Why go
- Capital and largest city of Zambia.
- Served by Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN).
History
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about 1,279 metres (4,196 ft). As of 2022, the city's population was approximately 2,204,059. Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia and connects to the country's four main highways heading north, south, east, and west. English is the official language of the city administration, while Bemba, Tonga and Chichewa are the commonly spoken street languages.
Restaurants & places to go
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 · Lusaka · spursteakranches.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 07:00-20:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options, halal, step-free access, air conditioning · 1A Kafue Rd… · dropbox.com
Lebanese, International, Restaurant · Opening hours: 09:00-21:00 · Linda Road, Lusaka · cozyzambia.com
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Breakfast Mo-Su 06:30-10:30, Lunch Mo-Su 12:00-15:00, Dinner Su-Sa 18:00-22:00 · 35 F Leopards Lane, Lusaka · thelatitudehotels.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 06:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 9592 Kacha Road
Italian, Pizza, Pasta, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00 · Shop N06 Kafue Rd (Makeni Mall)
Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 · Kabulonga Road
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu - Sa 12:00-14:30, Tu-Fr 17:00-22:00 , Sa 17:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · cantinalsk.com
Regional, Chicken, Indian, Sushi, Breakfast, Steak House, Tex-Mex, Dessert, Diner, Restaurant · Opening hours: 8 to 22 Until the last customer leave Features:… · delthy.restaurant
Barbecue, Burger, Chicken, Italian, Italian Pizza, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00 · 9 Nangwenya Road, Lusaka, 10101
Zambian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00 · 6941 Suez Road, Lusaka
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant · musubi-jp.net
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: step-free access · F7R6+884 Kafue Road · sandyscreations.net
Ethiopian, Chicken, Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: vegetarian options · Chainama Road
African, Chicken, Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 · United Nations Avenue, 10101
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00 · 9592 Kacha Road
Burger, Pizza, Sandwich, Western, Chicken, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · facebook.com
Indian, Indo Chinese, Pakistani, Restaurant · Features: vegetarian options · Munali Road, Lusaka
Pakistani, Braai, Restaurant · Features: halal · 121 Great East Road, Lusaka
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant · Great East Road, Lusaka
Korean, Restaurant · Korean restaurant · Central Street, Lusaka
American, Restaurant · American restaurant · Great East Road
Indonesian, Restaurant · Indonesian restaurant · Great East Road
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · 3832 Great East Road, Lusaka
Halal, Indian, Indo Chinese, Fast Food, Restaurant · Halal/Indian restaurant · Makishi Road, Lusaka
Flame Grilled, Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Flame Grilled/Chicken restaurant · Chindo Road, Lusaka
Braai, Zambian, Grill, Restaurant · Braai/Zambian restaurant · Omelo Mumba Road, Lusaka
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Mediterranean restaurant · 23 Lagos Road, Lusaka
Indo-Chinese, Indian, Restaurant · Indo-Chinese/Indian restaurant · Beit Road, Lusaka
British, American, Asian Fusion, Mexican, Cafe · British/American cafe · Zimbabwe Road, Lusaka
Ice Cream, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Greek, Chicken, Pizza, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · Lagos Road
Fish, Fast Food · Fish fast food · 2372 Thabo Mbeki Road, ehind Arcades , Opposite Protea Hotel .
