Burundi · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Burundi
These are the places worth your time in Burundi, from Bujumbura's lake beaches and brochette bars to the royal drummers of Gishora and the tea hills of Kibira. Classics sit beside quiet corners few travellers ever see, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Bujumbura
Things to Do
- Saga Beach (Kinindo lakeshore)
The city beach on Lake Tanganyika, with sand, palms and bars made for a long sunset. - Musée Vivant (Chaussée du Peuple Murundi)
A small living museum with crocodiles, snakes, a reconstructed royal hut and drum shows. - Fishermen's night lights on the lake (Lakeshore)
Lantern-lit fishing boats spread across the water after dark, a magical sight from the shore. - Bujumbura port and fish landing (Port area)
Watch the catch come in and the ndagala laid out to dry.
Bars and Nightlife
- Cercle Nautique (Lakeshore, Chaussée du Peuple Murundi)
A lakeside bar and restaurant where hippos often surface just beyond the terrace. - Primus bars of Kinindo (Kinindo)
Big bottles of Primus and Amstel in a neighbourhood bar is the true Bujumbura evening. - Sunset drinks at Saga Beach (Kinindo lakeshore)
Cocktails on the sand as the sky turns orange over the mountains of Congo. - Banana beer in Kamenge (Kamenge)
Urwarwa, the traditional banana beer, shared in a local bar.
Stays
- Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika (Kinindo lakeshore)
A long-running lakeside hotel with gardens, a pool and its own stretch of beach. - Hotel Botanika (Rohero)
A small garden hotel with a calm courtyard and one of the city's better kitchens. - Roca Golf Hotel (Rohero)
A central business hotel with a pool, handy for first nights and meetings. - Hotel Source du Nil (Chaussée Prince Louis Rwagasore)
A large, well-known city hotel with a pool close to the centre. - Kiriri Garden Hotel (Kiriri hills)
A hillside hotel with sweeping views over the city and the lake.
Restaurants
- Chez André (Rohero)
A Bujumbura institution for grilled fish, brochettes and long lunches in a leafy garden. - Botanika Restaurant (Rohero)
Candlelit garden dining with European and local dishes. - Lake fish grills at Saga Beach (Kinindo lakeshore)
Whole grilled mukeke and ndagala with chips and pili pili, eaten with your toes in the sand. - Zion Beach (Kinindo lakeshore)
A relaxed beach bar and restaurant with music, sand and lake views. - Brochette stalls of Buyenzi (Buyenzi)
Goat brochettes and grilled plantain from the neighbourhood that never sleeps. - Ndagala sellers at the port (Port of Bujumbura)
Tiny sun-dried lake sardines, the snack every Burundian grew up with. - Hotel Club du Lac restaurant (Kinindo lakeshore)
Lakeside meals of mukeke and brochettes with the sun setting over the Congo hills.
Cafés
- Café Gourmand (Rohero)
A popular café for pastries, coffee and light meals in the centre. - Burundian coffee at the central cafés (City centre)
A chance to taste the country's fine arabica where it is grown.
Arts and Culture
- Independence Monument (Place de l'Indépendance)
The city's central square, a good start to a walking tour of the old colonial core. - Prince Louis Rwagasore Mausoleum (Vugizo hill)
The resting place of the independence hero, with views back over the city. - Monument de l'Unité (Kiriri hills)
A hilltop monument to national unity with one of the best views over Bujumbura. - Regina Mundi Cathedral (City centre)
The city's Catholic cathedral, lively and full of song on Sunday mornings. - Islamic Cultural Centre (Rohero)
The striking mosque and cultural centre near the city centre, a landmark of the skyline. - Institut Français du Burundi (City centre)
Films, concerts, exhibitions and a library at the city's busiest cultural venue. - Burundian dance at local weddings and festivals (Across the city)
Joyful dance and song when invited to a family celebration.
