Why go
- Capital city and largest city of Malawi.
- Served by Salima Airport (LMB).
History
Lilongwe is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It has a population of 989,318 as of the 2018 Census, up from a population of 674,448 in 2008. In 2020, that figure was 1,122,000. The city is located in the central region of Malawi, in the district of the same name, near the borders with Mozambique and Zambia, and it is an important economic and transportation hub for central Malawi. It is named after the Lilongwe River.
Where to stay
Lilongwe, Malawi · amwase2007.wixsite.com
Lilongwe, Malawi · serendibhotels.mw
Chilembwe Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi · umodzipark.co.mw
Lilongwe, Malawi · douglaslodgemw.com
Eden Estates, Lilongwe, Malawi · edenestatesmw.com
2QJ8+QC4, Mzimba, Lilongwe, Malawi · legacysuites-mw.com
Off, Chilanga Drive, Lilongwe, Malawi · tranquilomw.com
Kamuzu Procession Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi · crossroadshotel.net
Plot 13/54, Malawi · malville-boutique-hotel.com
M1 Road, Lilongwe, Malawi · bridgeviewhotelmw.com
Plot 3056 Tsiranana Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi · kglodge.net
2QMG+GHC, Lilongwe, Malawi · mit.mw
PAUL KAGAME ROAD, NEAR LINGADZI INN, AREA 32, Lilongwe, Malawi · riversidehotelmalawi.com
2QH7+V8M, Lilongwe, Malawi · lalibela.mw
Chayamba Drive, Lilongwe, Malawi · lifestyleboutique.mw
Presidential Way, Lilongwe, Malawi
2QP2+5HF, Shire Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi
Kaphiri near ShareWORLD, ECO-HOUSE, Lilongwe, Malawi
XQXH+7CR, Ufulu St, Lilongwe, Malawi
Old airwing, Lilongwe, Malawi
XMWC+9MJ, Lilongwe, Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
Youth Dr, Lilongwe, Malawi
Ulendo Travel Group / Green Elephant, 171 Kaduya Road, Lilongwe, Malawi · ulendo.net
Lilongwe, Malawi
2Q37+M3G, Barron Avenue, Lilongwe, Malawi
2QVW+MG6, Chilembwe Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi
2Q44+866, Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi, Lilongwe, Area 49 sector 1 new gulliver
area 49 new Gulliver along Kaunda Road, Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
P.O. Box 2415, Plot # 9/67 Mtunthama Dr, Lilongwe, Malawi
2QQX+HJG, Lilongwe, Malawi
2Q2J+QG3, Lilongwe, Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
Matchansi Ring Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi
2RW3+F6G 12/343, Chinula Rd, Lilongwe, Malawi
M12, Malawi
Indoor
XQW7+H3, Lilongwe, Malawi
Daud Complex, Along Kamuzu Procession Road, M1 Road, Lilongwe, Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
Indoor
23 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Restaurants & places to go
Pizza, Fast Food · Free delivery within 5km Features: takeaway
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · 4/278 Imperial Town Hotel, Area 3, Lilongwe · courtyardmw.com
Persian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00 · area12 Mphungu Road · orchid-malawi.com
Noodles, Savory Pancakes, Cake, Vietnamese, Asian, Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-15:30 · 448 Nyama
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-18:30 · Myama
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · Area4 Paul Kagame Road
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-10:00 Features: takeaway · Area3 Colby Road
Ethiopian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:30-21:30
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
Korean, Restaurant · Korean restaurant · Area38 M1 · kortasialodge.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, step-free access
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: 12:00-14:00,18:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · Presidential Way, Lilongwe
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 7:30-18:00, Su 10:00-18:00 Features: outdoor seating · Kamuzu Procession Road
International, Restaurant · International restaurant
Cafe · cafe · kumbalivillage.com
Lebanese, Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Ice Cream, Fast Food · Features: step-free access · Kamuzu Procession Road
Steak House, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Curry, Indian, Restaurant · Curry/Indian restaurant
French, Restaurant · French restaurant · 12/2 Dunduzu Street
African, Restaurant · African restaurant
American, Restaurant · American restaurant
Fast Food · fast food
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:00, 18:00-22:00
Vietnamese, Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Vietnamese/Coffee Shop restaurant
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · Area9
Ethiopian, Restaurant · Ethiopian restaurant
Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Juice, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00 Features: outdoor seating · Area 47 Sector 1, Lilongwe
Korean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00 · Area14
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Restaurant · Authentic Thai cuisine & bar
Asian, Restaurant · Asian restaurant · Area9
International, Restaurant · International restaurant
Cafe · cafe · Kenyatta Road
Ice Cream, Restaurant · Ice Cream restaurant
Curry, Indian, Restaurant · Curry/Indian restaurant · area12 Mphungu Road
African, Asian, Cafe · African/Asian cafe · Mandala Road, Lilongwe, 265
Fast Food · fast food
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant · Tobacco Loop
43 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) 22 km to the centre
Lumbadzi, LI, MW — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 6 airlines (Ethiopian Airlines, Air France, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines…) · direct flights to 6 destinations incl. Lusaka, Nairobi, Blantyre, Dar Es Salaam, Harare… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 6 airlines, 6 direct destinations
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (DH8, 737-800) · 4 routes: Blantyre, Dar Es Salaam, Harare, Lusaka
- Air France AF (Embraer 190, 737-800) · 2 routes: Lusaka*, Nairobi*
- Kenya Airways KQ (767-300, Embraer 190, 737-800, Embraer 170) · 2 routes: Lusaka, Nairobi
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (Embraer 190, 737-800, EMJ) · 2 routes: Lusaka*, Nairobi*
- Proflight Commuter Services P0 (J41) · 1 route: Lusaka
- South African Airways SA (A330-200, A340-300, 737-800) · 1 route: Johannesburg
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.
Salima Airport (LMB) 92 km to the centre
Salima, SA, MW — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Old Lilongwe Airport 7.5 km to the centre
Lilongwe, LI, MW
Ntchisi Airport 69 km to the centre
Ntchisi, NI, MW
Mtakatata Airport 86 km to the centre
Mtakatata, DE, MW
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 Salima Airport (LMB); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: LLW has direct flights to 6 destinations on 6 airlines (incl. Lusaka, Nairobi, Blantyre, Dar Es Salaam, Harare…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Lilongwe, Malawi. 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.