and busiest market, is a fantastic afternoon excursion. Hundreds of vendors have set up shop in the vast warehouse complex, selling everything from bed sheets and carved masks to a bounty of produce sourced from all over East Africa. You'll be walking in single file through narrow passageways, ducking beneath hanging t-shirts and negotiating space with women carrying large baskets on their heads.

If you only take one thing away from this market, make it bespoke clothing. Shopkeepers here will assist you in selecting vibrant, patterned fabrics from the thousands of options available. Then, you'll choose from a variety of garment styles—from tank tops and wide-leg pants to leggings and dresses—before being measured and handing the order off to one of the on-site tailors.

In about an hour, you'll have custom-made clothes to wear on the rest of your Kigali adventures (and a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home!). Make sure you try them on before leaving the store in case you need to make any adjustments. It's natural to want to photograph this exciting slice of Kigali life. Many of the shopkeepers here, however, are camera-shy and prefer not to be photographed. When taking photographs, use caution and always obtain permission before photographing people.

Google rating: 4.5/5

Address: 194 St. Kg., Kigali

Phone: +250 787 550 065

Website: https://kimironkomarket.rw/

Coffee is an important part of the Rwandan economy, bringing in tens of millions of dollars each year. Despite producing some of the world's best coffee beans, Rwanda lacks a strong local coffee culture. Almost all of its coffee is exported. Question Coffee Cafe is a cutting-edge specialty coffee shop in Kigali. They welcome anyone looking for an amazing cup of coffee, whether they want to enjoy it in their spacious cafe or take it with them.

It is not by chance that Rwanda has the best coffee. Question From the inspiring farmers who grow the ripe cherries to the barista who pulls the perfect espresso shot, coffee is the result of many people's hard work. Their coffee is produced by professionals at every stage of the supply chain, ensuring the livelihoods of all involved.

Tourists can sample this Rwanda-made product (and even take some beans home) at Gishushu's Question Coffee Cafe. Baristas offer a wide range of specialty espresso beverages, pour-over coffee, and caffeinated beverages infused with unusual ingredients such as tree tomatoes. Looking for a more in-depth look at Rwanda's coffee culture? Check out Question's roasting and cupping classes, as well as cooperative tours that will walk you through the entire process, from bean to brew.

Google rating: 4.5/5
Address: 8 KG 8 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 781 968 027
Website: http://www.questioncoffee.com/

The Camp Kigali Memorial is a quiet, sacred space just steps away from the Kigali Serena Hotel and the Kigali Marriott Hotel, where 10 Belgian soldiers became some of the earliest victims of the Rwandan genocide. General Dallaire had dispatched them to protect the home of moderate Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. The Belgians were apprehended, their weapons seized, and they were brought to this location in Kigali, where they were murdered.

The Camp Kigali Memorial now pays tribute to each of these victims with ten solemn stone pillars rising in a circle from a pebble platform. Examine the horizontal cuts carved into each column carefully; they represent the age of each soldier. The pillars' tops have been broken, symbolizing the soldiers' brutal demise. Each soldier's initials can be found at the base of each stone.

A small museum, just outside the memorial, is riddled with bullet holes from that fateful day. More than just a dark tourism site, the Camp Kigali Memorial is a sobering space to understand the horrors of what Rwandans went through in 1994. It provides visitors with a more intimate understanding of the genocide and a greater appreciation for Rwanda's eventual unification.

Google rating: 4.5/5
Address: 23R7+R6J, KN 3 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 788 906 151

Website: none

The Hôtel des Mille Collines was opened in 1973 as Rwanda's first grand hotel. Its central business district location provides easy access to the city center, which is within walking distance. Culinary delights become more memorable when surrounded by breathtaking views of Kigali's hills, from casual to fine dining, international cuisine to local signature dishes.