Shopping and Markets
- Kinama market (Kinama)
A busy neighbourhood market full of fruit, cassava and fabrics. - Jabe market (Bwiza)
Kitenge fabric, spices and everyday life in one of the city's oldest quarters. - Tailors of Bwiza (Bwiza)
Pick a bright kitenge print and have a shirt or dress made within days. - Coffee to take home (City centre)
Bags of Burundian specialty coffee make the best gift.
Nature and Outdoors
- Livingstone and Stanley Monument (Mugere, south of Bujumbura)
A stone marking where the two explorers stopped in 1871, with lake views on the way. - Kinindo beaches (Kinindo lakeshore)
A string of sandy beaches south of the city for swimming in shallow, guarded areas. - Kiriri hills walk (Kiriri)
Morning walks above the city with fresh air and a view of the whole lake shore. - Sunset over Lake Tanganyika (Lakeshore)
Every clear evening the sun drops behind the Congo mountains in a blaze of colour.
Events
- Independence Day, 1 July (Across the city)
Parades, music and flags for the national day. - Sunday football at Intwari Stadium (Rohero)
Local league matches in a stadium full of drums and song. - Rwagasore Day, 13 October (Vugizo hill)
Ceremonies honouring the prince who led Burundi to independence.
Places to Visit in Gitega
Arts and Culture
- Gishora Drum Sanctuary (Gishora hill, near Gitega)
The home of the royal drummers, where performances of the UNESCO listed ritual dance shake the ground. - National Museum of Gitega (Town centre)
The country's main museum of royal regalia, drums, tools and old photographs. - Christ the King Cathedral (Town centre)
The large cathedral at the heart of the old royal capital.
Shopping and Markets
- Gitega Central Market (Town centre)
Baskets, pottery, fruit and the bustle of the interior's biggest market town.
Restaurants
- Brochette and beer spots in the centre (Town centre)
Goat brochettes, grilled bananas and cold beer at simple local bars. - Gitega market food stalls (Central Market)
Beans, cassava bread and fresh fruit straight from the farms.
Cafés
- Fresh milk bars (Town centre)
Cups of fresh or fermented milk in the cattle country of the interior.
Stays
- Mission guesthouses in Gitega (Town centre)
Simple, clean church-run rooms that welcome travellers.
Nature and Outdoors
- Source of the Nile at Rutovu (Rutovu, Bururi)
The small spring and stone pyramid marking the southernmost source of the Nile, a short drive south. - Ruvubu National Park (East of Gitega)
Burundi's largest park, with hippos, buffalo and river forest far from any crowds. - Karera Falls (Rutana)
A series of waterfalls tumbling through green hills, good for a picnic. - Nyakazu Fault (Rutana)
A dramatic escarpment, the German Gap, with huge views east over the plains.
Events
- Royal drum performances on national days (Gishora and Gitega)
The drummers perform at celebrations, a sight never forgotten. - Sunday mass in Gitega (Christ the King Cathedral)
Powerful choirs and a glimpse of community life.
Things to Do
- Walk the hills around Gitega (Gitega hills)
Footpaths between banana groves and homesteads show rural Burundi at its most beautiful.
Places to Visit in Rumonge
Nature and Outdoors
- Rumonge lake beaches (Rumonge)
Golden sand and clear water far quieter than the city beaches. - Kigwena Forest Reserve (North of Rumonge)
A rare lowland forest by the lake with monkeys and birdlife. - Nyanza-Lac beaches (Nyanza-Lac, south of Rumonge)
Long, empty beaches near the Tanzanian border.
Shopping and Markets
- Rumonge fish market (Rumonge)
Lake fish and ndagala landed and sold at dawn. - Palm oil sellers of Rumonge (Rumonge)
The region's red palm oil, central to Burundian cooking.
Restaurants
- Grilled fish on the Rumonge shore (Rumonge)
Fresh lake fish grilled within sight of the boats that caught it.
Stays
- Lakeside guesthouses in Rumonge (Rumonge)
Simple rooms a few steps from the water.
