Search hotels in Kinshasa

I've been to the capitals of 179 countries. Kinshasa is the ugliest, dirtiest, most corrupt city I've ever visited. If you're a mzungu, you can count on rude treatment and people -- especially police and local officials -- to take advantage of you. Spend your time in Kigali, Kampala, Joburg, Capetown, Nairobi, Mombasa or Dar Es Salaam. Avoid Kinshasa at all costs. The photos I've posted here are from the nicest part of town.

My favourite restaurant was Limoncello. Nice vibe and good food. I also went to eat typical Congolese food at Taboo. Service is very slow but good food. It is not very easy to move around Kinshasa. Traffic is a nightmare.

Kinshasa is à big city but lacks good transport, and there is a lot of traffic almost at each angle and this lets navigating through the city not good. The Congo River nice to see, but not accessible.

This is a 3rd world city on steroids - 18M people in a metro area with no limited access highways, no metro or subway, road quality ranging from ok to terrible and resulting bad traffic. Advice to tourists: Stay in your hotel unless accompanied by a local. Pick-pockets active in market areas. Despite average incomes being low, very little begging and everyone friendly

There is a wealth of restaurants and nightlife in Kinshasa. Good hotels are quite expensive in relation to the quality. The traffic is quite chaotic and taxis are not for the faint hearted. Walking out alone, especially at night is not recommended to avoid hassle or worse. Unless you're really familiar with the do's and don'ts in Kinshasa, or someone you know is collecting you, always get your hotel to organise: a car to and from the airport - and a 'protocol' (a fixer who handles your paperwork and fees at the airport). This will avoid a lot of hassle and frustration.

Kinshasa is a great city and locals are friendly despite of traffic especially on the route to and from the Airport to city center which make it necessarily to be early at the airport if you don't want to miss your flight. Its also wise to not wonder off your hotel without your hosts if its your first time in Kinshasa especially for non French speaking visitors. Its also wise to use the hotel to call for your Taxi if you want to use one for first time visitors. Do not display your cash or expensive phones in some areas as well just like you wouldn't do in some metropolitan cities. And try not to miss out on great view of mighty Congo River on the banks of Congo River overlooking the Brazzaville city of sister Country Congo Brazzaville divided by the Congo River.