The hotel promotes local art and Rwandan culture to encourage sustainable travel. Decorative art pieces are for sale at the hotel, and every Friday evening, a Cultural Night is held for live performances of themed Rwandan cultural songs and dances. The still-operational luxury hotel is now one of the best places to visit in Kigali. Even if you choose to stay somewhere else, you can still get a taste of this unique place at the hotel's weekly Culture Night, which is held every Friday. It celebrates Rwandan culture through live music and dance performances, as well as meals made almost entirely from locally sourced ingredients.

Hot tip: Want to see a breathtaking view of Kigali? Prepare to have your breath taken away at the appropriately named Le Panorama Restaurant on the fourth floor of the Hôtel des Mille Collines.

Google rating: 4.4/5
Address: 2 KN 6 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 788 192 530
Website: http://www.millecollines.rw/

Inema Art Center, located in the heart of Kigali City, is one of East Africa's major art galleries, housing a collection of artists from across the African continent. Since its inception in 2012, the Inema Arts Center, founded by a pair of brothers (both self-taught painters) on a mission to "tap the untapped potential of art in Rwanda," has become the place to see contemporary art in Kigali. The building's exteriors are adorned with vibrant murals that are impossible to overlook.

The interiors of Inema Arts Center are dedicated to gallery space for ten artists in residence. Depending on the mix of artists on display during their visit, tourists may see modern takes on traditional African crafts, abstract and expressive portraits, mixed-media works depicting scenes of African life, and some of the best artwork in Rwanda.

Today, Inema Arts Center has become a model for cultivating creative expression in Rwanda. The Inema Arts Center is a group of Rwandan creative artists. Inema Arts Center's core mission is to provide a space for ten artists in residence to explore their creative talent specializing in contemporary African arts, crafts, music, and dance. Inema's artists create paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works that are displayed in the gallery at Inema Arts Center. The Center houses programs, projects, and initiatives that promote the creative arts in Rwanda. The Inema Arts Center provides a venue for workshops, piece training, and hands-on classes.

Google rating: 4.3/5

Address: KG 563 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 783 187 646

Website: https://www.inemaartcenter.com/

Swing by the Nyamirambo Women's Center if you're looking for truly heartwarming souvenirs. The women-led organization was founded in late 2007 with the goal of addressing gender inequality and empowering women. It employs women at fair wages to fill its intimate boutique with ethically made goods, in addition to providing free education and vocational training. Beautifully printed tote bags, hand-woven baskets of all shapes and sizes, patterned placemats, crocheted rugs, beaded jewelry, and locally inspired fashions are available to tourists.

If some of the best shopping in the area isn't enough of a draw, consider this: community immersions are one of the best things to do in Kigali. The organization organizes fascinating walks through Nyamirambo with guides who were either born or live in the neighborhood, taking visitors to local hair salons, mosques, tailors, and agricultural businesses. Tourists are also invited to participate in traditional cooking classes and basket-weaving workshops at the center. The experiences will provide you with an insider's perspective on Rwandan culture.

Google rating: 4.2/5
Address: KN 132 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 782 111 860
Website: http://www.nwc-umutima.org/

Until the early 1900s, Richard Kandt served as Germany's first colonial governor in Rwanda. At the moment, the Kandt House Museum in Kigali is divided into three sections. The first section depicts Rwandan life before the colonial period in all of its aspects: social, economic, and political.

The second section traces the Rwandan people's experience during the colonial period. Following the Berlin Conference in 1884, the Germans ruled Rwanda until 1916, when the Belgians assumed control under the League of Nations Mandate following World War I. The life and deeds of Richard Kandt in Rwanda are discussed here. The third section examines Kigali's history before, during, and after the colonial era. Kigali was designated as the country's capital following independence in 1962.

Dedicated to Richard Kandt, in his former home German resident Richard Kandt on Nyarugenge Hill in Kigali, which has now been converted into the Natural History Museum since 2006. The Kandt House Museum in Kigali aims to demonstrate the evolution of life, describe of Flora and Fauna of Rwandan Natural Parks (Nyungwe, Akagera, and Volcanoes), the geological background of Rwanda, German, and Rwanda shared history, and exhibition of live reptiles (snakes) with the goal of explaining the interrelationship between nature and history as a result of the natural history museum. It also has the best view of three mountains (Mt Kigali, Mt Jali, and Mt Shyorongi) as well as the best view of old Kigali.