Things to Do
- Lake Tanganyika coast road (Bujumbura to Rumonge)
One of the prettiest drives in the region, between mountains and water.
Arts and Culture
- Rumonge mosque and old town (Rumonge)
A lake town shaped by Swahili traders, with a long Muslim heritage.
Events
- Market days in Rumonge (Rumonge)
The town fills with traders from across the south.
Places to Visit in Kibira National Park
Nature and Outdoors
- Kibira rainforest walks (Teza and Rwegura sectors)
Ancient montane rainforest with tree ferns, orchids and loud colobus monkeys. - Chimpanzee tracking in Kibira (Kibira forest)
Chimpanzees live here, though sightings are never guaranteed. - Rwegura dam lake (Rwegura)
A quiet reservoir surrounded by forest and tea. - Birdwatching on the Albertine Rift (Kibira forest)
Rift endemics and turacos for keen birders. - Mountain views on the Bugarama road (Bugarama)
Cool air and dramatic ridges on the road up from Bujumbura.
Things to Do
- Teza tea estate (Teza)
Emerald tea terraces at the forest edge, beautiful in the morning mist. - Rwegura tea estate (Rwegura)
Rolling tea fields and a factory on the northern edge of the forest.
Shopping and Markets
- Kayanza market (Kayanza)
A big hill town market on the road north, full of produce and coffee.
Cafés
- Kayanza coffee cooperatives (Kayanza)
The region grows some of Burundi's finest specialty coffee.
Restaurants
- Bugarama roadside brochettes (Bugarama)
The traditional stop for brochettes and grilled potatoes on the way north.
Stays
- Kayanza guesthouses (Kayanza)
Basic rooms in the hill town near the forest.
Places to Visit in Rusizi National Park
Nature and Outdoors
- Rusizi delta hippo viewing (Rusizi delta sector)
Hippos, crocodiles and pelicans where the river meets Lake Tanganyika. - Rusizi boat trip (Rusizi delta)
A short boat ride to see hippos up close with park guides. - La Palmeraie sector (Rusizi National Park)
Groves of wild palms and quiet trails for birding. - Rusizi sunset (Rusizi delta)
Golden light over the delta with the city skyline behind. - Lakeshore beside the delta (Rusizi delta)
A quiet strip of shore with fishermen mending nets.
Things to Do
- Birdwatching in the delta (Rusizi delta)
Herons, kingfishers and migrant birds in their hundreds. - Park entrance and guided walk (Rusizi delta entrance)
Guides lead short walks along the river channels. - Morning wildlife drive from Bujumbura (Rusizi National Park)
Close enough for an early trip before the heat builds.
Stays
- Stay in Bujumbura for Rusizi (Bujumbura lakeshore)
The park is a short drive from the city hotels.
Places to Visit in Kirundo
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Rwihinda, the Lake of Birds (Kirundo)
A bird reserve in the far north, alive with water birds. - Northern lakes of Kirundo (Kirundo)
Lakes Cohoha and Rweru on the border, calm and rarely visited.
Places to Visit in Bururi
Nature and Outdoors
- Bururi Forest Reserve (Bururi)
Mountain forest with primates and birds in the south. - Kagera waterfalls (Rutana)
Multi-tiered falls near Rutana, one of the prettiest sights in the south. - Vyanda Forest Reserve (Bururi)
A wild hillside forest reserve with chimpanzees.
Things to Do
- Rutovu Source of the Nile picnic (Rutovu)
Pack lunch for the hilltop pyramid and spring.
Places to Visit in Ngozi
Shopping and Markets
- Ngozi market (Ngozi)
A busy market town in coffee country.
Cafés
- Ngozi coffee hills (Ngozi)
Coffee farms and washing stations across the northern hills.
Places to Visit in Muramvya
Arts and Culture
- Royal hills of Muramvya (Muramvya)
Once a royal centre, with cool hills and sweeping views.
