🇰🇪 Kenya travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to Kenya — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in Kenya
Public holidays in Kenya
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The Kenyan Shilling (KES, symbol KSh) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — Nairobi
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $25 | $95 | $295 |
| Food | $15 | $38 | $125 |
| Transit | $4 | $10 | $35 |
| Activities | $18 | $40 | $95 |
| Daily total | $62 | $183 | $550 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for Kenya — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | eTA online ($30); paper VoA no longer issued. |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | e-Visa (online) | up to 90 days | — |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to Kenya
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Kenya's dress code.