Burundi
Bujumbura travel guide
Bujumbura is a city in Burundi, home to about 659,000 people.
- Best months
- June and July
- Nearest airport
- BJM8 km · Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport
- Currency
- BIFBurundian franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Bujumbura
- Language
- English, French, Kirundi
About
About Bujumbura
Bujumbura, formerly Usumbura, is the economic capital, former political capital, largest city and main port of Burundi. It ships most of the country's chief export, coffee, as well as cotton and tin ore.
Bujumbura was the capital of Burundi until 2019, when the capital was moved to the second largest city, Gitega. Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Aw), with distinct wet season from October to April and dry season from May to September. Average temperature is 23°C, constant among the year. Bujumbura is much hotter than other part of the country due to it low altitude: 800 m.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Bujumbura
See
- Musée Vivant
- Rusizi National Park
- Livingstone–Stanley Monument
- Cathédrale Regina Mundi de Bujumbura
- Monument de l’Unité National
- Mausolée du Prince Louis Rwagasore
- Bugarama
Do
- Karera Beach
- Saga Plage
- Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature (ABN)
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Bujumbura to stay in
Bujumbura Accommodation can be broadly split into the northern beach resorts and the city centre. The city centre can be further split into places near the lake, the city centre proper and up in the hills behind the city centre.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Bujumbura
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Bujumbura are June and July. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; January is the wettest, with about 164 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Bujumbura: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM), about 8.0 km from the city centre in a straight line; Gitega Airport (GID, 61 km) and Kamembe Airport (KME, 114 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Visa rules and prices change frequently. As of July 2023 two visas are available on arrival at the Airport: a one-month, multiple entry visa costs US$90, and a 3-day (2-night) transit visa is US$40. Visas can be obtained from embassies prior to travel. If you arrive by land you can only get a 3-day transit visa for US$40. then you need to go to the immigration office in Bujumbura to get a visa extension 10 or 30 days for US$20-50. Visa on arrival is only payable in US dollars: euros are often not accepted, Burundian francs (FBu) are not accepted (even if there is ATM in airport).
Getting around
Taxis are cruising all over the city; you need to negotiate the price with them. Minibuses serving the north of the city arrive and depart at the front of the central market (Marché Central), while those heading south use the parking lot in the back of the market near the Interbank head office. The last mini-buses leave around 22:00 as of 2011. It is not advised to walk at night after that; if you need to go anywhere, take a taxi. To get a lift in any type of vehicle from the side of the road, hold out your hand with your palm facing upward.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BJM · Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport
GID · Gitega Airport
KME · Kamembe Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Bujumbura
Eat
The people in Bujumbura love their food and enjoy eating out with friends or family. A beef or fish brochette, chips or fried plantain and a fresh salad is available in all restaurants. But take your time. All food is freshly prepared and the cooks take time. Waiting an hour before the food arrives is certainly not abnormal. Restaurants are scattered all over town, but the best are in Rohero and Kiriri.
Drink
There are several bars on Avenue de l'Universite (between Bld de l'Independence and Blv Mao Tse Tung). The best known places for a transnight dance is l'Archipel which can be found on Blv de la Liberté.
Stay safe
Bujumbura is a moderately safe city, but common sense should prevail. Walking around during the day should be fine, but at night time (from 18:00) the streets get very dark and you are best off getting a taxi except for very short walks. Day or night there are very few police around. The area near the port feels pretty dodgy day or night.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Bujumbura: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bujumbura?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Bujumbura are June and July. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; January is the wettest, with about 164 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Bujumbura?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM), about 8.0 km from the city centre in a straight line; Gitega Airport (GID, 61 km) and Kamembe Airport (KME, 114 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Bujumbura?
Burundian franc (BIF).
Nearby
Destinations near Bujumbura
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.