Google rating: 4.2/5
Address: KN 90 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 738 881 825
Website: https://kandt-house-museum.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

Among the best places to visit in Kigali is Caplaki Craft Village. Caplaki Crafts Village is located in Kigali, Rwanda's capital. It is made up of different temporary shelters that were built in the same location to form a craft village, which was named "Caplaki craft village." There are about 40 brightly colored huts with alpine trees providing shade. The huts appear to be the same, but they are not. They are brimming with African handmade crafts from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Caplaki Crafts Village offers a wide range of beautiful craft items such as bags, jewelry, baskets, painted utensils for use in the home, wood carvings, home décor, dolls, and many more. Their handcrafted items are genuine and authentic, bright and eye-catching, and make excellent gifts for loved ones. There are cotton fabrics that are extremely comfortable to use or wear. Caplaki crafts village is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On your Kigali city tour, you can stop by Caplaki crafts village and pick up a souvenir to remember your Rwanda safari. The stalls sell similar craft items, but they may come in different colors and versions. The prices of items in the craft village are negotiable, and your bargaining skills may allow you to obtain more items.

Google rating: 4.0/5
Address: KN 5 Rd, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 786 540 678
Website: http://www.caplaki.com/

When it comes to the best places to visit in Kigali, people can't help but mention Niyo Art Gallery. Following a visit to the Rwanda Art Museum, visitors can view additional works by local artists at the Niyo Arts Gallery. It provides a creative space for 17 resident artists who specialize in everything from oil painting and graffiti art to Rwandan drumming and dancing. Tourists can view vibrant works displayed in various rooms throughout the gallery, attend occasional performances, and meet and greet with the artists.

Visit Niyo Arts Gallery, which focuses on the work of Rwandan painters, and meet the artists. The larger cultural center teaches children drumming and dancing as part of a program designed to get impoverished children off the streets. The educational center enables them to support themselves through performances, art sales, and donations. Anything you buy here will benefit these hardworking individuals. Before you travel to Kigali, plan your itinerary with their easy-to-use Kigali journey planner to ensure you see everything Kigali has to offer, including Niyo Arts Gallery.

More than just an art center, Niyo is also an organization on a mission to fight global poverty. It donates a portion of its proceeds to local orphanages.

Google rating: 4.0/5
Address: 338G+GQW, KG 572 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 788 932 111
Website: http://www.niyoartscenter.com/

Formerly the Presidential Palace Museum, the Rwanda Art Museum Kigali exhibits contemporary artworks from Rwanda and around the world. The museum aims to provide insight into the uniqueness of Rwandan creativity. Exploring the development of art from olden times to the modern day, it considers how traditional and modern imaginations can blend and fuse.

The flight debris from the presidential jet that crashed on April 6, 1994, remains in the garden and will be preserved as a heritage site. The Rwanda Art Museum Kigali is located in Kanombe, about four kilometers from Kigali International Airport. Although it is the country's only contemporary art museum at the moment, it is not the country's first art museum. From 2006 until 2018, the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda operated an art museum in Rwesero-Nyanza, in a building that was built in the 1950s, and that was supposed to become a new royal palace for King Mutara III Rudahigwa.

Inside the museum, visitors are greeted by artworks that were originally displayed at Rwesero, as well as other relevant artworks that were recently acquired from various Rwandan artists. According to INMR officials, the idea to turn the building into an art museum came from visitor suggestions, while other suggestions came from local visual artists. On display on the museum's walls are 127 artworks created by 51 different artists. Sculptures, paintings, mixed media, and ceramics are among the works on display.

Google rating: 4.0/5
Address: KK 106 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: +250 730 741 108