Where to stay in Kinshasa

Kinshasa, formerly named Léopoldville (Dutch: Leopoldstad) from 1881 to 1966, is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, with an estimated population of 18.5 million in 2026.

Called Leopoldville after King Leopold II of Belgium during colonial rule, and was re-named to its current name in 1966. Kinshasa has the largest population of any city proper in Africa with a population of almost 15 million (2020), and ranks as its third largest metropolitan area after Cairo and Lagos. It also declares itself as the largest French-speaking city in the world, although you will find that most people's French is far less than fluent (by any other measure, it still ranks second behind the Paris urban area).

Accommodation in Kinshasa can be very expensive. A consequence of the past problems mean that many organisations only recognise two hotels as having international standards. So the Memling and the Grand have a virtual monopoly. Prices of these two can be in excess of $300 per night plus breakfast. Now a new luxury Hotel called Hotel Royal has opened. Modern boutique hotel with all amenities inclusive.

Getting around

Kinshasa is notorious for its huge traffic jams. It can take up to 2 hours to travel 500m. Avoid commuting time to go around the city. The local official bus service, Transco, runs large buses that provide Urban, interurban, and scholarly transportation across the city-province with a network of 33 lines, frequently used by commuting locals. However, the city bus system pales in comparison to the "taxi" system that has risen organically to serve the needs of the people of Kinshasa. Essentially, these taxis are small buses. They run set routes between embarkation points that are the "stops".

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.