Kano State · Nigeria
Where to stay in Kano
Kano is a city in Kano State, Nigeria, home to about 4,348,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- KAN9 km · Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
- Currency
- NGNnaira
- Time zone
- Africa/Lagos
- Language
- English
About
About Kano
Kano (; Ajami: كَنُواْ) is a city in northern Nigeria and the capital of Kano State. It is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos, with over four million citizens living within 449 km2 (173 sq mi).
Kano is the largest city in northern Nigeria. The city is predominantly Muslim with a small percentage of Christians and adherents of traditional religions. Shari'a law was introduced around 2001 but only applies to Muslims and punishments are rare. There have been sectarian riots, but this is mainly due to political tensions and is not targeted at foreigners. Foreign currency is not usually accepted so get some Nigerian naira at a bank or an ATM. Electricity brownouts are a common problem and don't expect the cleanest of streets.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kano
See
The dye pits of Kano are over 500 years old and privately owned. Indigo is mixed with potassium and ash and fermented for a month before being ready to dye cloths. The indigo dyes were once used to make garments for Nigerian royalty and they are said to also be usable as medicine. You can get a short tour around the pits and they will be happy to sell you cloths and clothes dyed blue in a variety of tie dye patterns.
- Kurmi market
- Gidan Makama Museum
- Gidan Dan Hausa Museum and Kano State Cultural Centre
- Sani Abacha Stadium
- Great Mosque of Kano
- Kano Zoo
- Dalla Hill
- Emir's Palace
- Ancient city walls
- Kofar Gadon Kaya
- Kano State Tourist Board
- Albasu Central Mosque
Do
Climb the old Dala or Goron Dutse hill in the centre of the city and get a 360 degree view of the ancient city from the hill top; it is where the city started and is now an underground water reservoir. Kano is also the home to the several times champions of the Nigerian Premier League, Kano Pillars FC. One can join the thousands of their fanbases and watch the games in Sani Abatcha Sadium K/Mata or in the indoor stadium Sabon Gari for as little as US$5.
- Roxy Amusement Park
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kano to stay in
Like almost all hotels in Nigeria, you will be required to pay for your room up-front. Typically 125% of the room rate before you get the key. Ask for a receipt. The advance paid will be deducted from the bill on checking out.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Kano
5 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| BON Hotel Kano | 4.2 km | |
| Bristol Palace Hotel | 5.8 km | |
| Haitel Guest Inn | 3.0 km | |
| Prince Hotel | 5.1 km | |
| Tahir Guest Palace | 2.7 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Kano
Kano has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; August is the wettest, with about 249 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 Kano: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN), about 8.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Visitors from outside Nigeria will need a visa. This costs around US$70 and you should apply to the relevant embassy or high commission at least four weeks in advance. They will need proof that you can support yourself financially and may ask for a letter from your employer. You will need vaccinations against yellow fever, cholera, medication for malaria and other diseases.
Getting around
Yellow- and blue-coloured taxis can be hired on the roadside, ensure you agree a price before leaving. More common are the motorbikes where travellers sit behind the driver. There are also some motorised rickshaws (Daidaita sahu) introduced for Muslim women who do not want to sit up close to a motorbike driver.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
KAN · Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kano
Drink
Sharia law means alcohol is hard to find. Most hotels do not serve alcohol on the premises but for a small fee you can easily get a staff member to buy some bottles of beer for consumption in your room (most hotel rooms in Kano have fridges). The area called Sabon Gari has many bars and nightclubs where alcoholic drinks are freely available and many stores where you can buy wine, or other alcoholic drinks. There are malt drinks in cans with beer branding which are an acquired taste. There are few dairy products in the area but some milk based drinks are available. Western brands such as Coca Cola or Nescafe are common.
Stay safe
Kano is a largely safe city and theft or violence to foreigners is rare. Keep valuables in a zipped pocket and do not wear overly revealing clothes. When buying outside shops you will probably need to haggle, walk away if you are unsure of the deal. People may try to swindle you so check your prices before agreeing and if anyone asks for money feel free to walk away. Do not use internet banking from anything but private computers.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kano: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kano?
Kano has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; August is the wettest, with about 249 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kano?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN), about 8.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Kano?
naira (NGN).
Nearby
Destinations near Kano
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.