Shopping and Markets
- Muramvya roadside fruit stalls (Muramvya)
Passion fruit, avocados and tree tomatoes from the hills.
Places to Visit in Makamba
Nature and Outdoors
- Makamba hills (Makamba)
Green southern hills on the way to the lake shore.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Hotel Belvedere (Kiriri, Bujumbura)
A quiet hilltop stay above the city with a view across the water to Congo. - Royal Palace Hotel (Rohero, Bujumbura)
A modern city hotel with a rooftop for evening drinks. - Bel Air Beach Hotel (Kinindo lakeshore, Bujumbura)
A beachfront hotel where families can swim in the pool and walk straight onto the sand. - Le Panoramique (Kiriri hills, Bujumbura)
Dinner with the lights of the city spread out below. - Mukeke grills on the Gatumba road (Western outskirts, Bujumbura)
Roadside spots serving the lake's prized fish straight off the charcoal. - Restaurant Kasuku (Rohero, Bujumbura)
A local favourite for Burundian plates of beans, rice and isombe. - Aroma Café (Rohero, Bujumbura)
A quiet spot for a flat white and a sandwich between errands. - Ubuntu Café (Rohero, Bujumbura)
A relaxed café garden for slow coffee and conversation. - Havana Club (City centre, Bujumbura)
One of the city's best known clubs for dancing late into the night. - Bujumbura craft sellers on Boulevard de l'Uprona (City centre, Bujumbura)
Baskets, carved drums and woven agaseke pots to take home. - Ruziba market (Southern outskirts, Bujumbura)
A local market on the road south where lake fish arrives fresh. - Bujumbura Botanic garden of the Musée Vivant (Chaussée du Peuple Murundi, Bujumbura)
Shady gardens beside the museum for a quiet hour in the heat. - Drum shows at the Musée Vivant (Chaussée du Peuple Murundi, Bujumbura)
A short performance of Burundi's famous drumming, close to the city. - Old royal court sites around Gitega (Gitega hills, Gitega)
The hills where the mwami, the king, once held court. - Mushasha convent and pottery (Mushasha hill, Gitega)
Missionary-era buildings on a hill known for its pottery and weaving. - Agaseke basket weavers (Gitega area, Gitega)
Buy the famous lidded baskets from the women who weave them. - Pottery cooperatives of the Batwa (Around Gitega, Gitega)
Traditional clay pots made by Batwa potters, a craft passed down for generations. - Hotel Helena restaurant (Town centre, Gitega)
A reliable hotel restaurant for Burundian and continental dishes. - Coffee washing stations near Gitega (Gitega hills, Gitega)
See how Burundi's prized coffee cherries are washed and dried in harvest season. - Hotel Helena (Town centre, Gitega)
One of the established hotels of Gitega, handy for the museum and market. - Hotel Tropicana Gitega (Town centre, Gitega)
A simple town hotel for a night before Gishora. - Drumming workshop at Gishora (Gishora hill, Gitega)
Try the big drums yourself after the performance. - Fishing boat trips (Rumonge shore, Rumonge)
Ask fishermen about a short trip on a traditional boat in calm weather. - Lake Tanganyika swimming at Magara (Magara, Bugarama coast road, Rumonge)
Small lakeside beaches on the coast road between Bujumbura and Rumonge. - Teza guesthouse (Teza, Kibira National Park)
Simple stays by the tea estate for an early forest start. - Sitatunga spotting (Rusizi delta, Rusizi National Park)
The shy swamp antelope sometimes appears at the reed edges. - Ruvubu River viewpoint (Cankuzo, Cankuzo)
Big river views and hippos in Burundi's wild east. - Bujumbura golf course (Kinindo, Bujumbura)
A city golf course near the lake for a relaxed round. - Hotel Lac Tanganyika Rumonge (Rumonge, Rumonge)
A simple lakeside hotel on the southern shore. - Grilled bananas and cassava at Gishora (Gishora hill, Gitega)
Simple snacks after the drum show.