Portuguese, Restaurant · Portuguese restaurant
Steak, Restaurant · Steak restaurant
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Vietnamese restaurant · Alick Nkhata Road
Fast Food · Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
Cafe · Features: outdoor seating, step-free access
Food Court · Features: step-free access
Biergarten · biergarten · 47/32 sun rise
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant · Great East Road
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 08:30-21:00
Lebanese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 · Kabulonga Road
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30, Mo-Sa 18:30-22:00 Features: takeaway · Los Angeles Boulevard, Lusaka, 10101 · marlinzambia.com
221 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) 21 km to the centre
Lusaka, 09, ZM — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 13 airlines (Proflight Commuter Services, Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways…) · direct flights to 18 destinations incl. Harare, Lilongwe, Nairobi, Amsterdam, Windhoek… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 13 airlines, 18 direct destinations
- Proflight Commuter Services P0 (J41, 732, CN2, J32) · 7 routes: Chipata, Kasama, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Mfuwe, Ndola, SLI
- Air France AF (Embraer 190, 767-300, 330, 737-800) · 4 routes: Amsterdam*, Harare*, Lilongwe*, Nairobi*
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (787-8, DH8) · 4 routes: Addis Ababa, Blantyre, Harare, Lilongwe
- Kenya Airways KQ (Embraer 190, 767-300, 737-800, Embraer 170, ER3) · 4 routes: Harare, Lilongwe, Nairobi, Windhoek
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (Embraer 190, 767-300, EMJ, 330, 737, 737-800) · 4 routes: Amsterdam, Harare*, Lilongwe*, Nairobi*
- Air Namibia SW (ER3) · 2 routes: Harare, Windhoek
- Emirates EK (A340-300) · 2 routes: Dubai, Harare
- South African Airways SA (A319, A320, 737-800, CRJ-200) · 2 routes: Durban*, Johannesburg
- Air Botswana BP (ATR 42) · 1 route: Gaberone
- China Southern Airlines CZ (767-300, Embraer 190, Embraer 170) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Delta Air Lines DL (330) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (787-8) · 1 route: Harare*
- TAAG Angola Airlines DT (737-700) · 1 route: Luanda
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.
Lusaka City Airport 5.2 km to the centre
Lusaka, 09, ZM — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Chilongolo Airport 15 km to the centre
Chilongolo, 09, ZM
Otago 55 km to the centre
U, ZM
Mazabuka Airport 69 km to the centre
Mazabuka, 07, ZM
Balmoral Airport 17 km to the centre
Balmoral, 09, ZM
Where to stay
Haile Selassie Ave, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · ihg.com
Plot No. 6111, Opp, Manda Hill Rd, Mall 10101, Zambia · sarovarhotels.com
11721 Thabo Mbeki Rd, Lusaka, Zambia · fallswayapartments.com
Lunsenfwa Rd, Lusaka, Zambia · asmarahotelzm.com
Cnr. Church Road and Independence Ave., Lusaka 10101, Zambia · southernsun.com
H8RF+3MF, off Alick Nkhata rd. Massmedia, Lusaka, Zambia · fallswayapartments.com
Corner of, Great East Road, Thabo Mbeki Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · cargo88-hotel.com
20 Kariba, Kalundu, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · natwangebackpackers.com
Corner of Church & Kabelenga Road Levy Business Park, Church Rd, Lusaka 30297, Zambia · southernsun.com
Alick Nkhata Road Lusaka ZM, 10101, Zambia · nomadscourtzambia.com
72 Mutandwa Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · 1romabycubes.com
Plot 6892/3, Los Angeles Blvd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · chrismarhotel.com
26A Joseph Mwilwa Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · wilshotel.co.zm
Chakeluka Rd, Lusaka, Zambia · farmolshotels.com
Cnr Birdcage Walk, And Haile Selassie Ave, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · ihg.com
19029 Great East Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · radissonhotels.com
Indoor
Near Piano Lounge, Church Rd, Lusaka 35450, Zambia · hyatt.com
Plot 11 A Cairo Road, Katondo Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · marriott.com
Plot 8018A Great East Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · bestwestern.com
Zambia, Lusaka, CORNER LUMUMBA AND KAFUE ROAD
3825 Parliament Rd, Lusaka, Zambia
Martin Mwamba road, Great East Rd, Lusaka 00000, Zambia
plot 33278, kafue Road , Lusaka Lusaka ZM, 10101, Zambia
H8RG+VH6, Lusaka, Zambia
H8J7+8R8, Chisidza Cres, Lusaka, Zambia
Indoor
Thabo Mbeki Rd, Lusaka 10101, Zambia · theagoraapartments.com
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 Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN); 18 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: LUN has direct flights to 18 destinations on 13 airlines (incl. Harare, Lilongwe, Nairobi, Amsterdam, Windhoek…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Lusaka. 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