Getting to Nairobi — Nairobi County: Flights, Airports & Transfers

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: For most visitors, use Uber or Bolt rather than negotiating at the kerb: expect roughly KSh 900 from the airport to the CBD, more for Westlands or farther north/west, and allow 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. The official KAA taxi desk after customs is the sensible fixed-fare fallback; a conventional taxi to the centre is around KSh 2,000. Airport Bus 34 is the budget option—about KSh 100, running roughly 06:00–20:00 between the airport/cargo-terminal area and Moi Avenue—but it can take up to two hours in traffic and is poor with luggage.

Wilson Airport: Wilson handles most domestic and safari flights and is about 11 km south of the centre. Pre-arrange a hotel/safari transfer or request Uber/Bolt after landing; there is no official taxi desk and terminals are airline-specific. Allow roughly 30–60 minutes to central Nairobi, longer at peak traffic.

Nairobi Terminus: This is the SGR/Madaraka Express terminal, about 10 km southeast of central Nairobi, not the old central station. Use the connecting commuter train to Nairobi Central Station when its timetable fits, otherwise book Uber/Bolt; do not assume the terminal is walkable to central hotels. The Mombasa SGR journey takes about 5–6 hours and is popular, so buy rail tickets a few days ahead.

Nairobi Central Railway Station: The old central station is the useful in-town rail hub for commuter services and the twice-weekly Nanyuki service. It is central enough for a short taxi/rideshare ride to CBD hotels, but use the same street-awareness you would anywhere in the CBD—especially after dark.