Why go
- Largest city of Burundi.
- Served by Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM).
History
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 formerly the country's political capital. In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow through on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status, with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and center of commerce. A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, and as of late 2025, the transition is still ongoing, having been estimated to end in 2022.
Where to stay
avenue Belvedere 12,Kiriri, Bujumbura, Burundi · kiririgardenhotel.com
Bd de l'Uprona, Bujumbura, Burundi · hotelbotanikabujumbura.com
Avenue Du Princ Louis Rwagasore, Bujumbura, Burundi · bestoutlookhotel.com
Bd de l'Uprona, Bujumbura, Burundi · burundi-palace.com
Boulevard du 28 Novembre, Bujumbura, Burundi · cityhillhotel.com
8, Avenue du 13 Octobre, Rohero, Av. de La Plage, Bujumbura, Burundi · burundipearl.com
J952+VPQ, Av. du Cercle-Nautique, Bujumbura, Burundi · safarigatehotel.com
Kiriri, Bel air road, number 18, Bujumbura, Burundi · hotelbelairbujumbura.com
Rohero I, Avenue Mao Tse Toung, N 04, Bujumbura, Burundi · mountzionhotel.bi
55 Ave de La Plage, Bujumbura, Burundi · ubunturesidencehotel.lovable.app
6968 Bujumbura, Burundi · newagenahotel.bi
STAR HOTEL BP.7023, Chaussee du Peuple Murundi, Bujumbura 2011, Burundi · google.com
17 Av. Kunkiko, Bujumbura, Burundi · emeraudehotel.bi
J9C6+92V, Ave du Stade, Bujumbura, Burundi · hotelsourcedunil.bi
J8WF+HHC, R.N.4, Bujumbura, Burundi · karerabeachhotel.com
Bujumbura, Burundi · kangaroohotel.bi
Chaussee D'Uvira Bujumbura BP 6573 Bujumbura, Burundi · hotelclubdulac.com
B.P. 2551, 84 Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore, Bujumbura, Burundi · martha-hotel.com
Avenue de la Plage, Numero 14., A 400 Mètres du port de Bujumbura, Bujumbura, Burundi · tanganyikalakeview.com
Bujumbura, Burundi · dolcevitahotel.bi
Ave De La J.R.R, Bujumbura, Burundi · panoramiquehotel.com
38 Av. Kunkiko, Bujumbura, Burundi
R.N.4, Bujumbura, Burundi
32 rue Sororezo, Bujumbura, Burundi
M826+3W8, R.N.4, Bujumbura, Burundi
Chaussée d'Uvira N.23, Bujumbura, Burundi
J96F+GPW, BP 2970, 7 Ave de Bururi, Bujumbura, Burundi
J959+P77, Ave De La J.R.R, Bujumbura, Burundi
J9F5+FCX, Bujumbura, Burundi
Av. Du Large, Rue Kanzigiri, Bujumbura, Burundi
J97M+GGQ, Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore, Bujumbura, Burundi
J986+3VV, 7089, Bujumbura, Burundi
KinaniraII Rue Des Limbas Ndeg4, Bujumbura, Burundi
J987+5C8, Ave de l'Industrie, Bujumbura, Burundi
13;Chaussé Prince Louis Rwagasoré Etage Bujumbura(ville, Burundi
8 Av. de Grèce, Bujumbura, Burundi
Sororezo quarter No.6, Bujumbura, Burundi
J932+8CF, Bujumbura, Burundi
J9GJ+9F6, 9ème Ave, Bujumbura, Burundi
J9C6+4P7, Chaussee du Peuple Murundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
Hotel Blue Velvet, 55 Av. de La Plage, Bujumbura, Burundi
J998+3PJ, Av. de L'Amitié, Bujumbura, Burundi
17 Chaussee du Peuple Murundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
Avenue du Large, Bujumbura, Burundi
H9X8+67P, Ave Saga, Bujumbura, Burundi · tigerapartmenthotel.bi
3 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Restaurants & places to go
Ice Cream, Bakery, Sandwich, Coffee, Cafe · Weekend/Other Hours: Saturday: 10:00 - 21:00 Sunday/Public Holiday: 07:00 - 21:00 Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00… · le-cafegourmand.com
Burger, African, American, Chicken, Italian Pizza, Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 00:00-24:00 · 66 Boulevard du 28 Novembre
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:30-22:30 · Rue des Swahilis, Bujumbura
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00, 18:00-23:00 · safranbelvedere.com
African, Grill, Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr 07:00-00:00; Sa 08:00-00:00 · 31 Avenue Muyinga
Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · Avenue Source du Nil, Bujumbura
Pizza, Italian, Burger, Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-23:00 · Boulevard de La Liberté, Bujumbura
International, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Italian, Pizza, Restaurant · Italian/Pizza restaurant
Brochettes, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant
Ethipian, Restaurant · Ethipian restaurant
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 07:30-21:00
Fast Food · fast food
Burger, Sandwich, Fast Food · Burger/Sandwich fast food · 1310 Boulevard de L'Uprona, BUJUMBURA
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant
Restaurant · restaurant · safranbelvedere.com
African, Restaurant · African restaurant
Regional, SéNéGalaise, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-23:30 · Avenue de l'Université, bujumbura
Pizza, Samosa, Fast Food · Pizza/Samosa fast food
Cafe · cafe · 32 Avenue du 18 Septembre, Bujumbura
Burger, Cafe · Burger cafe · Rohero
Restaurant · restaurant · hotelsafarigate.com
Regional, French, Pizza, German, International, Seafood, Restaurant · Regional/French restaurant · Chausée Prince Louis Rwagasore, Bujumbura
Cafe · cafe · 11 avenue de la RDC, Bujumbura
Restaurant · Opening hours: 08:00-23:00
Regional, Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Regional/Coffee Shop restaurant
Cafe · Features: step-free access
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-00:00 · 28 Avenue Mpotsa
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant
Cafe · cafe · 13è Avenue
Restaurant · restaurant
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe · 9è Avenue
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant · 20, bujumbura
Cafe · cafe
Restaurant · restaurant
49 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM) 7 km to the centre
Bujumbura, BM, BI — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 10 airlines (Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northern Dene Airways, Air Canada…) · direct flights to 3 destinations incl. Kigali, Nairobi, Entebbe (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 10 airlines, 3 direct destinations
- Kenya Airways KQ (Embraer 170, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Kigali, Nairobi
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (Embraer 170, EMJ) · 2 routes: Kigali*, Nairobi*
- Northern Dene Airways U7 (CRJ) · 2 routes: Entebbe, Kigali
- Air Canada AC (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Egyptair MS (737-800) · 1 route: Kigali*
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (737-800) · 1 route: Kigali
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
- Rwandair Express WB (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Kigali
- United Airlines UA (A330-200) · 1 route: Nairobi*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Bulongo Kigogo Airport 100 km to the centre
Bulongo Kigogo, SK, CD
Getting there by ferry
Port de Bujumbura
Ferry terminal · 3 km from the centre
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
October – March
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Shoulder season
April – May, September
Milder and quieter, with better value.
Worth avoiding
June – August
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BJM has direct flights to 3 destinations on 10 airlines (incl. Kigali, Nairobi, Entebbe). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Port de Bujumbura, 3 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bujumbura. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing